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
Classic enka songs to sing at karaoke: recommended popular tracks (41–50)
ZakurazakaOhōtsuku Tarō
Taro Okhotsk is an enka artist who is unusual in that he also has the qualities of a singer-songwriter.
With a background influenced by folk and rock, those genres peek through even within his enka songs.
His new track is “Zakurozaka.” With its rock elements, both the vocal lines and melodies lean toward kayōkyoku, yet it still features distinctly enka-style phrases.
Be sure to check it out.
Classic Enka Songs You’ll Want to Sing at Karaoke: Recommended Popular Tracks (51–60)
The northern city, HakodateKitagawa Daisuke
Daisuke Kitagawa has woven a poignant, adult love story set in a port town.
While richly retaining the nostalgic flavor of Showa-era kayōkyoku, this piece features a tenor saxophone that resonates to great effect, creating a gem of a song where wistfulness and warmth blend beautifully.
Scheduled for release in February 2025, the track is set in Hakodate and conveys feelings for a once-beloved partner now separated, expressed with remarkable vocal prowess.
Interweaving evocative depictions of Hakodate—its brick-lined streets and nightscapes—the song brings a heartfelt yearning for someone precious to the fore.
As a mellow, mature enka best savored alone on a quiet night, it leaves a deep and lasting impression.
perchKobayashi Sachiko
Sachiko Kobayashi’s “Tomarigi” (“Perch”) sings of lingering attachment to a man who is leaving her.
Released in 1980, this song was a hit that won the Grand Prize at the 13th Japan Cable Radio Awards.
Despite having been a comforting emotional haven for the man, the woman is abandoned by him with startling ease.
The lyrics paint this scene so vividly that one feels the woman’s pain, as if all the love she had poured into him has been wasted.
And yet, the lingering attachment and love she still holds for the man well up with a poignant sorrow.
Passionate MamboHattori Hiroko
Latin-flavored songs often appear in the enka scene.
Most singers have released at least one such piece.
Hiroko Hattori is no exception; she has released Latin-style songs, and among them, “Jōnetsu no Mambo” is particularly popular with fans.
As a genre it’s kayōkyoku, with touches of mambo sprinkled throughout.
There’s no kobushi (melismatic ornamentation) at all, and there are many rests, so you can prepare well before the vocal entries.
The range is somewhat wide, but overall it’s a very easy song to sing.
gokuraku tonboHattori Hiroko
A new single celebrating Hiroko Hattori’s 35th anniversary debut has arrived! Released in November 2024, the song is characterized by a fantastical and moving atmosphere.
Lyrics by Ayumi Tomori and composition by Satoshi Hibara highlight Hattori’s warm, expressive vocals, which elevate the track’s appeal.
It’s a piece that makes you feel dreams and hopes, as if guiding you from everyday life into an ideal world.
Blending enka and pop, the work preserves Hattori’s signature style while exploring a fresh musical approach.
Her deeply resonant voice enriches the song’s theme even further, making a lasting impression on listeners.
Highly recommended for karaoke fans, too!
fault; mistake; error; sin (context-dependent)Hinoyama Akira
This is a powerful, brooding enka-rock track that opens a new chapter for Akira Hiyama.
Featuring a striking arrangement that fuses enka and rock, its emotionally rich lyrics—centered on parting and mistakes—resonate deeply.
Released for digital distribution in November 2024, the song marks another ambitious step in Hiyama’s ongoing pursuit of new challenges and stands out as a notable follow-up to the single “Kyo Kagiri” (Only for Today).
Expressing the complexities of love with a mature, understated intensity, it’s sure to speak to listeners with a wealth of life experience.
Master it at karaoke, and you might just discover a new side of yourself.
ComradeToba Ichirō
This is a work that passionately sings of bonds between men.
Released in February 2025, it features the distinctive vocal ornamentation unique to enka throughout.
Toba’s singing powerfully conveys the feelings of men who have weathered life’s rough seas, which is particularly striking.
You can sense both a humble acceptance of one’s place and a proud appreciation of ties with friends.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to in moments when you want to savor life together with your comrades.