A roundup of captivating enka female singers in their 50s [2026]

Night in HakataMatsuri Koharu

Hakata Night, Matsuri Koharu

Koharu Matsuri, born in 1968 and hailing from Fukuoka Prefecture, is a seasoned and accomplished enka singer at the height of her powers.

She made her debut in 1984 with the single “Inochibune.” She has energetically released many singles, and her song “Roll the Earth” was used as the image song for the Asia-Pacific Exposition.

She says she respects Minoru Endo, the composer who left behind such works as “Kitaguni no Haru” and “Michizure.” Receiving “Hakata no Yoru,” a song composed by Minoru Endo, must have been especially moving for her.

Jonkara Onna-bushiNagayama Yōko

Jonkara Onna-bushi

She made her singing debut in 1984 with the single “Haru wa SA-RA SA-RA,” initially starting out as an idol singer.

Her standout hit from her idol days was “Venus,” a cover of Bananarama.

She later pursued acting as well, and in 1993 she relaunched her career as an enka singer with “Higurashi.” The song was a major hit, leading to her first appearance that year on the Red and White Year-End Song Festival (Kōhaku Uta Gassen).

As a child, she attended a folk song school and began playing the shamisen; she also holds the title of master in Tsugaru-jamisen.

Crimson FlameŌishi Madoka

Madoka Oishi / Flame of Akane

From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, many female enka singers in their teens and twenties made their debuts.

With the aim of dispelling the image of “enka singers = middle‑aged women” and “enka = music for older people,” these young performers were dubbed “enka idols,” shortened to “endoru.” Madoka Oishi also debuted as an “endoru” enka singer in 1992.

Nowadays, she performs mature enka that gently conveys a woman’s feelings—what’s called “tsuya-uta” (sensuous songs).

For her 30th anniversary single, she sings about pure, adult love, depicting a grown woman falling in love once again.

Snow-Weeping TsugaruShimizu Mariko

Mariko Shimizu “Snow-Crying Tsugaru”

Mariko Shimizu is a versatile enka singer with a wide range, mastering everything from richly emotive, traditional enka to danceable, beat-driven enka.

If you haven’t heard her voice yet, we recommend Yukinaki Tsugaru.

Its beat will have your body naturally keeping time.

She hails from Yamanashi Prefecture, where she was scouted while singing at a local festival by enka singer Akemi Misawa, who was a guest there.

After several years of apprenticeship, she released Hana no Fune in 2005.

Hana no Fune went on to become a long-running hit, staying on the cable request charts for 25 consecutive weeks.

Shimizu now also writes lyrics, and her continued success is definitely one to watch!

Flowers in the mirrorHattori Hiroko

Hiroko Hattori “Flower in the Mirror” Music Video

Hiroko Hattori is one of the quintessentially traditional enka singers, with shamisen-woven melodies and lyrical verses that make you think, “This is enka!” She was scouted after winning the Grand Prix on Nippon TV’s ‘Japan Chibikko Kayou Taisho.’ Upon her 1990 debut, she captured various newcomer awards, and her crisp, dynamic vocals quickly won over karaoke fans.

Supported by those fans, her song ‘Kaikyō Wakaremachi’ became a major hit, selling over 400,000 copies.

We sincerely hope Ms.

Hattori will carry Japan’s enka into the future.

Cape Far from HappinessSeguchi Yuki

Yuki Seguchi “Cape Far from Happiness” MUSIC VIDEO

Yuki Seguchi captivates audiences with a voice that conceals passion beneath a pure, graceful presence.

Her debut single “Nebuta,” released in 2000, won the Grand Prix in a Nippon Cultural Broadcasting audition and fully showcased the abilities she honed under composer Seiichi Sakurada.

Listening to this song, themed on Aomori’s majestic festival, you can feel the heat and exhilaration of the celebration conveyed directly through her firm, powerful vocals.

The sense of scale makes you catch your breath, as if vividly colored, gigantic nebuta floats were parading right before your eyes.

It’s no wonder this debut left such a striking impression on the enka world.

Simply hearing it sets your heart dancing—and might even make many of you want to set off on a trip to Tohoku.

Woman of KiyamachiKazumi Ayase

Kazuyo Ichimi, “The Woman of Kiyamachi”

Since her debut, Kazumi Ayase has walked the straight path of classic enka, continually stirring the hearts of listeners.

One of her signature songs, Otonashi-gawa, has sold over 300,000 copies and earned her the Newcomer Award at the Japan Cable Music Awards on the strength of her talent.

Trained under Shosuke Ichikawa, her voice carries a poised strength within its gentle emotion, perfectly complementing lyrics that sing of unwavering devotion to a loved one.

Her profound expressive power—evoking the story’s scenes as if they rise vividly before your eyes—is nothing short of breathtaking.

Her straightforward, kobushi-inflected singing resonates directly in the listener’s heart, irresistibly drawing you in.