[2026] Amazing If You Can Sing It! Classic Enka Masterpieces [Male Singers Edition]

Snow, Moon, and Flowerstatsumi yūto

Yuto Tatsumi “Setsugetsuka” Music Video

A song that beautifully intertwines Japan’s four gorgeous seasons with a bittersweet love.

Yuto Tatsumi’s clear, translucent voice adds even greater depth, resonating powerfully in the listener’s heart.

Demanding a wide vocal range and delicate expressiveness, this piece is perfect for a karaoke challenge.

Released in January 2022, it reached No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Enka Rankings.

Highly recommended for those who want to lose themselves in lyrics that fuse traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern sensibilities, and for anyone seeking the new allure of enka.

If you can convey the emotions of a heart swaying between duty and human compassion, you’re sure to become the star of the karaoke stage.

Hokkai Port FestivalMiyama Hiroshi

Hiroshi Miyama “Hokkai Minato-bushi” MUSIC VIDEO

This song, featuring the soul-stirring vocals of Hiroshi Miyama, a rising star in the enka world, powerfully portrays the life of a fisherman.

Miyama’s warm timbre—often called his “vitamin voice”—beautifully conveys both the strength and kindness of a fisherman facing the rough seas.

Released in July 2023, the track is a meaningful piece commemorating the 15th anniversary of Miyama’s debut.

Characterized by a fast, hard-driving tempo and powerful singing known as “gangan enka,” it requires considerable skill to perform in karaoke.

Its wide melodic range and techniques like vibrato and spirited calls are challenging, but if you can pull it off, it’s a song that brings out a man’s full appeal.

Chikumagawa RiverItsuki Hiroshi

Chikumagawa River

Everyone, an introduction to Hiroshi Itsuki may no longer be necessary.

He’s known as a truly national enka singer and a leading figure in Japan’s music scene.

His signature song Chikumagawa, released in 1975, is a local-themed piece set in Nagano Prefecture and a classic among classics that has also been performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Sung gracefully over a triple meter, its melody spans a wide vocal range from low to high, with a striking contrast between the rich, low tones of the verse and the soaring high notes of the chorus.

As Itsuki himself has said, it’s a difficult song you can’t sing carelessly, making it quite a challenge for karaoke.

The beauty of the lyrics combined with Itsuki’s vocal prowess creates a work that resonates deeply with listeners.

Nostalgic JonkaraHosokawa Takashi

Nostalgic Jonkara

Released in 1985, this piece is a celebrated song distinguished by its folk-style melody.

The lyrics, which evoke nostalgia for the Tsugaru region homeland, resonate deeply with listeners.

Takashi Hosokawa’s soaring high notes and remarkable breath control further enhance the song’s appeal.

It has been widely cherished as a classic enka number, having been performed five times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

While it’s quite challenging to sing at karaoke, try internalizing the rhythm of the folk-inspired sections and take on both the high notes and sustained tones.

Whether you live away from your hometown or not, the universal lyrics are easy to relate to—so why not give it a try at least once?

ancient castleMitsubishi Michiya

ancient castle

Many people probably dream of one day being able to sing timeless classics at karaoke.

This song, released in 1959 by Michiya Mihashi—an iconic figure of the Showa-era music scene—was a major hit from the moment it came out.

Set against the backdrop of a desolate old castle, its lyrics poignantly evoke the melancholy of past glory and a bygone age, resonating deeply with listeners.

Mihashi’s rich voice and expressive delivery enhance the song’s appeal; when singing it at karaoke, it may help to keep that nuanced vocal expression in mind.

While there are technical challenges such as sustained long tones and a wide melodic range, it’s a piece that allows the singer to fully convey their emotions—so by all means, give it a try.

TakumiFukuda Kouhei

[Official] Kohei Fukuda “Takumi” [Official Music Video Short ver.]

Kohei Fukuda, known as a rising powerhouse in the worlds of Japanese folk songs and enka, has a new single that honors the spirit of master artisans who approach their work with years of experience and passion.

While preserving tradition, the piece also incorporates a modern sensibility.

It is scheduled for release on January 1, 2025, and the first pressing will include special bonuses.

Fukuda’s powerful voice and heartfelt singing brilliantly portray the life of the craftsman.

It may be challenging to sing at karaoke, but it could be fun to study the lyrics closely and try imitating Fukuda’s distinctive vocal phrasing.

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in traditional Japanese culture or who appreciates the mastery of skilled artisans.

YosakuKitajima Saburō

Yosaku

It’s a song by Saburo Kitajima, known as “Sab-chan,” themed around the harshness of labor and the quiet Japanese landscape, leaving a nostalgic afterglow.

Released in 1978, it portrays the value of work and coexistence with nature through the character “Yosaku,” who seems to symbolize the diligent people once found in Japan’s rural and mountain villages.

Despite its simple lyrics and gentle melody, the memorable refrain that repeatedly calls out Yosaku resonates deeply.

It was used in a Fuji Photo Film commercial in 1997, and later chosen as the ending theme for the 2014 film Thermae Romae II.

It’s a famous song, so many can probably hum along, but if you actually try to sing it, you’ll realize that it demands not only technical skill but also a high level of expressive power.

If you’re confident in your singing, give it a try.