![[Queen of Enka] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Sayuri Ishikawa [2026]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/QIlGP6yCPI0/maxresdefault.webp)
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)
Noto PeninsulaIshikawa Sayuri
Following “Tsugaru Strait Winter Landscape” and “Amagi-goe,” Sayuri Ishikawa’s masterpiece “Noto Peninsula.” While this piece firmly carries the hallmarks of enka, it also features plenty of vocal lines closer to kayōkyoku.
In particular, the transition from the B section into the chorus has qualities reminiscent of 1970s kayōkyoku and pop ballads.
There are passages that use falsetto, so the range is somewhat wide; however, for a Sayuri Ishikawa song, the overall difficulty is relatively low because there are notably fewer kobushi (ornamental vocal turns).
If the early-chorus falsetto is difficult, I recommend lowering the key—or conversely, raising it slightly to make producing the falsetto easier.
Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneIshikawa Sayuri
Among Sayuri Ishikawa’s songs, Tsugaru Strait – Winter Landscape is one of the most widely known.
It’s a classic that represents the enka genre, familiar even to younger people who aren’t well-versed in enka.
Because the vocal line makes effective use of head voice, the song is often considered difficult.
It’s true that for those who struggle with head voice, the end of the chorus can be a tricky part.
However, for singers who are comfortable with head voice, the song is actually quite approachable, since the kobushi (ornamental bends) are not very demanding.
By paying close attention to dynamics, you can give the performance contrast and shape; try singing the A section with one level less volume than you might initially expect.
Burn my lifeIshikawa Sayuri
Sayuri Ishikawa, who was already active as a young enka star with hits like “Tsugaru Strait – Winter Scene” and “Noto Peninsula,” released the song “Inochi Moyashite” in 1979.
Following the previous year’s “Hi no Kuni e,” this track also secured her a spot on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and it’s a beloved classic that’s very popular for karaoke.
The song sits somewhere between enka and kayōkyoku, and Ishikawa’s vocals—she was 21 at the time—still carry a fresh, innocent quality.
With no complex melodic developments and lyrics that are easy to remember, it’s an ideal choice for karaoke.
I highly recommend it not only to enka fans but also to lovers of Shōwa-era pop.
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.
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.
Love comes firstIshikawa Sayuri
When you think of anison sung by an enka singer, does this song come to mind? “Ai ga Ichiban” is a single released by Sayuri Ishikawa in 1999, and it was used as the ending theme for the TV anime Nintama Rantarō from the episodes aired between April and July of the same year.
It has a bright, energetic vibe that parents and kids can enjoy, with a very catchy melody.
Ishikawa also leans more toward a J-pop style rather than enka in her performance, so it seems like a very easy song to sing at karaoke.
If you’re at karaoke with people who were kids back then, definitely give it a try!
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.
I want us to be happy.Ishikawa Sayuri
Sayuri Ishikawa, who showcases her beautiful voice not only in the enka genre but also in the pop music field, released “Shiawase ni Naritai ne” in March 2020, right as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold.
Many people were likely comforted by her gentle delivery of the simple melody and heartwarming lyrics.
She sets aside the enka-style vocal approach here, opting for a J-pop singing style instead, so even those who aren’t fond of enka should find it easy to sing.
Because the song is built mainly around acoustic guitar and strings, you might find it a bit tricky to catch the rhythm, but it helps to count the relaxed tempo yourself as you sing.
Daikon BlossomIshikawa Sayuri
For Sayuri Ishikawa, the first song that marked the dawn of the 2010s was Daikon no Hana.
As you’d expect with Ishikawa, the lyrics are by Osamu Yoshioka, and the composition is by Chiaki Oka—her collaborator on songs like Hatoba Shigure.
It was released as a single in March 2010.
With lyrics and a melody that carry a sense of melancholy while still looking forward—an anthem to life—and Ishikawa’s signature soaring high notes, it’s a masterpiece many people will want to try at karaoke.
The vocal range is relatively wide, so focus on clear contrast between the high and low sections.
Since kobushi and vibrato aren’t emphasized much, it’s accessible even for beginners to enka.
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!