[Glamorously Cool] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Ayako Fuji [2026]

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

Speaking of Ayako Fuji, she’s known as a grand dame of enka, who scored a massive hit in 1992 with Kokoro-zake, showcasing her rich, lustrous vocals honed through folk singing.

In recent years, her beloved cats Maru-chan and Oreo-chan have gone viral on social media, spreading her name even to generations unfamiliar with her work as an enka singer.

Under alternate names she also writes and composes, and she keeps taking on new challenges, like releasing a photo book at 60.

The famous songs she’s performed are must-sings for anyone interested in enka.

While many are quite difficult, this time we’ve gathered relatively easy-to-sing tracks, so beginners should find them helpful too.

[Glamorous & Cool] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Ayako Fuji [2026] (11–20)

Snow falls thick and deep.Fuji Ayako

Ayako Fuji “Yuki Shimbin” Music Video (First Chorus)

Snow falls thick and deep.Fuji Ayako

Fujii Ayako’s single “Yuki Shinfuka,” released in 1998, is a celebrated song also known for marking lyricist Ishimoto Miyuki’s first collaboration with her in 11 years, since “Futarigawa,” an early-career track she released under the name Manami Murase, alongside the same-year release “Hakkōbana.” Its dramatic production—blending traditional Japanese instruments such as shamisen and shakuhachi with flowing strings to create a grand atmosphere—is striking, and Fujii’s dignified, commanding vocals make it one of her signature songs.

It’s also a karaoke favorite, though the song spans a wide vocal range and features frequent, busy pitch movements, which may feel challenging for beginners.

That said, the tempo is relaxed, and there are opportunities to breathe before the high notes and long tones, so take your time without rushing.

In the chorus, try singing with the feeling of unleashing pent-up emotion, delivering it powerfully!

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Making MemoriesFuji Ayako

Making Memories

Making MemoriesFuji Ayako

Prompted by her producer’s suggestion to “sing your own song,” this is a track for which Ayako Fuji herself handled both lyrics and composition.

It was released in July 2025 as part of the double A-side single “Omoide-zukuri / Chiisana Kane no Ne ~La Campanella~.” Like flipping through the pages of a diary, the song traces memories, singing of bonds with family and friends as well as love for a partner.

With a melody that evokes the nostalgia of Showa-era kayōkyoku and folk music, and lyrics that chart the journey of a life, it’s the kind of song that will bring a loved one’s face to mind and surely make your heart swell.

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In conclusion

As mentioned at the beginning, many of the songs performed with Ms. Fuji’s folk-song-trained vocals are quite challenging, and especially for beginners to enka, they may feel like a high hurdle. At the same time, because most of the selections are classic, orthodox enka, once you get used to the enka style of singing, you may find you can sing them more easily than expected. Listen to the original track many times and keep trying until the day you can sing like Ms. Fuji!