[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)
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.
Echigo Love StoryKobayashi Sachiko
The single Echigo Jowa, released in 1996, is a masterpiece that lets you fully savor Sachiko Kobayashi’s appeal as a classic enka singer.
It has the feel of pure enka, with Kobayashi’s sultry, heartfelt vocals shining from start to finish, Toyohisa Araki’s concise yet all-encompassing lyric choices, and Tetsuya Gen’s beautiful, faintly wistful melody—all superb.
The overall key is average, and as long as you grasp basic enka techniques like kobushi and vibrato, it should be easy to sing even for those who aren’t comfortable with high notes.
It’s enka through and through, so beginners should try learning the essence of enka with this song!
Unrequited LoveHattori Hiroko
Hiroko Hattori’s classic “Kurenai Jōwa” is striking for its gently unfolding opening.
At first, you might find it sultry, but once the chorus begins, an unexpectedly grand and moving melody spreads out.
Because of this, the song calls for a wide range of expression, yet fortunately it contains very few complex elements.
Even the use of kobushi ornamentation is among the least in Hattori’s repertoire, so even those who struggle with enka should be able to sing it without trouble.
Consider adding it to your repertoire.
Live with youIshihara Junko
Among Junko Ishihara’s songs, “Anata to Ikiru” is one of the most quintessentially enka works.
Perhaps because of her position as an “enka idol,” many of her tracks are catchy and feature relatively few kobushi (melismatic turns), but this piece includes them in earnest.
Of course, adding kobushi increases the difficulty; however, the kobushi here move up and down by only about three scale degrees at most, and there are no passages that require executing kobushi while belting.
As a result, even though it is authentic enka, the overall difficulty level is set on the lower side.
Red MoonIshihara Junko
Among Junko Ishihara’s works, the masterful song “Akai Tsuki” (“Crimson Moon”) stands out for its exceptional sensuality.
It vividly portrays a woman’s femininity as she elegantly pins up her hair for the man she longs for, and her passion as she devotes herself to him.
The vocal line matches this theme, crafted to be both gentle and fervent.
The tricky part is the kobushi ornamentation in the A verse; as it approaches the chorus, the vocal line becomes simpler.
Surprisingly, the song’s range is relatively narrow, so even those who struggle with high notes can sing it with confidence.
human dramaIshikawa Sayuri
Human Moyo (Human Patterns), with lyrics by Aku Yū and music by Sugimoto Mahito, is a single released by Sayuri Ishikawa in 2003.
It’s a love song in a major key that feels bright yet somehow wistful, featuring warmly toned guitar and Ishikawa’s intimate, conversational singing—such a lovely combination.
It’s also very popular for karaoke, and many people likely have it in their repertoire.
The characteristic enka-style vocal ornamentation (kobushi) is used relatively lightly, and the song includes J-pop elements, making it approachable even for beginners to enka.
Among Ishikawa’s songs, the pitch range is set on the lower side, so it’s easier to sing for those who struggle with high notes.