[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	It was rainy again in Nagasaki today.Uchiyamada Hiroshi to Cool Five		A classic heartbreak song set in rainy Nagasaki
2	Ikebukuro at NightAoe Mina		A masterpiece by Mina Aoe that sings of urban loneliness
3	Port Town BluesMori Shinichi		Love in a port town, Shinichi Mori’s melancholy song
4	Tokyo JunctionSHOW-WA		SHOW-WA: Reviving Shōwa-era pop songs for today
5	Torn to pieces by loveChon Tefu		A single by a Korean singer that sings about the pain of love
6	Cape KamuiHosokawa Takashi		Takashi Hosokawa sings about the scenery of his hometown.
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	Yokohama TwilightItsuki Hiroshi		A bittersweet love in a port town, a masterpiece by Hiroshi Itsuki
13	Rainy MidosujiŌyō Fifi		A poignant love song set in Osaka, a classic hit by Ouyang Fei Fei
14	cowardSazankurosu		A heartrending love song, a timeless classic that stirs the soul
15	airportTeresa Ten		Teresa Teng’s “Airport,” a classic song of farewell and hope
16	Silver Butterfly Migratory BirdKaji Meiko		A film theme song brimming with 1970s emotion
17	Yanagase BluesMikawa Ken’ichi		Kenichi Mikawa’s classic song that portrays the melancholy of a broken heart
18	I liked it.Tsuruta Koji		A melancholy love ballad by Koji Tsuruta
19	I go my own wayKitajima Saburō		Saburō Kitajima: A Song of Vitality and Conviction in His 64th Year
20	What are you doing tonight?Junretsu		A passionate adult song composed by Kōsetsu Minami
21	lip service; idealistic talk; sugarcoatingOka Yuuko		Yuko Oka’s enka single that sings of a woman’s heart
22	Agave flowerMATSURI		Express Agave’s love in the style of a Showa-era kayōkyoku (Japanese pop) song
23	Kamuro-zaka in the chill of cherry-blossom seasonNahomi		An enka piece that weaves a wistful love on a cherry-blossom-dancing slope
24	acting like a handsome guyYoshi Ikuzo		Ikuzo Yoshi’s masterpiece that portrays vanity and clumsiness
25	Believing in spring…Maki Kotomi		Kotomi Maki’s 44th release, a heartrending singing voice
26	Ichibangai BluesHama Hiroya		A secret love in the nighttime city, in the singing voice of Hiroya Hama
27	Adoro of FarewellNishiyama Hitomi		A masterpiece that weaves a farewell story that resonates with the heart
28	Stardust MidosujiIkoma Naoko		A poignant love song that colors the nightscape of Osaka
29	Tokyo Rainy BlueMiki Yukari		Yukari Miki: A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Farewell
30	Let me hear your parting words.Yamamoto Kazue		A song that portrays the bittersweet end of an office romance
31	unconditional loveMori Shinichi		A new song of gratitude written by Shinichi Mori himself for his 60th anniversary
32	Red full moonMori Konomi		Konomi Mori’s new song: a fusion of Showa-era sentiment and sophistication
33	selfish womanAoyama Shin		A blues kayō depicting Arata Aoyama’s feelings of love
34	Tipsy Breeze TavernNakamura Yuito		Heartwarming music that keeps you company on a weary night
35	No way!/Not a chance!Jinno Mika		A powerful song by Mika Jinno overflowing with warmth
36	Lullaby of a Wicked Womanyamaguchi kaoru		A bittersweet love song for an adult woman