[2026] Easy Enka Songs for Karaoke: Recommended Picks — Women Singers Edition
This may seem sudden, but do you ever sing enka at karaoke?
As you know, enka is a uniquely Japanese genre that has enjoyed steadfast popularity since the Showa era, and it’s very popular at karaoke, too.
These days, enka is attracting attention not only from older listeners but also from younger audiences.
Still, many people may feel, “I want to try singing it at karaoke, but it seems difficult…”
In this article, we introduce classic enka songs by female singers that are relatively simple and easy to sing, even though many enka numbers are technically challenging.
We’ve also covered easy enka recommendations for male singers in another article, so be sure to check that out as well!
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke — Women Singers Edition
- [For Women] A roundup of enka songs that can score high in karaoke
- 【2026】Difficult Enka Songs to Sing — Women Singers Edition
- [2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Classic Masterpieces to Recent Hits [Female Singers Edition]
- [2026] Easy Enka Songs Recommended for Karaoke – Male Singers Edition
- [2026] A roundup of female enka singers in their 60s: Artists who support Japanese enka
- [Enka] Songs that are easy to sing even for those who are tone-deaf [Female singers edition]
- [2026] Representative Famous Enka Songs: A Compilation of Classic Favorites [Beginner-Friendly]
- [2026] Amazing if you can sing them! Enka Masterpieces [Women Singers Edition]
- [2026] Recent hit enka songs: must-watch popular kayō tracks
- Enka songs that are easy for men to sing: a roundup of tracks to try at karaoke
- Classic enka songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended popular tracks
- [Enka First Year] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Yoko Nagayama [2026]
[2026] Easy Enka Songs Recommended for Karaoke – Women Singers (61–70)
Tsubaki GotoIshihara Junko
The Goto Islands are known as the most famous natural habitat of camellias in western Japan.
This song, “Goto Tsubaki,” is a work themed around the camellias that bloom in the Goto Islands, depicting the romantic relationships between men and women.
Among Junko Ishihara’s songs, this piece is particularly strong in enka elements and features kobushi (ornamental vocal turns) typical of authentic enka.
That might sound difficult, but the melismas stay within at most a two-scale-step range, so you shouldn’t struggle with the kobushi.
The tempo is relaxed as well, making it recommended for those who want to start singing enka in earnest.
I want to see you—I wish I could be with you right now.Ishihara Junko
Junko Ishihara’s classic “Aitai, Ima Sugu Anata ni….” Among her songs, this one is particularly easy to sing.
Rather than enka, it leans more toward kayōkyoku, with a melody that evokes the style of Machiko Watanabe or Mariko Takahashi.
The key reason it’s easy to sing is the gentle rise and fall of the pitch.
The tempo is slow and there’s no kobushi ornamentation, so if you focus on solid pitch control and sustained vibrato on long tones, you can even aim for a high karaoke score.
Kazahana CapeIshihara Junko
Ms.
Junko Ishihara, who once drew public attention as an enka idol, has lately gained a mature presence and has been releasing many refined, deep-toned songs.
Among them, the one I especially recommend is Kazahana Misaki.
While it can be classified as enka due to its melodic line and kobushi ornamentation, its structure is very close to kayōkyoku, so even those who aren’t fond of enka can sing it.
The vocal range is narrow, and there aren’t any particularly complex pitch shifts, making it arguably an ideal warm-up piece.
Daikon BlossomIshikawa Sayuri
For Sayuri Ishikawa, the first song that marked the dawn of the 2010s was Daikon no Hana.
As you’d expect with Ishikawa, the lyrics are by Osamu Yoshioka, and the composition is by Chiaki Oka—her collaborator on songs like Hatoba Shigure.
It was released as a single in March 2010.
With lyrics and a melody that carry a sense of melancholy while still looking forward—an anthem to life—and Ishikawa’s signature soaring high notes, it’s a masterpiece many people will want to try at karaoke.
The vocal range is relatively wide, so focus on clear contrast between the high and low sections.
Since kobushi and vibrato aren’t emphasized much, it’s accessible even for beginners to enka.
Eternal JourneyIshikawa Sayuri
The single song “Tokoshie no Tabi,” released in June 2024, is a single by Sayuri Ishikawa, with lyrics by Goro Matsui, music by Tokiko Kato, and arrangement by Neko Saito.
It conveys a sense of compassionate, Buddha-like serenity that reflects her long career, while her unchangingly beautiful voice leaves you feeling purified.
While retaining elements of enka, the song has the vibe of a medium-tempo J-pop ballad, so Ishikawa refrains from kobushi ornamentation and heavy vibrato, instead delivering the wistful melody gently—making it easy to sing even for those who aren’t fond of enka.
Take time to read the lyrics thoroughly, and try to sing with heartfelt feeling.
Burn my lifeIshikawa Sayuri
Sayuri Ishikawa, who was already active as a young enka star with hits like “Tsugaru Strait – Winter Scene” and “Noto Peninsula,” released the song “Inochi Moyashite” in 1979.
Following the previous year’s “Hi no Kuni e,” this track also secured her a spot on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and it’s a beloved classic that’s very popular for karaoke.
The song sits somewhere between enka and kayōkyoku, and Ishikawa’s vocals—she was 21 at the time—still carry a fresh, innocent quality.
With no complex melodic developments and lyrics that are easy to remember, it’s an ideal choice for karaoke.
I highly recommend it not only to enka fans but also to lovers of Shōwa-era pop.
Harbor Pier DrizzleIshikawa Sayuri
The single song “Hatoba Shigure,” released in 1985, is a local tune set at Tonosho Port on Shodoshima in Kagawa Prefecture.
It became a milestone masterpiece that marked Ishikawa’s transition into a mature enka singer, winning the 27th Japan Record Award and being performed at the 36th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, following life experiences such as marriage and the birth of her first daughter.
A commemorative monument was erected in 1992 in Tonosho Town, Shōzu District, Kagawa Prefecture, and in 2012 a monument honoring Osamu Yoshioka, who wrote the lyrics, was also built on Shodoshima.
Hugely popular in karaoke, the song exudes the classic, heartfelt feel of traditional enka, and those accustomed to singing enka should be able to handle it with ease.
As the song builds, the pitch gradually rises, then drops to a deep note before climbing again.
Take your time and sing carefully to avoid going off pitch as the melody intensifies!