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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Masterpieces of enka about love. A collection of songs depicting mature romances (1–10)
A Love Like Ephemeral LightSakishima Jun
This is a Japanese-style ballad that captures the fleeting beauty of love.
Jun Sakishima’s translucent vocals exquisitely convey a dreamlike world.
While honoring traditional Japanese melodies, the modern arrangement draws out a fresh allure.
Released in March 2025, the piece pairs a lyrical melody with gentle vocals that deeply resonate with listeners.
Its artistic quality has been highly praised, including a nomination as a candidate work for the Japan Music Authors Association’s “Songs of the Heart Concert.” It’s recommended for anyone who wants to connect with the delicacy and poignancy of being in love, or who seeks the soothing comfort of a tender voice.
What are you doing tonight?Junretsu
“What Are You Doing Tonight?” is a track included on the album Junretsu Spirit 2, released in November 2025, composed by folk legend Kosetsu Minami.
The lyrics—portraying an intense passion that defies restraint and the edgy games of mature romance—leave a strong impression.
It’s a superb fusion of the sultry allure of mood kayō with a sophisticated, urban pop sound.
Recommended for nighttime drives or for those seeking a mellow, intimate atmosphere.
Romance ExpressKoikawa Iroha
Iroha Koikawa is an enka singer from Kanagawa Prefecture.
Having studied Japanese traditional dance from a young age and holding an instructor’s license, she captivates many fans as a “dancing enka-tainer,” blending song and dance on stage.
Romance Express is her fourth single, released in January 2026, a stylish track imbued with the atmosphere of Showa-era kayōkyoku.
It portrays a woman’s bittersweet feelings as she jumps on a train to chase the one she loves.
It’s a kayōkyoku number where nostalgia and freshness coexist.
shared umbrella for twoSeguchi Yuki
Since debuting in 2000 with the single “Nebuta,” Yuki Seguchi has continued to captivate many fans with her striking kimono-clad visuals and emotionally rich vocals.
Her song “Futari-gasa” is a work that brings to life lyrics that won the Newcomer Grand Prize at the Japan Lyricist Awards.
Set to a wistful melody, it gently portrays the warm happiness of two people huddling together under a single umbrella on a rainy night.
How about playing it during a special moment with your beloved partner?
Stop the NightKiryuu Daisuke
Daisuke Kiryu, known as the “Reiwa-era Japanese Elvis,” is a powerhouse singer who has won the Elvis Presley Contest Japan three times and placed at the world championships.
His sixth single, “Stop the Night,” released in November 2025, is a love song that dramatatically portrays the rekindling of a mature romance against the backdrop of the Yokohama bayside nightscape.
Kiryu himself wrote the lyrics, with composition and arrangement by Shinji Tamura.
The track fuses rockabilly grooves with the emotive melodies of Japanese kayōkyoku.
It will especially resonate with listeners who carry memories of an unforgettable love or who are fond of port-city night views.
Love in Kyoto is a passing showerTakamiyagi Seiji
Seiji Takamiyagi, an enka singer from Kumamoto with the unique background of debuting at age 69, released his sixth single in October 2025—a nostalgic kayōkyoku set against the scenery of Sagano and Arashiyama in Kyoto.
The song depicts a fleeting romance amid the ancient capital’s landscape glistening in a passing shower.
Its gentle melody pairs exquisitely with Takamiyagi’s warm vocals, making for a beautifully crafted track.
If you’re in the mood for travel-inspired sentiment, be sure to give it a listen.
Ephemeral Flowermizuki sayoko
Though they know it’s a forbidden love, they can’t stop the feelings that keep growing.
Utakata no Hana, sung by enka vocalist Sayoko Mizuki—whose expressive power honed through Japanese dance is striking—gives voice to that aching, bittersweet longing.
It’s a ballad of deep emotion that portrays the perilous feelings of a married career woman who finds herself drawn to a younger man.
As she’s unsettled by his straightforward, youthful gaze, her heart sways beyond her control, and the protagonist’s inner conflict is conveyed with piercing clarity through Mizuki’s gently resonant voice.
If you’re struggling with the complications of adult love, this song might quietly stay by your side.