Classic enka songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended popular tracks
Enka, the genre of music that helped energize Japan up through around the 1980s.
Countless masterpieces were born in this field of enka.
This time, we’re featuring the crème de la crème—timeless enka hits that defined their eras and are perfect for singing at karaoke.
From well-known classics to hidden gems known only to aficionados, we’ve selected songs across a wide range of years and styles, so be sure to find the one that suits you.
We’re introducing quite a number of tracks, making this a great pick for anyone who wants to reminisce alongside enka.
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Classic enka songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended popular tracks (81–90)
Drunken SongYoshi Ikuzo
It is a single released by Ikuzo Yoshi in 1990.
Written and composed by Ikuzo Yoshi, it stands alongside “Yukiguni” and “Sake yo” as one of his signature songs.
The lyrics, which evoke a somewhat wistful feeling of drinking and the singer’s thoughts about a father living apart, are particularly memorable.
The song was performed at the 41st NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.
Let me get drunk—just for tonight.Jōnouchi Sanae
It was released in 1993 as Sanae Jounouchi’s eighth single.
The original song was included as the 10th track on Chisato Moritaka’s sixth album, “ROCK ALIVE,” released in 1992.
On cable radio, it became a smash hit through long-running requests spanning roughly two years into the following year.
The song won the Excellence Award for Cable Music at the 27th Japan Cable Awards.
Angels of the CityHoriuchi Takao & Cheuni
Takao Horiuchi, a core member of the folk group Alice that enjoyed immense popularity in the 1970s, made a remarkable transition and found great success as an enka singer after the group disbanded.
“Tokai no Tenshitachi” is a celebrated duet masterpiece—with a refined, urban flair—composed and sung by Horiuchi himself.
A One-Yen Coin VagabondMizumori Kaori
Although it’s a bright and cheerful enka song, Ichien-dama no Tabigarasu became an unexpected smash hit after gaining popularity during its broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta.
The lyrics were written by Toyohisa Araki and the music composed by Tetsuya Gen, both of whom are well-known figures in the enka world.
Osaka sparrowNagai Miyuki
This debut song, written by lyricist Taka Takashi for his beloved protégé Miyuki Nagai from Osaka, was released in 1992.
It won the Excellent Broadcast Music Newcomer Award at the 23rd Japan Kayō Awards, and the Best New Artist Award in the Kayō/Enka category at the 34th Japan Record Awards.
Its performance, with lyrics declaring that Tokyo is nothing to boast about, resonated with people from Kansai and made it a hit.
Love Song of Kaze no BonIshikawa Sayuri
This is a single released by Sayuri Ishikawa in 1989, a local song themed around the “Owara Kaze no Bon” festival held every September in Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture.
With this song, she won the Best Vocal Performance at the 31st Japan Record Awards at the end of 1989, and she has performed it twice on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
The piece is crafted as a calm, wistful song that evokes the atmosphere of Owara Kaze no Bon.
Enka masterpieces you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended popular songs (91–100)
Like the flow of a riverMisora Hibari
As healing music for moments when I want to feel calm and composed, the song I want to sing is “Like the Flow of the River.” Its gentle, subtly nuanced tone has a melodic charm that soothes the heart.
“Like the Flow of the River” is also the last single released by Hibari Misora, who was active during the Showa and Heisei eras.