[2026] A Collection of Masterpieces of Enka and Mood Kayō

Enka and mood kayō are often lumped together, but strictly speaking, they’re sometimes treated as different genres, and it’s hard to draw a clear line between them.

There are cases where singers who are active mainly in the enka field perform classic mood kayō songs, and some argue that “mood kayō” is a subgenre within enka.

This time, we’ve compiled standout songs by singers who perform both enka and mood kayō—tracks that fans of either style can enjoy.

We hope young music fans interested in Shōwa-era kayōkyoku will also dive in and enjoy the enchanting world of enka and mood kayō!

Playlist

[2026] A Collection of Masterpieces of Enka and Mood Kayō
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	NEGAIHana MEN gumi		Hana MEN-gumi debuts at No. 1 with a kayō ballad track
2	A blatant lie and a bouquetAbe Ritsuko		Duet queen releases new song
3	Ruby of the Starry Skyumetani kokona		Kokoa Umetani's enka single
4	It was rainy again in Nagasaki today.Uchiyamada Hiroshi to Cool Five		A classic heartbreak song set in rainy Nagasaki
5	Woman of the port townhayabusa		Hayabusa 15th Anniversary Debut Commemorative Album
6	Wind God and Thunder GodKimura Tetsuji		A song that expresses a strong will to face rough seas
7	Waltz of StarlightSen Masao		Masao Sen’s famous song spread across the country and became a huge hit.
8	My castle townKoyanagi Rumiko		With Rumiko Koyanagi’s classic song set against the backdrop of a castle town
9	Traveler of the NorthIshihara Yūjirō		Yujiro Ishihara’s famous song, “The Melancholy of the Northern Country.”
10	Sad SakeMisora Hibari		Hibari Misora’s famous song, a heart-touching enka
11	Woman of ShinjukuFuji Keiko		Keiko Fuji’s classic song stirs the heart with deep emotion.
12	Ikebukuro at NightAoe Mina		A masterpiece by Mina Aoe that sings of urban loneliness
13	Yokohama TwilightItsuki Hiroshi		A bittersweet love in a port town, a masterpiece by Hiroshi Itsuki
14	Port Town BluesMori Shinichi		Love in a port town, Shinichi Mori’s melancholy song
15	Rainy MidosujiŌyō Fifi		A poignant love song set in Osaka, a classic hit by Ouyang Fei Fei
16	Silver Butterfly Migratory BirdKaji Meiko		A film theme song brimming with 1970s emotion
17	airportTeresa Ten		Teresa Teng’s “Airport,” a classic song of farewell and hope
18	Yanagase BluesMikawa Ken’ichi		Kenichi Mikawa’s classic song that portrays the melancholy of a broken heart
19	I liked it.Tsuruta Koji		A melancholy love ballad by Koji Tsuruta
20	cowardSazankurosu		A heartrending love song, a timeless classic that stirs the soul
21	Tokyo JunctionSHOW-WA		SHOW-WA: Reviving Shōwa-era pop songs for today
22	Torn to pieces by loveChon Tefu		A single by a Korean singer that sings about the pain of love
23	Cape KamuiHosokawa Takashi		Takashi Hosokawa sings about the scenery of his hometown.
24	I go my own wayKitajima Saburō		Saburō Kitajima: A Song of Vitality and Conviction in His 64th Year
25	What are you doing tonight?Junretsu		A passionate adult song composed by Kōsetsu Minami
26	Kamuro-zaka in the chill of cherry-blossom seasonNahomi		An enka piece that weaves a wistful love on a cherry-blossom-dancing slope
27	lip service; idealistic talk; sugarcoatingOka Yuuko		Yuko Oka’s enka single that sings of a woman’s heart
28	Agave flowerMATSURI		Express Agave’s love in the style of a Showa-era kayōkyoku (Japanese pop) song
29	selfish womanAoyama Shin		A blues kayō depicting Arata Aoyama’s feelings of love
30	Tokyo Rainy BlueMiki Yukari		Yukari Miki: A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Farewell
31	Let me hear your parting words.Yamamoto Kazue		A song that portrays the bittersweet end of an office romance
32	acting like a handsome guyYoshi Ikuzo		Ikuzo Yoshi’s masterpiece that portrays vanity and clumsiness
33	Believing in spring…Maki Kotomi		Kotomi Maki’s 44th release, a heartrending singing voice
34	unconditional loveMori Shinichi		A new song of gratitude written by Shinichi Mori himself for his 60th anniversary
35	Ichibangai BluesHama Hiroya		A secret love in the nighttime city, in the singing voice of Hiroya Hama
36	Adoro of FarewellNishiyama Hitomi		A masterpiece that weaves a farewell story that resonates with the heart
37	Stardust MidosujiIkoma Naoko		A poignant love song that colors the nightscape of Osaka
38	Red full moonMori Konomi		Konomi Mori’s new song: a fusion of Showa-era sentiment and sophistication
39	Tipsy Breeze TavernNakamura Yuito		Heartwarming music that keeps you company on a weary night
40	No way!/Not a chance!Jinno Mika		A powerful song by Mika Jinno overflowing with warmth
41	Lullaby of a Wicked Womanyamaguchi kaoru		A bittersweet love song for an adult woman