[2026] A Collection of Classic Enka Songs Depicting Winter Scenery
When you listen to classic enka—the heart of Japan—you’ll notice many songs depict winter scenes and the harsh cold of the northern provinces.
There are truly a great number of enka songs themed around winter, and even pieces about the breakup of a man and a woman are often sung against the backdrop of the north.
This article highlights enka that evoke severe cold through winter landscapes: we’ve researched and compiled not only timeless classics that have left their mark on enka history, but also winter-themed enka that continue to be released even in the Reiwa era.
It’s also recommended for those new to enka, so take this opportunity to check it out.
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[2026] A Collection of Classic Enka Songs Depicting Winter Scenery (21–30)
snow camelliaMiyama Hiroshi
When it comes to a classic song that portrays the harsh winter scenery of Echigo and the feelings of a woman enduring it, this is the one.
Released as a single by Sachiko Kobayashi in 1987, it’s a staple of enka, known for lyrics by Tetsurō Hoshino and composition by Minoru Endō.
This piece was covered by Hiroshi Miyama, an enka singer from Kōchi Prefecture, and included as the closing track on his album “Uaitsugu! Nihon no Ryūkōka Part 5,” released in June 2024.
Miyama’s warm “vitamin voice” vividly conveys the strength and beauty of a red flower that bravely blooms in the snow.
It’s a quintessentially Japanese number you’ll want to savor in February’s lingering cold, warming up under the kotatsu.
Cicadas of WinterNonaka Saori
Saori Nonaka, now in her 38th year since debut, released “Fuyu no Higurashi” in November 2025, an enka ballad that overlays winter scenery with a bittersweet woman’s heart.
Lyricist Makiko Suga, composer Hiroshi Tokuhisa, and arranger Tatsuya Nango—the team behind “Hanabana” and “Koizuki”—have reunited for this release.
Making full use of Nonaka’s signature falsetto, the song is rich in emotional nuance.
It gently sings of the lingering traces of love and complex feelings that dwell within the winter season.
This piece, which intertwines the changing seasons with a woman’s inner landscape, is one to savor carefully.
ice flowerHashiri Yusuke
Released in October 2025, Yusuke Hashiri’s 22nd single is themed around the ethereal frost crystals that bloom on the ice of Lake Akan.
With lyrics by Shinichi Ishihara and music by Masato Sugimoto, the song overlays feelings for a former lover onto a winter landscape.
The vocals emphasize a conversational delivery, with a gentle folk-like warmth.
Perfect for quietly reflecting on a past romance.
Tsugaru Kaze PortTakemura Kozue
This song, released in October 2025 by Kozue Takemura from Shiga Prefecture, is an ambitious work that leans more heavily into rock than any of her previous releases.
From the intro, the roaring electric guitars and powerful beat leave a strong impression.
Set in a snowstorm-swept northern port town, the lyrics portray the passion of a woman determined to stay true to love even as she’s buffeted by fate.
While retaining the emotive essence of enka, the arrangement boldly foregrounds a band sound to stunning effect.
It’s a must-listen not only for traditional enka fans but also for those seeking something fresh.
Ishikari ElegyKitahara Mirei
A classic song set in Ishikari, Hokkaido, portraying a man devoted to the herring fishery and the bittersweet feelings of the woman who stays by his side.
Released in June 1975 as Mirei Kitahara’s eighth single, it won both the Lyricist Award and the Arrangement Award at the Tokyo Music Festival.
Rei Nakanishi’s lyrically rich words, Keisuke Hama’s wistful melody, and Shunichi Makaino’s emotionally charged arrangement come together as one to dramatically express the sorrow and resignation of people who live by the northern sea.
Brimming with deep lyricism that conjures images of mending nets on a snow-swept winter shore, this piece is perfect for moments when you want to quietly reflect on the scenes of the Showa era.