【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] Difficult Enka Songs to Sing – Female Singers Edition (11–20)
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.
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.
Snow Love BlossomIchikawa Yukino
Yukino Ichikawa made her debut in her teens and, armed with solid ability, has remained at the forefront from the early Heisei era to today in Reiwa.
The song introduced here, “Yukikoi-bana,” was released in January 2019 and became her last track of the Heisei era, just before the transition to Reiwa—a true classic.
Beyond Ichikawa’s superb vocals that convey a burning, passionate yet heartrending love, the song’s dramatic structure—blending elements of kayōkyoku and J-pop—makes it enjoyable even for listeners beyond enka fans.
It’s the kind of piece you’ll want to try at karaoke, but it’s not so easy to master.
Its defining feature is the wide vocal range, and delivering a seamless contrast between the calm verses and the dynamically developing chorus requires considerable singing ability and expressive power.
That said, it doesn’t demand shockingly high notes, so rather than relying on superficial tricks, first focus on clear enunciation and channeling your overflowing emotions into the song.
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.