A collection of classic enka masterpieces about love: songs that depict the nuances of mature romance.
Among popular enka songs, there are truly so many that depict romance.
What’s more, many of them portray mature love stories, and they’re full of such passion that just listening can make your chest ache.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of classic enka masterpieces themed around love.
We’ll cover famous songs everyone knows, but when you revisit the lyrics, you’ll undoubtedly be moved by the profound love woven into them.
I hope you’ll listen to the songs below while reading along with the lyrics.
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A collection of classic enka masterpieces about love: songs depicting adult romance (51–60)
hourglassmatsuzaki kōsuke
This is a soul-stirring enka that likens the heartbreak everyone experiences at least once to an hourglass.
Released by Nippon Crown in February 2025, it’s a song by Kousuke Matsuzaki.
His lustrous vocals richly convey the poignant struggle to erase memories.
Written and composed by Junichiro, it beautifully portrays memories and feelings fading with the passage of time.
It’s a song that stays by your side when you want to heal your heart or when you find yourself thinking of someone dear.
night-flowering jasmineOka Midori
A gemlike love song released in February 2025 that richly portrays the sweetness and ache of first love.
Carried by a gentle, companionable melody, the fragility and sorrow of love are delicately woven together.
Celebrating Midori Oka’s 20th anniversary since her debut, this work beautifully harmonizes Reiji Mizuki’s lyrics with Masato Sugimoto’s composition to sensitively express a woman’s heart swayed by love.
Like soap bubbles, a fleeting romance and the anxious feelings blown by the wind are tenderly sung in a clear, transparent voice.
A recommended track for those who want to empathize with tender yet bittersweet emotions.
I am most delighted.Kitazawa Mai
A pure love song wrapped in kindness, expressing the feelings of unrequited love with the classical word “ito.” It’s a work by Mai Kitazawa, released by Tokuma Japan Communications in February 2025.
The song celebrates the timeless beauty of love that doesn’t change with age, conveying a warm message that simply caring for someone is itself a source of happiness.
With its calm vocals and emotionally rich arrangement that resonate deeply, this is her third single since moving to Tokuma Japan.
The worldview woven from archaic language and a modern melody will gently accompany anyone who holds dear feelings for someone special.
The Northern CliffsYamauchi Keisuke
This work gives voice to a woman’s aching heart, as if the sea breeze were piercing her chest.
Released in February 2025 to commemorate Keisuke Yamauchi’s 25th anniversary since debut, it perfectly pairs his powerful vocals with a melody that conveys emotions with no place to go.
Set against the sheer cliffs of the north, it portrays lingering attachment, frustration, and a loss of hope for tomorrow.
It is a song that will surely stay close to the hearts of those bearing the pain of love.
A collection of classic enka masterpieces about love: songs depicting mature romances (61–70)
Tears of Dead LeavesMatsubara Miho
A gem of a ballad that portrays the sorrow of heartbreak through the image of dead leaves dancing in the wind.
Delivered by Miho Matsubara in February 2025, this song delicately depicts the pain and loneliness of lost love.
Veteran composer Chiaki Oka’s beautiful melody adds a gentle, heartfelt touch.
The protagonist’s feelings as they stand alone on a city corner at night are tenderly wrapped in a voice full of melancholy.
The way the song follows the lingering image of a loved one and wanders through a drizzly city really strikes a chord.
If you’re carrying the ache of heartbreak, listening to this track will grip the depths of your heart.
Flowers of MichinokuMizuta Ryūko
An emotionally rich song interweaving the beautiful landscapes and scenes of Tohoku.
Ryuko Mizuta’s powerful yet delicate vocals portray the poignant inner feelings of a woman who continues to think of the one she loves.
Released in February 2025 as her 39th single, it was crafted by an illustrious team: lyrics by Reiji Mizuki, composition by Keisuke Hama, and arrangement by Megumi Wakakusa.
Layered with Mizuta’s lustrous singing, the result is a deeply expressive piece.
Brimming with a sense of travel and longing, this work is a must-listen for anyone who resonates with love for someone far away or who is interested in the climate and culture of the Tohoku region.
It also weaves in real place names such as the peaks of Mount Zao and Nakanose Bridge, offering an even deeper flavor for those who know these locales.
Nagoya YearningMatsubara Miho
Set against the streets of Nagoya, this work depicts a graceful, pure love between a man and a woman.
Beautifully performed by Miho Matsubara, it was released as a single in March 2025.
The music video, featuring a sibling co-appearance with her younger brother, Tanishi Matsubara, also drew attention.
With lyrics by Issei Mine and composition by Kiyotaka Takeuchi—both highly accomplished creators—the piece weaves a gem-like melody infused with the emotions of both protagonists.
It is recommended for those seeking a heartwarming kayōkyoku whose tender feelings for a loved one resonate deeply.