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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- 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
Classic enka songs to sing at karaoke: recommended popular tracks (41–50)
I’m going to Tokyo.Yoshi Ikuzo
Enka singer Ichi Ikuzō, known for his wide-ranging musicality from comic songs to songs in a female voice and heart-wrenching ballads.
Unusual for an enka singer, he also has the side of a singer-songwriter, and his original songs, for which he writes both lyrics and music, are full of creativity and have remained beloved across generations.
Speaking of Ikuzō Yoshii’s masterpieces, it has to be “Ora Tokyo sa Iguda,” doesn’t it? While it has elements typical of enka, it features many spoken-style parts, so the overall difficulty is on the lower side.
As a comic song, it really gets the crowd going, so be sure to add it to your repertoire.
Festival MamboMisora Hibari
Hibari Misora’s classic “Omatsuri Mambo.” While this song falls under the enka category, it shares many elements with J-pop, and among Misora’s works, it’s one of the easiest to sing.
Its vocal range is somewhat broad at mid1 C to hi C, but the pitch movement isn’t very drastic, so overall it’s arranged to be easy to sing.
However, the tempo is relatively fast at BPM 120, so you’ll need decent articulation.
Even so, there are no highly demanding enka-style embellishments like complex kobushi, so it’s fair to say the song still firmly maintains its singability.
It’s a very lively, feel-good number that really gets the crowd going, so consider adding it to your repertoire.
Casablanca GoodbyeToba Ichirō
Enka singer Ichiro Toba, popular for his wide-ranging musicality from male-voiced to female-voiced songs, has left many masterpieces.
Among them, Casablanca Goodbye is especially recommended as an easy song to sing.
While there are a few spots that feature kobushi (traditional enka vocal ornaments), overall the piece has a flavor closer to kayōkyoku (Japanese popular song).
It employs a very light mixed voice, but the high phrases aren’t very long, and it doesn’t demand much power overall, so the overall difficulty is on the lower side.
Its mood-rich melody is sure to get the crowd going!
unconditional loveMori Shinichi
Marking the major milestone of the 60th anniversary of his singing career, this is a monumental work written and composed by Shinichi Mori himself.
Hailed as “Reiwa enka,” the piece truly represents the culmination of his career.
With straightforward lyrics and dynamic vocals, it beautifully conveys his deep gratitude to the fans who have supported him for many years.
Released in July 2025 as his 131st single, it fully showcases his signature “Mori-bushi” style.
It’s a masterpiece not only for longtime fans, but also for anyone standing at a turning point in life.
Anemone flaccida (nirinsō; literally “two-flowered anemone”)kawanaka miyuki
A masterpiece themed around marital love is powerfully sung by Miyuki Kawanaka.
The feelings of a couple who care for each other even after quarrels are expressed through lyrics and melody that truly touch the heart.
Released in January 1998, the song is also known as the Heisei-era version of “Futari-zake” and became a major hit.
It won the Most Requested award on the cable radio rankings that year and earned multiple appearances at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It’s perfect not only for enka fans but also for couples and lovers who want to sing together at karaoke.
If you sing it while snuggling up to each other, it will surely become a wonderful memory.
O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsSakamoto Fuyumi
Fuyumi Sakamoto is a female enka singer who studied under the acclaimed enka vocalist Yuriko Futaba.
With a highly original musical style that incorporates a wide range of genres, she has gained popularity both within and beyond the enka scene.
Her song “Yozakura Oshichi,” released in 1994, features an unusually upbeat melody for enka at the time.
The vocal range spans from mid1F to hiD, which is typical for female vocals, but the BPM is 140, making it relatively fast, so it’s best to master the rhythm thoroughly before singing.
Tipsy Breeze TavernNakamura Yuito
If you’re looking to liven up the mood with a sparkling, refreshing enka number, how about this one? It’s the debut single by Yuito Nakamura, who made waves as an active high school enka singer, released in June 2025.
This work is a bright, pop-influenced tune—an uplifting song for life that soothes the fatigue of the day.
The lyrics paint a heartwarming scene of a friendly, human touch-filled bar that will warm listeners’ hearts.
Sing it at karaoke with your coworkers and it’s sure to resonate.
You could even throw in some call-and-response and turn it into a big sing-along.