Classic enka songs perfect for summer—tunes that sing of festivals and fireworks.

Did you know there are many enka songs that sing about the four seasons?

Among them, there are especially many songs about winter, and even people who don’t usually listen to enka often know quite a few of them.

On the other hand, when it comes to enka that sing about summer, many people might find it hard to think of examples.

In this article, I’ll introduce songs that feature summer traditions and symbols like festivals, fireworks, fireflies, and cicadas!

I’ve selected a wide range, from famous hits to hidden gems, so please take this opportunity to give them a listen.

Playlist

Classic enka songs perfect for summer—tunes that sing of festivals and fireworks.
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	A Midsummer Night’s DreamIshikawa Sayuri		Sayuri Ishikawa’s love song depicting a summer scene
2	Dream FireworksŌtsuki Miyako		Miyako Otsuki’s Enka Song of Gratitude and Hope
3	Summer camelliaShimazu Aya		Aya Shimazu’s “Natsu Tsubaki” is a heartbreak song.
4	The Life of Matsu the UntamedMurata Hideo		A giant in the enka world, who produced many hit songs with a powerful singing voice.
5	Cape of Late SummerTakigawa Maiko		An enka song depicting Maiko Takigawa’s heartbreak and the end of summer
6	fireworksYamauchi Keisuke		The fleeting nature of love expressed through fireworks
7	evening cicadaNagayama Yōko		Yoko Nagayama’s biggest hit song depicting a heartrending romance
8	Elegy of FirefliesIsogawa Yuki		Hotarubi Elegy is the debut song, a tale of bittersweet love
9	Standing Neputa (Giant Neputa Float)Yoshi Ikuzo		Ikuzo Yoshi releases a signature song themed around his hometown festival.
10	Nambu Cicada ChorusFukuda Kouhei		Kohei Fukuda, a cheer singer from Iwate Prefecture
11	Dream FireworksGodai Natsuko		A love song that likens a woman’s unwavering feelings to fireworks. A track you’ll want to listen to in the summer.
12	sparklerkoori kenta		Kenta Koori’s Breakup Song Sparkler
13	Echigo Dream FireworksIshihara Junko		The Appeal of Junko Ishihara’s Enka Song ‘Echigo Dream Fireworks’
14	fireworksIshikawa Sayuri		Sayuri Ishikawa’s “Hanabi” is a song that depicts the bittersweet feeling at the end of summer.
15	Distant fireworksHiroyuki Nishikata		A signature song by Hiroyuki Nishikata that portrays the poignancy of unrequited love through fireworks
16	touch-me-not (balsam; Impatiens balsamina)Shimakura Chiyoko		A Showa-era classic depicting Chiyoko Shimakura’s romance
17	Ephemeral SummerMaverick Mom		An emotional rock song that portrays summer romance
18	Raging Taiko Drum ~Including ‘Outlaw for Life’~Sakamoto Fuyumi		Fuyumi Sakamoto’s debut song depicts the passion of festivals.
19	Tanabata DanceShimakura Chiyoko		A summer festival song by Chiyoko Shimakura depicting the Sendai Tanabata Festival
20	Toridori Yumemidori feat. DJ KOOOka Midori		Expressing dreams and hopes through a festival song