【2026】Difficult Enka Songs to Sing — Women Singers Edition
Speaking of enka, it’s a genre that demands above-average skill to sing—think distinctive phrasing with strong kobushi (ornamental turns), heavy use of vibrato, and overall exceptional vocal technique, especially for karaoke.
Of course, there are easier songs to sing, but this article compiles classic enka tracks that are particularly challenging to perform.
In addition to the characteristic enka vocal style mentioned at the start, these songs line up as high-difficulty pieces that require strong expressive ability, considering factors like wide vocal range.
This piece introduces masterpieces by female enka singers, but we also feature difficult-to-sing classics by male singers in another article, so be sure to check that out as well.
- [2026] Amazing if you can sing them! Enka Masterpieces [Women Singers Edition]
- [2026] Enka Songs That Are Hard to Sing – Male 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 Women] Masterpiece Enka Songs with a High Degree of Difficulty
- Women’s Enka: A collection of classic enka songs expressing women’s emotions
- [2026] A roundup of female enka singers in their 60s: Artists who support Japanese enka
- [2026] Recent hit enka songs: must-watch popular kayō tracks
- [2026] Representative Famous Enka Songs: A Compilation of Classic Favorites [Beginner-Friendly]
- [For Women] A roundup of enka songs that can score high in karaoke
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke — Women Singers Edition
- 【2026】Recommended Enka by Male Singers with Captivating High Notes
- A roundup of captivating enka female singers in their 50s [2026]
[2026] Enka Songs That Are Hard to Sing – Women Vocalists Edition (1–10)
Woman Harbor TownYashiro Aki
Aki Yashiro was a great singer who left remarkable achievements not only in enka and kayōkyoku, but also in genres like jazz and blues.
The famous songs she performed are all extremely popular choices for karaoke; however, when you actually try singing them, you realize they’re anything but straightforward—thanks to her outstanding vocal technique, expressive power, and naturally husky voice.
This time, we’re introducing “Onna Minato-machi,” a hit released in 1977 and performed at the 28th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Yashiro, then in her twenties, delivered vocals that were powerful and sultry; if you can nail this song, you’re sure to earn thunderous applause from your karaoke buddies.
Overall, the song sits in a higher register, makes frequent use of vibrato, and features many tricky spots—particularly the rhythmic phrasing in the A section.
The piece itself straddles the line between enka and kayōkyoku, and singing along to its funky rhythm—unlike conventional enka—can actually be challenging, especially for those accustomed to classic, straight-ahead enka.
Practice each section repeatedly so you can master both the light, buoyant rhythm and the expansive, ringing vocal delivery.
Karatachi DiaryShimakura Chiyoko
This is a masterpiece that showcases Chiyoko Shimakura’s fresh, crystal-clear voice when she was just about 20 years old! The year before this work, Karatachi Nikki, was released—1957—Tokyo da yo, Okkasan became a massive hit.
Shimakura not only starred in its film adaptation but had already cemented her status as a young superstar.
However, there was a belief at the time that “songs with spoken lines don’t sell,” which makes Karatachi Nikki historically significant for breaking that jinx.
As for the song itself, the overall key is very high, which is challenging for those who struggle with high notes.
Listening closely, you’ll notice irregular meters in places, and the structure moves between major and minor keys—techniques that make it more complex than it sounds at first.
With difficult rhythms, sustained high tones through almost the entire piece, and even spoken lines, it’s a song of considerable difficulty—so if you’re confident in your skills, definitely give it a try!
Tangled HairMisora Hibari
Hibari Misora, an unparalleled mega-star born of the Showa era, who forever engraved her name in the history of Japanese entertainment.
She released countless masterpieces into the world, and her popularity shows no sign of waning even now in the Reiwa era.
With pitch-perfect accuracy, overwhelming vocal prowess, and expressive power that moves listeners—everything about her is truly top-notch, and the influence she has had on later music scenes is immeasurable.
There are surely many people who try to become Hibari herself and sing her famous songs at karaoke.
For all of you, the song I’d love you to take on is Midaregami, a renowned piece Hibari released in 1987 late in her career.
It was also the first song she released upon returning like a phoenix from illness, and it’s characterized by its beautiful falsetto in the chorus.
You can tell even just by listening, without singing, that the wide vocal range and dramatic leaps in pitch make it a highly challenging song.
Because it’s a grandly orchestrated track, even keeping the rhythm is difficult, so try practicing each section repeatedly and work to grasp the overall shape of the song.
Woman of the Land of FireSakamoto Fuyumi
Fuyumi Sakamoto made a sudden breakthrough with her 1987 debut single “Abare Daiko,” quickly joining the ranks of popular enka singers.
She went on to release numerous hits and beloved songs with nationwide appeal, and it’s still fresh in our memories that at the 75th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2024, she performed “Noto wa Irankaine” via a live relay from Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture.
One of her signature songs, “Hi no Kuni no Onna,” released in 1991, is a popular track that received high acclaim, including winning the 33rd Japan Record Award.
The chorus, powered by emotive kobushi ornamentation that channels a woman’s burning passion, is a part you’ll especially want to nail with style if you sing it at karaoke.
That said, the overall difficulty is high: the melody spans a wide range and jumps intensely between pitches, so you won’t bring out the best of the song unless you handle both the low and high notes with confidence.
Also be mindful of the diction in the lyrics, and don’t forget to consciously express the protagonist’s emotions.
A woman aloneFuji Ayako
Aya Koji, a popular enka singer who debuted toward the end of the Showa era and has remained an active, top-tier performer through the Heisei and Reiwa eras, continues to shine today.
She has many beloved karaoke favorites, and the song featured here, “Onna ga Hitori” (A Woman Alone), is a cover of a classic by Saburo Kitajima, released as a single in 2023 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of her debut.
The excellence of the original goes without saying, but as you can hear in Koji’s version, the song is a perfect fit for her—sung with elegant, lustrous tone and great care.
At first listen it sounds like a straightforward, classic enka number, but the pitch movement is quite dramatic, and smoothly transitioning between the low and high notes takes familiarity and practice.
Be mindful of singing expansively and smoothly while feeling the relaxed 3/4, waltz-like rhythm.