![Tokyo Desert: A Collection of Kiyoshi Maekawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/rcWmiY8neXY/maxresdefault.webp)
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)
Snow TrainMaekawa Kiyoshi
Yuki Ressha (Snow Train) was Kiyoshi Maekawa’s solo debut single, released in 1982, and it marked a memorable starting point for him as a solo singer.
Looking back now, it’s somewhat surprising that the lyrics were written by Shigesato Itoi and the lyrics and music were by none other than Ryuichi Sakamoto.
It’s one of the quintessential Showa-era kayōkyoku classics themed around snow and is extremely popular in karaoke, so many younger people have likely heard it at some point.
Rather than enka, the production leans more toward pop, and its poignant, melancholy melody sits on the lower side pitch-wise, making it easy to sing.
Try practicing so it doesn’t become too flat—like Maekawa does, aim to deliver each word with care and a touch of sultriness.
sunflowerMaekawa Kiyoshi
Himawari, with its strikingly wistful piano intro phrase, is a hit single released in 2002.
The lyrics and music were written by Masaharu Fukuyama, who, like Kiyoshi Maekawa, is from Nagasaki.
It was also performed at that year’s NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, so it’s widely known and a popular choice for karaoke.
As you’ll hear, the melody development is very characteristic of Fukuyama, with no enka-style techniques, so even those who usually sing pop should be able to handle it well.
The overall key is low, so if you struggle with low notes, try adjusting the key to suit your range before singing.
Fragments of Men and WomenMaekawa Kiyoshi
A standout hit from the early Heisei era with a strong Showa kayō vibe, this song showcases lyricist Toyohisa Araki’s flair—having the title read as “kakera” instead of “hahen.” ‘Otoko to Onna no Kakera’ was released in 1991 as a single by Kiyoshi Maekawa and is one of his signature songs, beloved in karaoke.
As mentioned, it leans more toward classic Showa pop than straight enka.
While techniques like kobushi appear, the overall difficulty is relatively modest, making it approachable even for beginners to enka.
Don’t be shy—channel Maekawa himself and try expressing your own take on this “cool, grown-up song”!
The world of sorrowful loveMaekawa Kiyoshi
This is a masterpiece you’ll definitely want to sing at karaoke—sitting somewhere between enka and mood kayōkyoku, with a wonderfully melancholic guitar that adds just the right flavor! Kiyoshi Maekawa’s “Kanashimi no Koi Sekai,” released in 1994, showcases his sultry, dapper vocals—truly outstanding.
While a free, expansive vibrato is ideal, even those who can’t do vibrato will find the melody very easy to sing and can fully enjoy it at karaoke.
If you’re aiming to sing like Maekawa, I recommend practicing so you can deliver smooth vibrato in both your low and high ranges.
Rose music boxMaekawa Kiyoshi
One of Kiyoshi Maekawa’s signature solo songs, also performed at the 1997 NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, is “Bara no Orugōru” (The Rose Music Box).
With its moody guitar phrases, an instantly catchy chorus, and Maekawa’s irresistibly masculine delivery that poignantly conveys a woman’s heartache, it’s the kind of classic that makes you want to sing it at karaoke.
The production straddles enka and mood kayō, and the overall melody line is easy to sing, so even beginners who struggle with straight enka should find it approachable.
That said, clearly projecting the low notes and adding vibrato like Maekawa does is surprisingly difficult, making this a great practice piece for those who aren’t confident with their lower register.