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.

Playlist

Classic enka songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended popular tracks
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	I’m falling in love with you againSakamoto Fuyumi		An inspiring classic covered by Fuyumi Sakamoto
2	Rain at Hase-dera — On the Yamato Road in Late AutumnToba Ichirō		The Rain at Hasedera is promoted to the title track
3	Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo		Yoshi Ikuzo’s classic ballad: a snowbound scene and a woman’s aching heart
4	Dream PlayUmezawa Fumio		The famous song through which Tomio Umezawa succeeded as a singer
5	And… a fateful encounterItsuki Hiroshi		The sorrow of a fate that makes us part even though we love each other
6	Dotonbori SentimentTendō Yoshimi		Yoshimi Tendo’s smash hit Osaka sentimental song
7	Boat SongYashiro Aki		Aki Yashiro’s hit songs, multiple awards
8	pinwheelYoshi Ikuzo		Ikuzo Yoshi’s new ballad quietly depicts life in the city
9	Nostalgic JonkaraHosokawa Takashi		Takashi Hosokawa Tsugaru Koishiya signature song
10	Kiyoshi’s Zundoko SongHikawa Kiyoshi		Switching moods with Kiyoshi Hikawa’s “Zundoko-bushi”
11	Woman’s DepartureMatsubara Nobue		Nobue Matsubara’s debut song resonates at life’s crossroads
12	Crossing Amagi PassIshikawa Sayuri		Let’s confess our love while crossing the Amagi Pass
13	cherry shellItsuki Hiroshi		Hiroshi Itsuki’s 50th Anniversary Commemorative Single
14	Kokoro KaleidoscopeYamauchi Keisuke		A wholehearted song by Keisuke Yamauchi, embarking on a new challenge at the milestone age of 40
15	North TavernHosokawa Takashi		Takashi Hosokawa’s signature song and a big hit in 1982
16	A solitary journey to MichinokuYamamoto Jōji		Joji Yamamoto’s signature song that sings of the sorrow of parting
17	Heart SakeFuji Ayako		A smash hit beloved as one of Aya Fuku’s signature songs
18	Returning RiverGodai Natsuko		Natsuko Godai’s tragic-love enka debut song
19	Drunk and reelingKatsura Ginshuku		Katsura Ginshuku’s signature song, the fifth single released in 1989
20	Jindo MonogatariTendō Yoshimi		Tendo Yoshimi’s signature song: a yearning themed on the parting of the sea
21	Yugiri PortMori Konomi		Sing a bittersweet love in a foggy port town
22	You don’t have to go back.Shimazu Aya		Aya Shimazu's Kumamoto-dialect single
23	Wajima Morning MarketMizumori Kaori		Motif from Kaori Mizumori’s 2008 single, Wajima Morning Market
24	Harbor Town No. 13Misora Hibari		A song by Hibari Misora set in Yokohama and Kawasaki
25	Scorpio womanMikawa Ken’ichi		One of Kenichi Mikawa’s signature songs, frequently performed on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
26	Naniwa SpiritSakamoto Fuyumi		Depicting positivity with a powerful new song themed around Osaka
27	America BridgeYamakawa Yutaka		A Song of Reunion and Parting at Ebisu-Minami Bridge
28	Our town was green indeed.Sen Masao		A classic by Masao Sen, enka-style but easy to sing
29	full moonGodai Natsuko		A song that opens up a new frontier for Natsuko Godai
30	Longing for RainYashiro Aki		Aki Yashiro’s “Ame no Bojo” wins the Grand Prize
31	The Camellia Sasanqua InnŌkawa Eisaku		Eisaku Ōkawa’s classic love enka song
32	A Doll’s HouseHirota Mieko		A classic Showa-era song by Mieko Hirota. It heals the pain of heartbreak.
33	Come back.Matsumura Kazuko		Kazuko Matsumura’s Job Transfer Cheer Song
34	Rainbow BayonHikawa Kiyoshi		Hikawa Kiyoshi's 21st single
35	Love SongMaekawa Kiyoshi		Expressing feelings of love through saxophone and melody
36	Let me get drunk—just for tonight.Jōnouchi Sanae		Sanae Jōnouchi covers a song by Chisato Moritaka
37	I won’t let you go tonight.Koyanagi Rumiko & Hashi Yukio		A lighthearted duet with a Latin rhythm
38	Land of Abundant Rice (Mizuho no Kuni)Yamanishi Akari		A heartwarming enka that paints scenes of rice
39	Midnight ShowerKatsura Ginshuku		Kaori Kozai’s chic, French esprit–style enka song
40	Homesickness on a JourneyNishizaki Midori		Ryoshū became a big hit as the theme song for Kurayami Shitomen.
41	Osaka RhapsodyUminara Senri · Mari		Osaka Rhapsody is a cheerful duet song
42	Sake InnKouzai Kaori		Kaori Kozai 25th Anniversary Debut Commemorative Song
43	I’m going to Tokyo.Yoshi Ikuzo		Yoshi Ikuzo’s classic song “We’re Headin’ to Tokyo”
44	Festival MamboMisora Hibari		A classic hit by Hibari Misora. It’s easy to sing and really gets the crowd going.
45	Casablanca GoodbyeToba Ichirō		Enka songs by Ichiro Toba that are easy to sing
46	unconditional loveMori Shinichi		A new song of gratitude written by Shinichi Mori himself for his 60th anniversary
47	Anemone flaccida (nirinsō; literally “two-flowered anemone”)kawanaka miyuki		Miyuki Kawanaka’s marriage-themed song became a major hit
48	O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsSakamoto Fuyumi		Fuyumi Sakamoto’s upbeat enka song “Yozakura Oshichi”
49	Tipsy Breeze TavernNakamura Yuito		A life-encouragement song as Yuito Nakamura’s debut single
50	I long for Southern HokkaidoKoyama Yudai		A moving debut song that sings of longing for one’s hometown
51	Crimson ButterflyYamauchi Keisuke		An enka song portraying a fleeting love, like a butterfly
52	Funamizaka (Funami Slope)Sora Daiki		A wistful love song, the third installment in the Hokkaido series
53	ZakurazakaOhōtsuku Tarō		Okhotsk Taro’s new song “Zakurozaka”
54	The northern city, HakodateKitagawa Daisuke		Expressing a port town love story in Showa-era kayōkyoku
55	perchKobayashi Sachiko		Sachiko Kobayashi’s hit song about lingering feelings for a man
56	Passionate MamboHattori Hiroko		Hiroko Hattori's Latin-style kayōkyoku (Japanese popular song)
57	gokuraku tonboHattori Hiroko		Hiroko Hattori 35th Anniversary Debut New Song
58	fault; mistake; error; sin (context-dependent)Hinoyama Akira		A new enka-rock song that coolly portrays breakup and mistakes
59	ComradeToba Ichirō		An enka piece that passionately sings of the bond between men
60	Late-Blooming HEROyuasa michiru		An uplifting anthem that cheers on the pursuit of dreams, powerfully energizing
61	The one I still love even after we’ve broken upRosu Indiosu & Shirubia		A hit song titled “I Still Love You Even After We Broke Up”
62	Kawachi Otoko-bushiNakamura Mitsuko		It is used for Bon Odori in a Kawachi-ondo-style enka by Mitsuko Nakamura.
63	cornflowerGodai Natsuko		Natsuko Godai’s heartbreak song: a poignant love story entrusted to a purple flower
64	Mount TsurugiKitayama Takeshi		Takeshi Kitayama’s Ken-zan, a powerful song.
65	festivalKitajima Saburō		Saburo Kitajima’s “Matsuri” is a classic of national enka.
66	Flowers of TsugaruHarada Yuuri		Yuri Harada’s single became a big hit
67	A Man’s Love StorySakamoto Fuyumi		Sakamoto Fuyumi's award-winning enka song
68	Such is a woman’s soliloquyMasuiyama Tashirō		Masuiyama Taishirō’s classic song: a woman’s heartbreaking love
69	Captain SlowpokeŌe Yutaka		A bright, resolute song released by Hiroshi Oe in 2009
70	grandchildŌizumi Itsurō		A representative enka song about love for one’s grandchild
71	thorn treeKobayashi Sachiko		Hit Songs Commemorating Sachiko Kobayashi’s 50th Debut Anniversary
72	Wharf of TransienceYamauchi Keisuke		Keisuke Yamauchi's hit song enters the Oricon Top 5 for the first time
73	Koitou (Koitome) Coastyamaguchi hiromi		A heartbreak song set in Hokkaido
74	A Flower of This WorldShimakura Chiyoko		Chiyoko Shimakura’s 1955 hit song
75	Aizen Katsura Once MoreShimazu Aya		Aya Shimazu’s Gratitude to Her Father and Memories of Youth
76	Two-person sakekawanaka miyuki		Miyuki Kawanaka’s signature song from 1980 that sold over a million copies
77	My shopShin Gorō		A warm kayōkyoku song inspired by a shop in Saitama Prefecture
78	The Last DrinkKimura Tetsuji		Tetsuji Kimura’s song that expresses the poignancy of parting
79	a pittanceKatsura Ginshuku		An enka song by Ginshō Katsura that takes a positive view of parting
80	wintering swallowMori Masako		Hiroshi En composed a hit song by Masako Mori.
81	companion on the road; fellow traveler; taking someone along (often unwillingly)Makimura Mieko		A song of companionship for walking through life together: Michizure
82	Blue Night in SapporoHakozaki Shinichiro		Shinichiro Hakozaki’s “Blue Night in Sapporo” is a hidden gem
83	Life is like a Naniwa-bushi (a melodramatic ballad).Hosokawa Takashi		Let's sing cheerful enka to relieve stress
84	The person I fell in love withMiyako Harumi		The appeal of young generations singing Harumi Miyako’s classic songs
85	Still in YokohamaKadamatsu Miyuki		A new song that sings of a bittersweet love in the port town of Yokohama
86	Otaru no hito yoTsuruoka Masayoshi to Tokyo Romanchika		A famous heartbreak song set in Otaru
87	freezing rainKayama Akio		“Hiyosame” is a hugely popular enka song from the 1980s.
88	Drunken SongYoshi Ikuzo		Yoshi Ikuzo’s signature song expresses a heartfelt longing for his father.
89	Angels of the CityHoriuchi Takao & Cheuni		Takao Horiuchi successfully transitioned from folk to enka
90	A One-Yen Coin VagabondMizumori Kaori		An enka song became a big hit on “Minna no Uta.”
91	Osaka sparrowNagai Miyuki		Miyuki Nagai's debut song wins the grand prize
92	Love Song of Kaze no BonIshikawa Sayuri		Ishikawa Sayuri’s Theme Song for Owara Kaze no Bon
93	Like the flow of a riverMisora Hibari		Healing like the flow of a river, Hibari Misora
94	My daughter,Ashiya Gannosuke		A father’s loving yet complicated feelings before his daughter’s marriage
95	Lament of ResentmentFuji Keiko		Singing a song of resentment makes my lover gentle
96	From the northern innMiyako Harumi		Harumi Miyako's Grand Prize–winning song
97	abandonedNagayama Yōko		Yoko Nagayama’s 1995 single, a major hit song
98	Yagiri no Watashi (Yagiri Ferry)chiaki naomi		Yagiri no Watashi by Takashi Hosokawa was a big hit
99	companion on the road; fellow traveler; taking someone along (often unwillingly)Miyama Hiroshi		Expressing the bonds of life through a ballad
100	Kyoto NostalgiaTakigawa Maiko		Kyoto Melancholy is a make-or-break song that captivates men.
101	Premonition of PartingYamamoto Miyuki		Miyuki Yamamoto sings of an impending breakup with rich emotion
102	Will you marry me?Niinuma Kenji		Kenji Niinuma's signature song wins an award
103	Madam of the Pleasure QuarterKaneda Tatsue		Tatsue Kaneda's signature enka hit becomes a blockbuster
104	The Northern LandKitajima Saburō		Saburo Kitajima wins the grand prize with a Hokkaido-themed piece
105	Cape ErimoMori Shinichi		Cape Erimo is still fresh and refreshing even after forty years.
106	devotionAkiniba Yutaka & Aronaitsu		A masterpiece whose devotion accentuates the allure of luster and sharpness
107	Unstaffed stationIwa Misaki		Enka solo debut by an AKB48 member