Tokyo Desert: A Collection of Kiyoshi Maekawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
Kiyoshi Maekawa scored a massive hit in 1969 with Nagasaki wa Kyou mo Ame Datta, released as the lead vocalist of Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five.
He went on to release other classics that left their mark on Japanese music history, such as Uwasa no Onna and Tokyo Sabaku.
After leaving the group in 1987, he has continued to perform for many years as a solo artist.
While he effortlessly handles everything from sultry low notes to soaring highs with stable and refined vocal technique, it’s interesting that he himself isn’t particularly fixated on the profession of being a singer.
From among Maekawa’s popular songs, we’ve selected a few that are relatively approachable for beginners.
Please take a look and use them as a reference for karaoke.
- [Enka First Year] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Yoko Nagayama [2026]
- [Flower News] A Collection of Hiroshi Takeshima’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- [Mighty Guy] A Selection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Akira Kobayashi
- Queen of Enka: A roundup of Aki Yashiro’s easy-to-sing songs
- [2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Timeless Classics to Recent Hits [Male Singers Edition]
- [Queen of Enka] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Sayuri Ishikawa [2026]
- The Allure of Deep Vocals: A Collection of Yutaka Yamakawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- [2026] Representative Famous Enka Songs: A Compilation of Classic Favorites [Beginner-Friendly]
- Michinoku Solo Journey: A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Joji Yamamoto [2026]
- [Asian Songstress] A Collection of Teresa Teng’s Easy-to-Sing Songs
- [Final Boss] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Sachiko Kobayashi [2026]
- [2026] Easy Enka Songs Recommended for Karaoke – Male Singers Edition
- 【2026】Recommended Enka by Male Singers with Captivating High Notes
[Tokyo Desert] A Collection of Kiyoshi Maekawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026] (1–10)
Let’s go on foot.Maekawa Kiyoshi
It’s a heartwarming anthem for life, released at a time when the world was in turmoil during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Aruite Ikou,” released in 2020, is a single by Kiyoshi Maekawa, with lyrics and music by Hiroki—who is actually Maekawa’s real son—and backing vocals by his daughter Yuna.
It’s truly a song created by the Maekawa family.
Rather than enka or kayōkyoku, it has a J-pop style, and Maekawa’s conversational singing really resonates.
The simple melody makes it very easy to sing, and it’s the kind of song you’d love to have Dad sing at family karaoke!
I want loveMaekawa Kiyoshi
In the world of enka and kayōkyoku, it’s quite common for male singers to perform lyrics that portray a woman’s feelings, and Kiyoshi Maekawa’s 1988 single “Ai ga Hoshii” is one such example.
It’s no exaggeration to call Maekawa a master of songs that express a woman’s heart; using keywords like a rainy night or alcohol, he vividly sings lyrics that, through skillful scene-setting, depict the loneliness and emptiness of a woman who seems to have just suffered a heartbreak.
The song leans more toward mood kayō than pure enka, with a fairly average vocal range and no difficult kobushi ornamentation, so even beginners to enka should definitely try it at karaoke.
Beside love and dalliance…Maekawa Kiyoshi
This is a single released in 2005 by Kiyoshi Maekawa, whose mournful horn tones and refined strings leave a strong impression, radiating a timeless charm untouched by passing trends.
It’s a standout masterpiece that showcases Maekawa’s signature style as he richly sings of the sorrow in a woman’s complicated, conflicted heart, and it’s also very popular for karaoke.
While the overall sound and melody lean toward enka, the song retains a touch of kayōkyoku, making it accessible even for beginners to enka.
Feel the 6/8 meter and try to articulate each word clearly as you sing with a smooth, expansive delivery.
Sing me a breakup songMaekawa Kiyoshi
Writing it as “別れ曲” and reading it as “Wakare Uta” is truly brilliant, isn’t it? Among Maekawa’s songs, this popular 1993 release features lyrics by Toyohisa Araki—who also created the masterpiece “Otokoto Onna no Kakera”—and music by Takashi Toshimi.
It was even performed at that year’s NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, so many people will find it familiar.
Set in a gentle 6/8 tempo, it’s smooth and sultry, and Maekawa’s vocals, expressing the complexities of a woman’s heart, are simply exquisite.
Because the melody moves up and down quite a bit, be careful not to go off pitch, and try singing with a conscious focus on the contrast between low and high notes.
While the enka-style kobushi ornamentation is restrained, vibrato appears frequently; in particular, the powerful, ad-lib-like singing before the chorus is somewhat difficult, so make it a focus of your practice!
The whistle in my chest still soundsMaekawa Kiyoshi
In Kiyoshi Maekawa’s long career, this single “Mune no Kitete wa Imamo” (The Whistle in My Chest Still Blows), composed by the renowned Takashi Toshimi—who also crafted hits like “Otokoto Onna no Kakera” and “Wakare-kyoku demo Utatte”—was released in 2021 in the Reiwa era.
It has the feel of a wistful medium-tempo ballad, and structurally it’s very close to J-pop, so it seems like a song that’s easy for enka beginners to sing at karaoke.
That said, if you aim to nail it perfectly, vibrato is essential, so if that’s not your strong suit, this song might be a good one to practice your vibrato with!