[For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke — Women Singers Edition
In recent years, as Showa-era kayōkyoku has been attracting attention not only in Japan but also overseas, enka—often called the spiritual hometown of the Japanese—has also been drawing keen interest among younger generations.
Enka is a genre that has evolved in many forms, from classic, orthodox styles to songs with a strong kayōkyoku flavor and even pieces that fuse multiple genres, and it continues to enjoy enduring popularity in the Reiwa era.
For those new to enka, this article introduces classic enka masterpieces by female singers that are easy to try at karaoke.
We’ve compiled a lineup of timeless hits that even beginners are likely to know, so if you’re interested, be sure to check it out.
By the way, we also introduce a male-singer version in another article, so don’t miss that, either!
- [Enka] Songs that are easy to sing even for those who are tone-deaf [Female 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]
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Masterpieces for Karaoke — Male Singers Edition
- [For Women] A roundup of enka songs that can score high in karaoke
- A roundup of female enka singers in their 70s: voices that evoke nostalgia
- [2026] Amazing if you can sing them! Enka Masterpieces [Women Singers Edition]
- A roundup of leading female enka singers representing the Showa era
- [For Women] Masterpiece Enka Songs with a High Degree of Difficulty
- 【2026】Difficult Enka Songs to Sing — Women Singers Edition
- [Asian Songstress] A Collection of Teresa Teng’s Easy-to-Sing Songs
- [Enka] Songs That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf [Male Singer Edition]
- Nostalgic enka. A collection of classic enka hits from the Showa era.
[For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke – Women Singers (21–30)
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.
I miss you.Ichikawa Yukino
Among Yukino Ichikawa’s songs, “Aitai Naa” is renowned as one of her finest masterpieces.
It fully embodies the pathos that is the defining feature of enka, with vocals in every section that stir the listener’s emotions.
While expressive ability is certainly required, the song prioritizes sentiment, so the vocal lines surprisingly feel quite straightforward.
In particular, most of the kobushi ornamentations involve relatively few pitch turns, making it an easy song to sing even for those who feel uncertain about executing kobushi.
[For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke – Female Singers (31–40)
False Forget-me-notIchikawa Yukino
Tokyo Wasure: a work that portrays the feelings of a woman who leaves Tokyo behind to start a new life with the one she loves.
Beginning with a dramatic intro, the song repeatedly features vocals delivered with a dramatic flair throughout.
While the expressive elements—such as breathing nuances—demand a high level of control, the technical aspects of enka, like kobushi ornamentation, are comparatively lenient.
Therefore, anyone with solid basic vocal skills and a grasp of kobushi technique should be able to perform it without difficulty.
perchKobayashi Sachiko
Riding the momentum of the smash hit “Omoide-zake,” “Tomarigi,” released in 1980, is Sachiko Kobayashi’s 29th single.
It’s also one of her signature songs, with lyrics and music by Eiji Takino, a prolific creator of many classics.
It’s as popular at karaoke as “Omoide-zake” and “Yuki Tsubaki,” so some of you have probably heard others sing it.
Overall, while the song spans a wide vocal range and has its challenges, the somewhat wistful, melancholic melody line is straightforward, and the chord progression is simple, so you shouldn’t struggle with rhythm or pitch.
I recommend listening closely to the original and studying where Kobayashi uses vibrato and kobushi (ornamental bends).
snow camelliaKobayashi Sachiko
Yukitsubaki is one of Sachiko Kobayashi’s signature songs and holds great significance in her career as it was her first single after becoming independent from her agency.
The lyrics were written by the master Tetsurō Hoshino—his first single with her since “Mō Ichido Dake”—at Kobayashi’s own request, and she delivers a stirring performance of a grand, classic enka.
It’s also extremely popular for karaoke, so many enka fans are likely to belt it out at karaoke.
As mentioned, it’s a quintessential enka number, so techniques like kobushi (melodic turns) and vibrato appear, but the overall range is average, with no standout high notes or extended long tones.
Therefore, anyone who has a grasp of enka fundamentals should be able to sing it without difficulty.
Daphne (winter daphne)Ishikawa Sayuri
Released in 1977, “Jinchoge” is an early masterpiece by Sayuri Ishikawa, who had transitioned from an idol to an enka singer and was riding a wave of success after her 1977 hit “Tsugaru Strait—Winter Scene.” While she had been releasing songs by the duo Yū Aku (lyrics) and Takashi Miki (composition), this track is notably penned by Ryo Shoji, composed by Katsuo Ōno, and arranged by Koji Makaino—a fascinating shift.
The overall key is on the higher side, which can be challenging for those who struggle with high notes; however, the kobushi and vibrato are not overly intense, and the pitch movement is relatively restrained, making the melody itself quite singable.
With its strong kayōkyoku flavor, it’s also recommended for fans of Showa-era Japanese pop.
Where is your hometown?Teresa Ten
When people think of Teresa Teng, many probably remember her mood-evoking songs.
This track, “Where Is My Hometown?”, differs from that image and is crafted as a gentle kayōkyoku with a touch of enka flavor.
In terms of genre, it feels like a mix of country, enka, and kayōkyoku.
Although the piece sits slightly high in vocal range, there are no sections that require belting out high notes, so its difficulty is surprisingly low.
There are quite a lot of long tones, so be sure to take solid breaths during the rests.