[Enka] Songs that are easy to sing even for those who are tone-deaf [Female singers edition]
As you’d expect, enka requires strong vocal ability and expressive power no matter the song, so people who consider themselves tone-deaf may give up before even trying, thinking, “It’s impossible for me…” That said, there are quite a few enka songs that are relatively easy to sing, or that you can power through on vibe even if you can’t sing them perfectly.
So this time, we’re introducing songs that are easy for tone-deaf singers to tackle—or that you can still enjoy and use to liven up a karaoke session even if you don’t nail them.
In addition to ease of singing, we’ve picked tracks with a strong kayōkyoku flavor that, as mentioned, you can carry with your energy.
For example, try singing just the famous chorus, or have fun by getting creative—like doing a duet with a friend!
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke — Women Singers Edition
- [Enka] Songs That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf [Male Singer Edition]
- [2026] Easy Enka Songs for Karaoke: Recommended Picks — Women Singers Edition
- [2026] Amazing if you can sing them! Enka Masterpieces [Women Singers Edition]
- [2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Classic Masterpieces to Recent Hits [Female Singers Edition]
- A roundup of leading female enka singers representing the Showa era
- [For Women] A roundup of enka songs that can score high in karaoke
- [Asian Songstress] A Collection of Teresa Teng’s Easy-to-Sing Songs
- [For Women] Masterpiece Enka Songs with a High Degree of Difficulty
- Queen of Enka: A roundup of Aki Yashiro’s easy-to-sing songs
- [2026] Recommended for those who find high notes difficult! Enka by male singers that you can sing in a low register
- [Queen of Enka] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Sayuri Ishikawa [2026]
- [Enka First Year] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Yoko Nagayama [2026]
[Enka] Songs That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf [Female Singers Edition] (21–30)
Farewell SongIchikawa Yukino
Beloved by many fans as a tear-jerking masterpiece, Yukino Ichikawa’s signature song “Nagori-uta.” While it’s a piece that evokes melancholy in an enka style, if you pay attention to the finer details, you’ll notice it’s actually closer to Showa-era kayōkyoku than to traditional enka.
In fact, techniques associated with enka—such as kobushi ornamentation—are used sparingly, and the enka flavor is largely limited to the melody.
The vocal range isn’t particularly wide either, making it a song that anyone can tackle with ease.
Consider adding it to your repertoire.
hay feverIchikawa Yukino
Hanawazurai is a striking piece with a melody that exudes allure and passion.
While it carries the distinctive luster of enka, it also contains a generous dose of Showa-era pop essence.
In fact, elements typical of enka—such as the kobushi vocal ornament—rarely appear in the vocal line; the enka quality remains more of an atmospheric impression.
Because Showa pop forms the foundation, the vocal line is inherently less demanding, so if you sing with careful attention to dynamics and phrasing, it will sound professional.
paper craneOka Midori
Released in February 2019, “Kami no Tsuru” (Paper Crane) is a memorable single for Midori Oka, as it marked her first entry into the top 20 of the Oricon charts.
While the melody is bright, it carries a certain poignancy and wistfulness—a classic enka sound that resonates with the Japanese heart.
That said, the typical enka-style vocal ornaments like strong kobushi and intense vibrato are relatively restrained here.
If you focus on singing gently and sincerely, as Oka does, it’s quite approachable even for beginners to enka.
Interestingly, the lower notes can be more challenging than the high ones, so I recommend practicing with clear enunciation and working to apply solid vibrato on the low passages.
Kiyamachi in the RainOka Midori
Composed by Tetsuya Gen, who is said to have helped establish Midori Oka’s signature style, Ameno Kiyamachi was released in 2017 as a double A-side single with Sado no Yuubue, one of the three works in the “Mysterious Enka Trilogy.” It’s a classic, heart-wrenching enka song where vivid scenes of falling rain are artfully interwoven with the psychology of a love that has ended.
Overall, the pitch sits on the higher side, so it may be challenging for those who struggle with high notes.
However, the melody is straightforward and easy to remember, and the intonation is easy to grasp, so lowering the key should make it quite singable.
As I AmNakamura Mitsuko
Among Mitsuko Nakamura’s songs, “Sugao no Mama de” is known as an especially moving piece.
Within her catalog, this work has relatively few enka elements, and the number of kobushi (ornamental vocal turns) is kept low.
The few kobushi that do appear stay within a rise and fall of just one or two notes, making the song approachable even for those who aren’t comfortable with kobushi technique.
Furthermore, although she is known for songs with wide vocal ranges, this piece falls into the comparatively narrow-range category, so even singers who struggle with high notes can perform it with confidence.
In conclusion
As mentioned at the beginning, this article compiles enka songs that are relatively easy to sing or that you can get through on vibe alone.
That said, any song can be difficult if you try to sing it really well, but there’s no rule that says tone-deaf people can’t sing at karaoke! Focus on having fun first, and let us hear your own take on enka.