[2026] Amazing if you can sing them! Enka Masterpieces [Women Singers Edition]
Enka, which is hugely popular at karaoke, includes many classic songs loved across generations, and plenty of people likely keep an enka number as their go-to “showstopper” in their repertoire.
For those already somewhat used to singing enka, we’ve compiled a selection of notoriously difficult songs that are guaranteed to earn you rave reviews if you can pull them off.
The enka genre itself demands advanced vocal technique, but the tracks we’ve chosen here are especially challenging and well worth the effort.
If you’re thinking, “I’m up for it,” we strongly encourage you to give them a try.
This article features songs by female singers, but we also have a separate article covering songs by male singers, so be sure to check that out as well.
- 【2026】Difficult Enka Songs to Sing — Women Singers Edition
- [2026] Easy Enka Songs for Karaoke: Recommended Picks — Women Singers Edition
- [2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Classic Masterpieces to Recent Hits [Female Singers Edition]
- [2026] Amazing If You Can Sing It! Classic Enka Masterpieces [Male Singers Edition]
- [Enka] Songs that are easy to sing even for those who are tone-deaf [Female singers edition]
- [For Women] Masterpiece Enka Songs with a High Degree of Difficulty
- [2026] Active in the enka and kayō world! A roundup of beautiful enka singers
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke — Women Singers Edition
- A roundup of leading female enka singers representing the Showa era
- [2026] Enka Songs That Are Hard to Sing – Male Singers Edition
- [People・Songs・Heart] A Collection of Miyuki Kawanaka’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- [Female Singers Edition] The face of New Year’s Eve! Enka singers who appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen
- 【2026】A Collection of Masterpieces: Enka and Kayōkyoku Duets by Two Women
[2026] Amazing if You Can Sing Them! Enka Masterpieces [Female Vocalists Edition] (1–10)
Happiness is just around the corner…Tendō Yoshimi
Let me introduce one of Yoshimi Tendo’s signature songs, known for its moving vocals and touching lyrics.
Released in February 2008, this track was chosen as the ending theme for the TBS music program “Kaiun Ongakudo,” winning the hearts of many listeners.
The lyrics deliver a warm message: happiness isn’t far away—it’s actually right by your side.
The song showcases Tendo’s powerful yet delicate vocal prowess, with her soaring high notes being especially breathtaking.
If you’re confident in your high range, why not give it a try?
Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneIshikawa Sayuri
A towering classic of enka, released in 1977, beloved for its profound emotion and heartrending lyrics.
From the perspective of a woman who steps off the night train from Ueno at Aomori Station, it vividly depicts a farewell scene on the windswept Tsugaru Strait.
The protagonist’s loneliness aboard the Seikan ferry and the way she is moved by the wintry landscape of Cape Tappi are deeply affecting.
Sayuri Ishikawa’s richly expressive vocals bring the song’s world to life and captivated countless listeners.
After its release, it garnered numerous honors, including the Japan Record Awards and her first appearance on Kōhaku Uta Gassen, becoming a signature work that cemented her status as the queen of enka.
It’s so famous that nearly everyone has heard it at least once and many can hum along, but singing it well is another matter—it demands a high level of technique.
It’s important to avoid a flat delivery by using clear contrasts, and to pour emotion into the climactic moments.
NocturneIchikawa Yukino
Yukino Ichikawa is a popular singer who can be considered one of the defining figures of the enka scene since the late 1990s.
Before taking a hiatus due to illness, she released the single “Nocturne” in March 2024.
It’s a medium-tempo ballad featuring a grand sound and plenty of kayōkyoku flavor.
It might seem easy to sing at first glance, but it’s actually quite demanding: from the intro and the very first entrance, both rhythm and pitch are hard to grasp.
Rather than singing it in a flat, matter-of-fact way, be sure to fit the lyrics properly to the melody’s pitches while avoiding a mechanical delivery, and sing with emotion.
[2026] Amazing if you can sing them! Enka Masterpieces [Female Singers Edition] (11–20)
Jonkara Onna-bushiNagayama Yōko
This 2003 release is a fresh, classic enka song that weaves in vivid scenes of Tsugaru, enriched by the sound of the Tsugaru shamisen.
Yoko Nagayama’s performance—singing while playing the shamisen herself—left a strong impression on many fans, and the track is considered one of her signature songs.
Though it’s enka, it also carries a kayōkyoku-style flavor.
The unique melody, which harmonizes beautifully with lyrics that include the Tsugaru dialect and the tone of the shamisen, is surprisingly difficult to sing once you try it.
Successfully marrying enka with shamisen, the piece drew attention with a performance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and it’s a song I highly recommend to anyone interested in shamisen playing.
Nostalgic O-kesaMori Konomi
Released in 2020, this song sings of longing for one’s hometown and the shifts of life.
The lyrics weave in the scenery and traditional culture of Sado, layered with Konomi Mori’s powerful yet delicate vocals that fully draw out the appeal of enka.
Many people may sing it at karaoke, but in fact, when you actually try it, the pitch is hard to grasp and the wide vocal range makes it a high-difficulty song.
It demands singing that makes full use of a broad range from low to high notes, and it’s also challenging to express the nostalgia embedded in the lyrics.
For a start, don’t overthink it—try singing while picturing the scenes described in the lyrics and paying attention to how much force you use.
Tango Namida StationShiina Sachiko
It’s a bittersweet pure-love enka, woven through the refined luster and power of Sachiko Shiina’s voice.
As the third installment in a tragic-romance series set along the Sea of Japan coast, it poignantly expresses the sorrow of parting and lingering attachment against the snowy backdrop of Miyazu Station.
While the song demands a high level of vocal skill to add to one’s repertoire, its emotionally rich lyrics and beautiful melody are sure to resonate with many.
Released in January 2020, this work is a masterpiece that fully showcases Shiina’s enka talent.
Pay attention to the nuanced phrasing, the expressive “cry” characteristic of enka, and other advanced techniques; if you sing it with heartfelt emotion, it’s certain to move listeners.
Cape HyugaMizumori Kaori
It’s a moving masterpiece by Kaori Mizumori set in Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture.
The lyrics, depicting a woman overcoming the pain of heartbreak and taking a new step forward, leave a strong impression.
Through scenic descriptions like the spray of the waves and the lighthouse at Cape Hyuga, the protagonist’s emotions are expressed with great finesse.
Released in January 2023, the song also drew attention as a work commemorating the 28th anniversary of Mizumori’s debut.
As Hyuga City’s tourism ambassador, Mizumori infuses the piece with a distinct love for her hometown.
It’s a song I’d recommend not only to enka fans, but also to anyone who’s experienced heartbreak or wants to move forward.
Though the vocal difficulty is on the higher side, it’s perfect for honing expressive, emotionally rich singing.