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.
- Great enka masterpieces and hit songs of the 1970s
- Cool masterpieces of enka, the heart of Japan
- Enka Karaoke Popularity Rankings [2026]
- Great enka masterpieces and hit songs of the 1980s
- [For Women] A roundup of enka songs that can score high in karaoke
- Enka songs that are easy for men to sing: a roundup of tracks to try at karaoke
- Easy-to-sing enka: A roundup of recommended enka songs for karaoke
- [Showa Era] A Collection of Enka Hits: Timeless Classics Loved Across Generations
- [2026] Representative Famous Enka Songs: A Compilation of Classic Favorites [Beginner-Friendly]
- [Songs from the Showa Era] Introducing classic tracks that are easy to sing at karaoke.
- [Enka] Songs That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf [Male Singer Edition]
- [Japan’s Best Vocalist] Fukuda Kohei’s Easy-to-Sing Karaoke Songs
- A roundup of hit enka songs from the Heisei era
Enka masterpieces you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended popular songs (91–100)
companion on the road; fellow traveler; taking someone along (often unwillingly)Miyama Hiroshi
A song by Hiroshi Miyama that portrays the bond between a man and a woman walking together through life’s ups and downs.
It expresses a fate that drifts like floating weeds in a gentle ballad.
Miyama’s powerful yet warm voice resonates deeply with listeners.
Originally released in 1978 as a song by Mieko Makimura, Miyama’s cover is included on the album “Utaitsugu! Nihon no Ryūkōka Part 5,” released in June 2024.
It’s a perfect track for times when you feel lost in life or want to feel the bond with someone important.
Kyoto NostalgiaTakigawa Maiko
Kyoto Bojo has a gently wilted, faintly bittersweet melody, and it creates a mysteriously enchanting atmosphere that makes male listeners see the woman singing it as very cute and want to protect her.
Please try singing it as your winning song to capture the heart of the man you love.
Premonition of PartingYamamoto Miyuki
Miyuki Yamamoto, an enka singer, delivers an emotionally rich rendition of Wakare no Yokan, a beautiful melody line that evokes a subtle sense of melancholy.
If your relationship has gone on for a while and you’ve started to neglect things a bit, try singing it in front of him and surprise him.
The original song, familiar in Japan, was released by Teresa Teng in June 1987.
Will you marry me?Niinuma Kenji
This is a song released by Kenji Niinuma in 1976 that portrays the marriage views of a simple young man from the countryside.
The lyrics were written by Yū Aku and the music composed by Makoto Kawaguchi, and it has become one of Kenji Niinuma’s signature songs.
He made his first appearance at the 27th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1976, and the song won the Best New Artist Award at the 18th Japan Record Awards and the Broadcast Music Newcomer Award at the 7th Japan Song Awards.
Madam of the Pleasure QuarterKaneda Tatsue
A classic enka song released in June 1973 is Tatsue Kaneda’s signature work.
Set in a red-light district, its lyrics depicting a mother’s love and life’s hardships moved the hearts of many.
Although it was initially self-released only in the Osaka area, steady effort led it to become a nationwide smash hit, ranking 16th on the 1979 annual singles chart.
That same year, she made her debut appearance at the 30th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
The work was adapted into a film in January 1980 and into a TV drama starting in October 1979.
It’s highly recommended for those with rich life experience and for listeners who value lyrics that resonate deeply.