[2026] Recent hit enka songs: must-watch popular kayō tracks
In this article, we’ll introduce the latest hit enka songs recommended not only for longtime fans but also for those who’ve recently gotten into the genre.
We carefully selected tracks by comparing multiple charts, balancing freshness with popularity.
While enka is often associated with passionate, emotionally charged performances, we found that many recent songs are quite accessible and easy to enjoy.
Give them a listen and you may discover something new—or even find a favorite singer you didn’t know before.
Use this article as a guide when researching today’s most popular enka tracks!
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[2026] Recent enka hit songs: Must-see popular kayō songs (141–150)
hazyIchikawa Yukino
This is a passionate number electrified by a powerful electric guitar from the intro.
It’s a work by Yukino Ichikawa, released in May 2025.
Said to express the innate strength women possess, it also seems to overlap with Ichikawa’s feelings as she returned after a period of rest and battling illness.
It conveys a brilliance of life that goes beyond the confines of a mere “love song.” It may give you a push when you need the resolve to take a new step in life or the strength to overcome obstacles.
Aventure NakameguroMATSURI
A sultry number that paints an adult romance set against the city night.
It’s MATSURI’s debut work, released in January 2025.
With lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto, it deftly captures the unpredictability of love and the rising swell of emotion.
Set to a melody reminiscent of Showa-era mood kayō, it tells of the push and pull between a man and a woman in Nakameguro.
The rhythmic groove is crafted to make your body sway on its own.
A sparkling Reiwa-era take on a new generation of kayōkyoku.
hourglassmatsuzaki kōsuke
This is a soul-stirring enka that likens the heartbreak everyone experiences at least once to an hourglass.
Released by Nippon Crown in February 2025, it’s a song by Kousuke Matsuzaki.
His lustrous vocals richly convey the poignant struggle to erase memories.
Written and composed by Junichiro, it beautifully portrays memories and feelings fading with the passage of time.
It’s a song that stays by your side when you want to heal your heart or when you find yourself thinking of someone dear.
Chururi (feat. Takako Matsu)yuzu
This song, sung by Yuzu and Takako Matsu, is a heartwarming piece filled with nostalgia and bittersweet emotion.
The gentle vocals, which seem to tenderly embrace the feeling of longing for someone dear as memories surface in everyday life, leave a strong impression.
Released digitally in November 2024, it was also used as the theme song for the Nissan Sakura commercial.
The trio’s collaboration on Fuji TV’s 2024 FNS Music Festival drew significant attention as well.
When you find yourself feeling wistful as you think of someone, why not give this song a listen? It’s sure to offer comfort to your heart.
Calm or stormIchijō Kanta
As the third installment in a series themed around the ocean, this work powerfully depicts fishermen who keep moving forward with unwavering resolve, whether the seas are calm or raging.
The lyrics by Takashi Banjo and the melody woven by Kenji Miyashita blend beautifully, while Kanta Ichijo’s clear, expansive vocals resonate deeply.
Brimming with speed and dynamism, this piece is sure to accompany those standing at a crossroads in life, offering courage to take a new step forward.
Sake LightMiyama Hiroshi
Sung in a wistful voice, this piece poignantly evokes the bittersweet feelings of recalling happier days through the glow of a tavern’s lights.
Its deeply resonant melody and lyrics stir a sense of nostalgia and warmth.
Likely to become a new signature “drinking song enka” for Hiroshi Miyama, this work, set for release in January 2025, is recommended not only for enka fans but for anyone seeking a song that speaks to the heart.
It’s a track to savor slowly, a drink in hand.
night-flowering jasmineOka Midori
A gemlike love song released in February 2025 that richly portrays the sweetness and ache of first love.
Carried by a gentle, companionable melody, the fragility and sorrow of love are delicately woven together.
Celebrating Midori Oka’s 20th anniversary since her debut, this work beautifully harmonizes Reiji Mizuki’s lyrics with Masato Sugimoto’s composition to sensitively express a woman’s heart swayed by love.
Like soap bubbles, a fleeting romance and the anxious feelings blown by the wind are tenderly sung in a clear, transparent voice.
A recommended track for those who want to empathize with tender yet bittersweet emotions.