Men’s enka: a collection of classic songs portraying the way men live and their fighting spirit
There are many enka songs that depict the way men live and their stylish, gallant spirit.
There are also songs that sing about bonds and love from a male perspective.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide selection of songs that convey men’s emotions.
We’ve gathered plenty of chic, cool tracks and deeply moving songs full of compassion.
We’re sure you’ll find songs that resonate with you regardless of gender, so please listen while following along with the lyrics.
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Men’s enka: A collection of classic songs depicting the way men live and their spirit (31–40)
tear-drunkKenjiro
It’s a masterpiece that sings of aching emotions alongside a glass of sake.
Released in August 2024 to commemorate enka singer Kenjiro’s 15th debut anniversary, this medium-tempo ballad by Makoto Sugimoto highlights his rich vocal power that brings deep feelings to life.
Unable to forget the warmth of a past love, layered with longing for his hometown, a sense of loneliness seeps through.
It’s a tender enka classic that gently embraces those with wounded hearts.
Listen to it alone at night, and it will surely sink into your soul.
Life Dream Voyagetsuge yuuji
Yūji Tsuge’s seventh single features his compelling, gravelly vocals.
Released in October 2024 to mark his 20th debut anniversary, it powerfully portrays a man braving rough seas on the Sea of Japan.
You can feel his resolve to overcome hardship and keep chasing his dreams—it’s truly moving.
The chorus, with its extra punch, is especially cool.
This song will give courage to anyone feeling lost in life.
Please give it a listen! Packed with the classic appeal of traditional enka, it also seems poised to be a karaoke favorite—perfect for those moments when you want to fire yourself up while singing.
I’m heading to Tokyo.Yoshi Ikuzo
The song that catapulted Ikuzo Yoshi to nationwide fame, “Ora Tokyo sa Igu da.” It’s a signature comic song of the enka world, with charming lyrics that humorously depict country life.
While this piece is firmly categorized as enka, it doesn’t feature the elaborate kobushi—those complex pitch bends—typical of more traditional enka.
The Aomori dialect phrasing might take a bit of getting used to, but the song itself is quite easy to sing for an enka number, so it’s well worth adding to your repertoire.
passionate flameYoshi Ikuzo
Ikuzo Yoshi is well regarded for his “onna-uta” (songs from a woman’s perspective), and among them, the track Joen is widely praised as a hidden masterpiece.
While its lyrics and melody exude a poignant melancholy, the vocal line is surprisingly straightforward, with gentle rises and falls in pitch.
There are few kobushi (ornamental turns), and the ones that do appear are often close to an extension of vibrato, so even those who feel uneasy about enka-style phrasing should be able to sing it without issue.
The song stays within a comfortable vocal range, making it easy to sing for both men and women.
AfterglowYamauchi Keisuke
It’s a moody masterpiece of kayōkyoku built on a 6/8 rhythm, with an impactful drum sound in the intro and an impressive slap bass line.
For Keisuke Yamauchi, it’s also a song commemorating his 20th debut anniversary, and it fully showcases the charm of his distinctive voice—powerful, sensual, and uniquely his.
He does use the characteristic kobushi of an enka singer, of course, but since the song leans more toward kayōkyoku, the kobushi itself is restrained, making it a great choice even for those not used to straight-up enka.
The A melody section is also good practice for singing low notes carefully, so try performing it while being mindful of the contrast with the soaring chorus!
