[Queen of Enka] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Sayuri Ishikawa [2026]
Sayuri Ishikawa debuted as an idol at 15 but later shifted to enka.
In 1977, she skyrocketed to fame as a leading enka singer with the massive hit Tsugaru Strait – Winter Scene, a masterpiece that left its mark on enka history.
Since then, she has continued to sing many celebrated songs, earning the title “Queen of Enka,” while also showcasing her beautiful voice and vocal prowess across various genres, including pop-style tracks.
Ishikawa’s songs are, of course, hugely popular for karaoke.
This time, especially for beginners to enka, we’ve researched her more singable tracks and will introduce selections ranging from classic hits to songs released in the Reiwa era and beyond!
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[Queen of Enka] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Sayuri Ishikawa [2026] (1–10)
To the Land of FireIshikawa Sayuri
For Sayuri Ishikawa, who hails from Kumamoto Prefecture, this is truly a classic local song that lets her triumphantly return home in glory! Released in 1978, “Hi no Kuni e” is a Kumamoto-themed song set against Mt.
Aso, and Ishikawa even performed it at that year’s Kohaku Uta Gassen.
It’s hard to believe she had just turned 20 at the time—her powerful vocals are truly compelling.
Of course, it’s also very popular for karaoke, but “Hi no Kuni e,” created by the golden duo of Yu Aku and Takashi Miki—icons of the Showa era—blends enka elements with a strong kayokyoku flavor, so you can approach it with a classic Showa pop sensibility.
Feel the so-called 8-beat swing (hachiroku) rhythm, and try singing with careful, crisp articulation of each syllable in the lyrics.
Harbor Pier DrizzleIshikawa Sayuri
The single song “Hatoba Shigure,” released in 1985, is a local tune set at Tonosho Port on Shodoshima in Kagawa Prefecture.
It became a milestone masterpiece that marked Ishikawa’s transition into a mature enka singer, winning the 27th Japan Record Award and being performed at the 36th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, following life experiences such as marriage and the birth of her first daughter.
A commemorative monument was erected in 1992 in Tonosho Town, Shōzu District, Kagawa Prefecture, and in 2012 a monument honoring Osamu Yoshioka, who wrote the lyrics, was also built on Shodoshima.
Hugely popular in karaoke, the song exudes the classic, heartfelt feel of traditional enka, and those accustomed to singing enka should be able to handle it with ease.
As the song builds, the pitch gradually rises, then drops to a deep note before climbing again.
Take your time and sing carefully to avoid going off pitch as the melody intensifies!
Echigo goze (blind female itinerant musicians from Echigo)Ishikawa Sayuri
Sayuri Ishikawa has been active since the 1970s and continues to energetically release new works even in the Reiwa era.
Her single Echigo Goze, released in October 2023, drew attention because the lyrics were written during his lifetime by Tadashi Kitajō, who passed away in 2021, specifically for Ishikawa.
Listening to Ishikawa’s respectful vocal delivery toward the goze, Kitajō’s lyrics, and Keisuke Hama’s somewhat wistful melody, you can almost picture the goze on their harsh journeys.
Honestly, it’s difficult to imitate Ishikawa’s singing, with its seamless shifts between head voice and chest voice, but there are no extremely strong kobushi inflections or vibrato, the vocal range is relatively narrow, and there are spots to breathe before the flowing melodic lines—so with patient practice, it becomes quite singable.
[Queen of Enka] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Sayuri Ishikawa [2026] (11–20)
You like whisky, don’t you?Ishikawa Sayuri
Even if you’re not very familiar with Sayuri Ishikawa as an enka singer, you’ve probably heard this song somewhere.
Released in 1991 under the name SAYURI, the single “Whisky ga, Osukidesho” (“You Like Whisky, Don’t You?”) was composed by Mari Sugiyama—who has crafted countless J-pop classics as well as many commercial jingles—and its jazz-vocal style made it a highly unusual track for an enka singer.
Since it was used in the late 2000s as the theme for Suntory Kakubin commercials, it has become the signature song of those ads, with cover versions by artists like The Gospellers and Mariya Takeuchi also featured, so some people may not have realized it was originally Ishikawa’s song.
While it presents a different kind of challenge than enka, it’s a great piece to sing by letting yourself sink into its stylish atmosphere and enjoying the flow.
The Promised MoonIshikawa Sayuri
Featuring a music video that captivates with Sayuri Ishikawa not in her usual kimono but dressed in a chic outfit, Yakusoku no Tsuki is a commemorative song marking the start of the 51st year of her career.
Released in April 2023, it is said to be the posthumous work of the master composer Takashi Miki.
Ishikawa’s refined and beautiful vocal delivery, which carefully brings out the melody, deeply moves listeners, and it’s a song you’ll surely want to sing with feeling at karaoke.
The enka-style vocals are kept understated, and a relatively J-pop approach is more than enough to convey its appeal, so practice repeatedly to ensure you can produce the high notes cleanly.
Love Song of Kaze no BonIshikawa Sayuri
This is a classic released in 1989, in which Sayuri Ishikawa, a grand dame of enka, delivers Ryo Nakanishi’s lyrics—based on Osamu Takahashi’s novel “Kazeno-Bon Koika (The Love Song of the Owara Kaze-no-Bon)”—with a gentle, heartfelt touch.
It’s also a so-called regional song, and it was highly acclaimed, winning the 31st Japan Record Award that same year.
Although the lyrics revolve around the theme of an extramarital affair, Nakanishi’s choice of words is delicate and beautiful, and Ishikawa’s singing avoids any sense of murky melodrama—truly superb.
It’s true that a song like this demands advanced expressive ability, but the enka-style vocal ornaments and vibrato are relatively restrained, so even those who aren’t confident in such techniques should give it a try.
Overall, the key is on the higher side, but the vocal range required is relatively average; if you struggle with high notes, consider adjusting the key.
Daphne (winter daphne)Ishikawa Sayuri
Released in 1977, “Jinchoge” is an early masterpiece by Sayuri Ishikawa, who had transitioned from an idol to an enka singer and was riding a wave of success after her 1977 hit “Tsugaru Strait—Winter Scene.” While she had been releasing songs by the duo Yū Aku (lyrics) and Takashi Miki (composition), this track is notably penned by Ryo Shoji, composed by Katsuo Ōno, and arranged by Koji Makaino—a fascinating shift.
The overall key is on the higher side, which can be challenging for those who struggle with high notes; however, the kobushi and vibrato are not overly intense, and the pitch movement is relatively restrained, making the melody itself quite singable.
With its strong kayōkyoku flavor, it’s also recommended for fans of Showa-era Japanese pop.