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 You’ll Want to Sing at Karaoke: Recommended Popular Tracks (51–60)
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.
Late-Blooming HEROyuasa michiru
Released in May 2024, this work is a powerful anthem that celebrates the importance of pursuing your dreams.
It features an exotic, avant-garde vocal style, highlighted by Michiru Yuasa’s uninhibited voice.
Yuhei Hanaoka’s sophisticated lyrics and Makoto Sugimoto’s composition are a perfect match, resulting in a track that gives listeners a strong push forward.
The vibrant, glamorous sound is sure to lift your spirits.
On the release day, a live showcase for the new song was held in Daikanyama, Tokyo, drawing many fans.
It’s a must-listen for anyone looking to take on a challenge or hold fast to an unshakable will not to give up.
Enka Masterpieces You’ll Want to Sing at Karaoke: Recommended Popular Songs (61–70)
The one I still love even after we’ve broken upRosu Indiosu & Shirubia
Even If We Break Up, I Still Love You is an urban, stylish enka mood duet released in 1979 that became a million seller.
The female vocalist, Sylvia, has an interesting background: she was formerly a corporate league volleyball player, was scouted while singing karaoke in Osaka, joined Los Indios, and their debut song, Even If We Break Up, I Still Love You, became a massive hit.
Kawachi Otoko-bushiNakamura Mitsuko
This is a single released by Mitsuko Nakamura in 1989—an enka song that incorporates a Kawachi Ondo-style rhythm.
In the Kansai region, it’s often used for Bon Odori, and its sales tend to rise in the summer.
It has been performed eight times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, which is a very high number for performances of the same song by a single singer.
It’s catchy, making it an enka tune everyone can sing and dance to.
cornflowerGodai Natsuko
Natsuko Godai continues to captivate many hearts with her delicately expressive vocals.
Among her songs, this heartbreak ballad is particularly moving.
In this piece, she sings of hidden feelings entrusted to purple flowers, painting a bittersweet love story.
Released in June 2015, it became her 27th single.
The song’s structure—starting quietly and gradually building in emotion—is also appealing, making it an easy choice for karaoke.
Highly recommended for those who want to feel both the ache of love and a sense of hope for the future.