[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 Masterpieces for Karaoke – Female Singers Edition (41–50)
Forgetfulness SakeNakamura Mitsuko
Mitsuko Nakamura’s classic “Wasure-zake” is memorable for its orthodox phrasing.
Because it’s solidly enka, the number of kobushi (melismatic turns) is fairly high, but the overall difficulty is low since the song’s kobushi incorporate a hiccup-style flip into falsetto.
Among the various types of kobushi, the flipping kind is relatively easy to sing; however, if the key is too low, the voice may not flip, so it’s best to set the key slightly on the high side.
The vocal range itself is on the narrow side, so boldly raising the key is recommended.
evening drinkNakamura Mitsuko
Mitsuko Nakamura’s poignant classic “Banshaku” (Evening Drink).
While she is renowned for her “man’s songs,” this piece is especially known as one of her most popular in that style.
True to Nakamura’s roots in the Kawachi Ondo tradition, the song primarily employs the hiccup technique, which flips the voice.
The ornamentation (kobushi) that uses this hiccup is less difficult than that of typical enka, resulting in a vocal line that’s easier for beginners to sing.
In addition, the tempo is particularly slow even among her works, and there are well-placed rests before executing the kobushi, which also makes it easier to perform.
Tearful LoveYashiro Aki
Aki Yashiro possesses a very unusual vocal quality for a singer.
Typically, as singers age, their lower register gains more heft, but in her case it was the opposite—she had a richer, deeper low range when she was younger.
One of the works released early in her career is Namida Koi.
Its slightly muffled, husky voice timbre leaves a strong impression, doesn’t it? As enka, this piece features relatively few kobushi ornaments and incorporates plenty of kayōkyoku (Japanese pop) elements, making it easy to sing even for those who aren’t fond of enka.
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).
Let me stay for the night.Kobayashi Sachiko
It’s a classic Showa-era kayokyoku that has an enka flavor, with striking rock-style guitar solos and riffs.
“Hitoban Tometene,” released by Sachiko Kobayashi in 1985, was composed by Katsuhiko Miki, who also worked on one of Kobayashi’s signature songs, “Moshikashite.” The overall key is on the lower side, and it’s the kind of song that expresses a sultry melody through the appeal of the low register, so it’s perfect for those who struggle with high notes.
The enka-style kobushi (ornamental turns) and vibrato are kept to a minimum, making it a great piece for beginners to enka to try!
Love SakuraKobayashi Sachiko
It’s a beautiful enka masterpiece—grand in scale yet tinged with melancholy—richly infused with traditional Japanese flavor through the use of Japanese instruments.
“Koi Zakura” is a single released by Sachiko Kobayashi in 2007, and she also performed it at that year’s NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, so some listeners may find it familiar.
While Kobayashi’s signature techniques—kobushi, shakuri, and vibrato—are of course present, the melody that seems to speak to the Japanese soul is easy to remember, and once you’ve learned it, singing it itself shouldn’t be too difficult.
There are no extreme high notes either, so even those who feel uneasy about higher pitches should definitely give it a try.
You made me cry, you bastard.Kobayashi Sachiko
The striking song title “Nakaseyayagatte Kono Yarō” marks the first time the renowned lyricist Tetsurō Hoshino—who would later team up with Sachiko Kobayashi on masterpieces like “Yuki Tsubaki”—participated in one of her singles.
Released in 1982, it’s a title whose meaning you’ll want to confirm by reading the lyrics.
Asei Kobayashi’s melody is simple and memorable; though it’s enka, it carries a kayōkyoku flavor that should make it feel approachable even for beginners.
Practice repeatedly to create clear contrast between low and high notes, and work on producing a natural vibrato at the end of the chorus.