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[For Women] Masterpiece Enka Songs with a High Degree of Difficulty

When you see someone at karaoke masterfully singing enka with powerful vibrato, even an untrained ear thinks, “Wow, this person is a great singer.”

The enka genre fundamentally demands high vocal skill and expressive ability, so it’s difficult to pull off unless you’re at least somewhat confident in your singing.

In this article, we’ve researched challenging, higher-difficulty enka songs that we hope those already somewhat familiar with the genre will try, compiling classic tracks by female vocalists.

We’re featuring not only universally known hits but also excellent songs released in recent years, so be sure to check them out!

By the way, we’ve also published a separate article for songs by male singers, so don’t miss that one either.

Playlist

[For Women] Masterpiece Enka Songs with a High Degree of Difficulty
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Boat SongYashiro Aki
Boat SongYashiro Akiplay_arrow
Aki Yashiro’s enka masterpiece, served as the final headliner at the Kouhaku (NHK New Year’s Eve) show
2Melancholy WharfMisora Hibari
Melancholy WharfMisora Hibariplay_arrow
Hibari Misora’s classic enka masterpiece, a challenging song that brings out her vocal prowess
3Memories SakeKobayashi Sachiko
Memories SakeKobayashi Sachikoplay_arrow
An enka masterpiece that sings of alcohol and love
4Rhododendron PassAsahna Miho
Rhododendron PassAsahna Mihoplay_arrow
Miho Asaka’s new enka song, a heartbreaking love story
5Your path of gloryTendō Yoshimi
Your path of gloryTendō Yoshimiplay_arrow
Yoshimi Tendo’s signature song, Love and the Hardships of Life
6Tear SongOka Midori
Tear SongOka Midoriplay_arrow
Enka song by Midori Oka depicts loneliness in a winter city
7Karatachi DiaryShimakura Chiyoko
Karatachi DiaryShimakura Chiyokoplay_arrow
Chiyoko Shimakura's classic heartbreak song
8White Thread Love StoryKudō Ayano
White Thread Love StoryKudō Ayanoplay_arrow
An enka piece by Ayano Kudo inspired by Kyoka Izumi’s tragic love
9Michinoku Homesick SongKadamatsu Miyuki
Michinoku Homesick SongKadamatsu Miyukiplay_arrow
Miyuki Kadomatsu's debut song is a homesick ballad.
10Cape TachimachiMori Masako
Cape TachimachiMori Masakoplay_arrow
Masako Mori's famous song, an enka set on the Sea of Japan
11Nostalgic O-kesaMori Konomi
Nostalgic O-kesaMori Konomiplay_arrow
Konomi Mori's nostalgic enka expressing feelings for Sado and love
12Tango Namida StationShiina Sachiko
Tango Namida StationShiina Sachikoplay_arrow
An enka song by Sachiko Shiina about heartbreak, set against the backdrop of the Tango Peninsula
13KoishunkaHayama Mizuki
KoishunkaHayama Mizukiplay_arrow
A song that touches the heart with the sound of the kokyu and powerful vocals
14Jonkara Onna-bushiNagayama Yōko
Jonkara Onna-bushiNagayama Yōkoplay_arrow
A Tsugaru-shamisen masterpiece, Yoko Nagayama’s signature work
15Silent SlopeKouzai Kaori
Silent SlopeKouzai Kaoriplay_arrow
Kaori Koizumi’s signature song, winner of the Japan Record Award