[Female Singers Edition] The face of New Year’s Eve! Enka singers who appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen
Kōhaku Uta Gassen, NHK’s year-end national music program, has been beloved for many years since it began in 1951.
In recent years, the lineup of performers has grown increasingly diverse, reflecting the times.
Still, across the Shōwa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras, many people would say that the singers they simply can’t see out the year without—the true “faces of New Year’s Eve”—are the enka performers.
In this article, we’ve selected female enka singers who have appeared on Kōhaku.
Please enjoy them along with their signature songs!
- [Male Singers Edition] The face of New Year’s Eve! Enka singers who appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen
- A roundup of leading female enka singers representing the Showa era
- [2026] Amazing if you can sing them! Enka Masterpieces [Women Singers Edition]
- [2026] A roundup of female enka singers in their 60s: Artists who support Japanese enka
- [2026] Active in the enka and kayō world! A roundup of beautiful enka singers
- A roundup of female enka singers in their 70s: voices that evoke nostalgia
- [2026] Compilation of Enka Singers from Kumamoto
- [2026] A roundup of enka singers from Niigata
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke — Women Singers Edition
- [2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Classic Masterpieces to Recent Hits [Female Singers Edition]
- [Enka] Songs that are easy to sing even for those who are tone-deaf [Female singers edition]
- [Original Endoru] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Junko Ishihara [2026]
- [Tears and Alcohol] A Collection of Kaori Kozai’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
[Female Singers] The Face of New Year’s Eve! Enka Singers Who Appeared on the Red and White Song Battle (11–20)
Fleeting LoveKouzai Kaori
Kaori Kozai, a powerhouse enka singer from Osaka Prefecture, was born on August 28, 1963.
Her vocal prowess, honed from a young age through folk songs, has added color to numerous hits, starting with her debut single “Ame Sakaba” (Rainy Bar).
In 1991, she won a prestigious award for “Nagarekusa,” solidifying her talent and popularity.
She has appeared frequently on television and in commercials, showcasing achievements that transcend the enka genre.
Listening to her voice offers a heartwarming experience of Japan’s traditional music.
Evening Horn of SadoOka Midori
Midori Oka, who made a name for herself in the Showa-era folk song competitions, debuted in August 2005 with “Okesa Migratory Bird,” soon drawing attention as a promising young talent in the enka world.
At the end of 2017, she made her first appearance at the 68th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, and went on to achieve the feat of performing for three consecutive years.
Leveraging the solid vocal skills she cultivated through folk songs, she is a must-see performer who can handle not only enka but a wide range of musical styles.
In 2019, at the 61st Japan Record Awards, she received the Japan Composers’ Association New Artist Award, steadily building her career.
With her beautiful singing voice and friendly personality, she has become beloved by a broad audience, not just enka fans.
Boat SongYashiro Aki
Aki Yashiro, who continued to reign as the Queen of Enka.
Since her debut in 1971, she produced a string of hits such as “Namida Koi,” “Shinobi Koi,” and “Ai Hitosuji,” establishing herself as a leading figure in the enka world.
In 1980, she won the 22nd Japan Record Award for “Ame no Bojo.” She appeared many times on NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen, and in both 1979 and 1980 she closed the show two years in a row, truly becoming a defining presence of New Year’s Eve.
With her distinctive husky voice and highly expressive singing, she captivated countless listeners, and in her later years she also ventured into jazz and blues.
In 2012, she released a jazz album that was distributed simultaneously in 75 countries, showcasing her cross-genre versatility.
She is a recommended artist not only for enka fans but also for anyone interested in a wide range of musical genres.
Two-person sakekawanaka miyuki
With her magnificent singing voice and rich expressiveness, Miyuki Kawanaka has led Japan’s enka scene since the 1970s.
She made her debut in 1975 at the age of 17, and her signature songs are true masterpieces worthy of being called milestones of enka.
She went on to release numerous hits and won the Japan Record Awards’ Best Vocal Performance in 1983.
With a clear voice and deeply emotive delivery that give life to songs about love and the human condition, Kawanaka’s appeal has only grown deeper with age.
She has also appeared many times on the New Year’s Eve Kōhaku Uta Gassen, making her a beloved “face of New Year’s Eve.” She is a singer recommended not only for enka fans but for anyone seeking a voice that resonates with the heart.
lingering-regret sakeIshihara Junko
Junko Ishihara has long been a fixture on New Year’s Eve as an indispensable enka singer.
Since her debut in 1988, she has continued to shine as a leading figure in the enka world.
Her signature song is often cited as “Miren-zake,” a danceable track that transcended the enka genre and won support from a wide audience.
In 2000, she fulfilled her dream of making her first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and she has since received numerous music awards.
Ishihara is also known as a reciter of traditional poetry, making her popular not only among enka fans but also among karaoke enthusiasts and younger listeners.
From traditional enka to innovative experiments, her wide-ranging musicality and expressive voice are sure to elevate the festive atmosphere of the year-end and New Year season.
Heart SakeFuji Ayako
Born in 1961, Ayako Fuji is known as an enka singer from Akita Prefecture.
In 1992, her song “Kokoro-zake” was a major hit, earning her the 25th Japan Cable Radio Awards.
That same year, she made her first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Fuji has produced numerous hits, including “Murasaki Ujō” and “Hana no Waltz,” and continues to captivate many fans with her rich, lustrous voice and dazzling stage performances.
She has appeared on Kōhaku Uta Gassen 21 times through 2016, making her truly worthy of being called a New Year’s Eve mainstay.
She is a recommended artist not only for enka fans but also for anyone interested in traditional Japanese music.
[Female Singers] The Faces of New Year’s Eve! Enka Singers Who Performed on the Red and White Song Battle (21–30)
Kawachi Otoko-bushiNakamura Mitsuko
Mitsuko Nakamura has long been beloved as an enka singer who embodies Osaka’s downtown culture.
Born in 1950 in Higashi-Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, she has been a leading figure of Kansai-born enka since her major debut in 1986.
Her signature songs include “Kawachi Otoko Bushi” and “Osaka Jouwa ~Uchi to Issho ni Narehenka~,” and she is acclaimed for her expressive ability to move seamlessly between spoken narration and song.
In 1997, she won the Japan Record Awards’ Best Vocal Performance, and she has also appeared on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen since 1992.
In addition, through the Mitsumame-kai guide dog training support activity she started in 1993, she has helped bring a total of 43 “Mitsuko-go” guide dogs into the world.