【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)
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!
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.
[2026] Difficult Enka Songs to Sing – Female Singers Edition (11–20)
Naruto StraitGodai Natsuko
Released in 1996 and a hit, Naruto Kaikyō is a song commemorating Natsuko Godai’s 10th anniversary since her debut, and it’s also known as a classic for which song monuments were later erected in both Naruto City, Tokushima, and Minamiawaji City, Hyogo.
The lyrics brilliantly portray the psychology of poignant love and the imagery of the Naruto Strait that seems to envelop human emotions, and of course, Godai’s richly expressive vocal performance is nothing short of outstanding.
It’s also popular at karaoke, but the vocal range is extremely wide; the high notes in the chorus that use falsetto will be a challenge even for those who can usually hit higher pitches.
The melody in the A section also swings dramatically between high and low notes, so overall it’s a song that demands considerable vocal skill.
Try to sing each note carefully while keeping in mind the song’s majestic atmosphere.
Flowers bloom in the winds of hardship.Mori Konomi
As a representative enka singer who debuted in the 2010s and beyond, Konomi Mori is always one of the first names that comes up.
Discovered by the legendary Takashi Hosokawa at the young age of 18, Mori is a popular enka vocalist known for her exceptional singing ability, backed by years of learning traditional folk songs from childhood.
Among her songs, the one I especially recommend trying at karaoke is “Hana wa Kurō no Kaze ni Saku” (Flowers Bloom in the Wind of Hardship).
As the title suggests, it’s an uplifting anthem for life, and its lyrics cheer listeners on with a strong, gentle warmth that feels so good to hear.
As mentioned, Mori’s characteristic folk-style phrasing, combined with enka’s distinctive traits, makes her singing highly unique.
Rather than placing notes mechanically, she employs subtle fluctuations that never slip off pitch—something that can feel very challenging.
The passages where she glides smoothly across a wide range, soaring from low to high notes in an instant, are particularly tricky in terms of rhythm and intonation.
I’d love to see those who think “I’m the one!” take on this song!
Woman of ShinjukuFuji Keiko
Some people may only know Keiko Fuji as the mother of Hikaru Utada, but Fuji, with her powerful, gravelly voice that belied her teenage years and her innate vocal talent, was truly worthy of being called a genius singer.
If you listen to her debut single “Shinjuku no Onna,” released when she was just 18, you’ll understand how extraordinary she was.
It’s a classic that achieved commercial success and catapulted her to stardom, and it fully showcases the appeal of her husky voice—lush yet tinged with melancholy.
While it’s an enka song, it also carries a kayōkyoku flavor, so those who aren’t fond of traditional enka might find it easier to sing.
That said, actually mastering it is another matter entirely; it’s extremely difficult to capture Fuji’s phrasing, which spans a wide vocal range.
Not only the high notes and vibrato, but also clearly articulated low melodies are challenging—keep that in mind as you practice.
Inn of the White HeronJōnouchi Sanae
It’s a quintessential enka number that sings of a love both aching and passionately ablaze.
Sanae Jōnouchi—who made an idol debut in the 1980s as a member of Onyanko Club yet uniquely launched a solo career early on as an enka singer—released this Reiwa-era enka masterpiece in 2019.
Backed by her long career, Jōnouchi’s performance combines a serene, velvety tone with a powerful will and commanding presence—truly outstanding.
In classic enka fashion, the song has a wide vocal range, balancing lower and higher notes; to sing the melody as Jōnouchi does is, frankly, no easy feat.
That said, it doesn’t feature particularly tricky rhythms or phrasing, so those accustomed to singing enka should find it well within reach.
For the high notes at the end of the chorus that use a long tone and falsetto, be sure to manage your breathing before and after so you can deliver them smoothly.