[Enka] Songs That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf [Male Singer Edition]
I want to try singing at karaoke, but enka is for people who are good singers, right? There may be many of you who think you’re tone-deaf and worry about it like that.
Of course, enka is a genre that demands advanced technique, so if you try to sing it perfectly, it can be difficult even for people who are fairly confident in their singing ability.
So this time, we’ve put together songs that are easy to sing even for those who consider themselves tone-deaf—tracks that you can still enjoy and that will liven up a karaoke session even if you can’t sing them perfectly.
We’ve chosen not only songs that are easy to sing but also ones you can win over with energy and vibe.
For example, try singing just the famous chorus, or hand off the tricky parts to your friends—get creative and have fun!
- [Enka] Songs that are easy to sing even for those who are tone-deaf [Female singers edition]
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Masterpieces for Karaoke — Male Singers Edition
- [2026] Recommended for those who find high notes difficult! Enka by male singers that you can sing in a low register
- [2026] Amazing If You Can Sing It! Classic Enka Masterpieces [Male Singers Edition]
- [2026] Easy Enka Songs Recommended for Karaoke – Male Singers Edition
- [2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Timeless Classics to Recent Hits [Male Singers Edition]
- [Mighty Guy] A Selection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Akira Kobayashi
- [Sub-chan] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Saburo Kitajima [2026]
- [For Men] Masterpiece Enka Songs with High Difficulty
- [Treasure of Powerful Enka] Takashi Hosokawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs
- Enka songs that are easy for men to sing: a roundup of tracks to try at karaoke
- [Prince of Enka] Keisuke Yamauchi’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- [Heisei-born, Showa-raised] Oe Yutaka’s easy-to-sing songs
[Enka] Songs That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf [Male Singers Edition] (11–20)
festivalKitajima Saburō
When it comes to Saburo Kitajima—affectionately known as Sabu-chan—this is probably the song that many people think of as his signature.
Released in 1984, this masterpiece brilliantly captures the heat and passion of Japanese festivals.
It has been performed multiple times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, even closing out the show on occasion, and remains a very popular number.
To be honest, it’s quite a challenging song to sing perfectly, but since it’s famous, widely known, rhythmic, and has an exciting vibe, it’s perfect for livening up a karaoke session.
You can just sing the chorus, or get creative by letting a friend handle the tough parts and enjoy it together.
A solitary journey to MichinokuYamamoto Jōji
This is a classic by an enka singer from Yamaguchi Prefecture that portrays the feelings of a man leaving his hometown to set out on a journey.
Interweaving place names from the Tohoku region—such as Matsushima and Shirakawa—it poignantly sings of lingering feelings for a woman he parted from and the loneliness of the road.
Released in 1980, it initially struggled but became a breakout hit after a TV appearance the following year.
It garnered numerous honors, including the singer’s first appearance at the 32nd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen and the Long-Seller Award at the 23rd Japan Record Awards.
It’s a great pick for newcomers to enka, and you can fully enjoy it by focusing on the chorus.
If you want to try enka at karaoke, this is an excellent song to start with.
freezing rainKayama Akio
A signature work by Akio Kayama that poignantly sings of the heartache of unrequited love through the figure of a woman enjoying a solitary drink at a bar.
This classic captivates many fans with its bittersweet vocals and richly expressive delivery.
Released in 1977 as his debut single, it has gradually seeped into people’s hearts over time.
In 1983, it won the Long-Seller Award at the Japan Record Awards and is highly regarded as a beloved song of the Showa era.
With a light, folk-tinged melody, the key is to value rhythm and hold back overt power, emphasizing restrained emotion over force.
For karaoke, try singing up to the chorus as if speaking to the listener, and have fun by getting friends to handle the tricky parts.
Brother ShipsToba Ichirō
This work was sung as the debut song by Ichirō Toba, who was born and raised in a fisherman’s family.
With a powerful yet wistful voice, it expresses the bonds among men of the sea and their feelings for their families.
Released in August 1982, it became a million-seller and later was performed seven times on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen, making it a classic.
The overall pitch is on the lower side, making it approachable even for those who struggle with high notes.
If vibrato is difficult, try focusing on clear enunciation to convey the lyrics distinctly.
It’s a recommended song for livening up a karaoke session or for singing with heartfelt thoughts for someone special.
Traveler of the NorthIshihara Yūjirō
A gem of a song by Yujiro Ishihara that tenderly portrays a man’s aching heart as he searches for a lost love against the backdrop of the northern lands.
Blended with the harsh natural environment, his melancholic vocals resonate deeply.
Released in August 1987, the piece was also used as an insert song for the TV Asahi drama “Seibu Keisatsu.” A mood-kayo number that makes the most of his deep voice, it vividly conveys northern landscapes and the sentiment of travel.
With a narrow melodic range and a relaxed tempo, it’s a song that’s easy to try at karaoke.
Recommended for those who want to savor Ishihara’s unique aura.
I’m going to Tokyo.Yoshi Ikuzo
Enka singer Ichi Ikuzō, known for his wide-ranging musicality from comic songs to songs in a female voice and heart-wrenching ballads.
Unusual for an enka singer, he also has the side of a singer-songwriter, and his original songs, for which he writes both lyrics and music, are full of creativity and have remained beloved across generations.
Speaking of Ikuzō Yoshii’s masterpieces, it has to be “Ora Tokyo sa Iguda,” doesn’t it? While it has elements typical of enka, it features many spoken-style parts, so the overall difficulty is on the lower side.
As a comic song, it really gets the crowd going, so be sure to add it to your repertoire.
Our town was green indeed.Sen Masao
Masao Sen’s classic “Waga Machi wa Midori Nariki” is notable for its gentle melody.
While it is nominally classified as enka, the vocal line strongly reflects the essence of Showa-era kayōkyoku, and the characteristic enka vocal melisma (kobushi) is scarcely present.
The few instances of kobushi are mostly limited to a single scale step up or down, so even those not adept at enka-style phrasing should be able to sing it without difficulty.
If you enjoy songs with a nostalgic, old-fashioned mood, consider adding this one to your repertoire.
old man teacherSen Masao
Masao Sen has left behind many great songs, but among them, Oyaji Sensei is especially known for its outstanding storytelling.
The spoken lines at the beginning draw you into the piece, and from there the world of the song unfolds all at once.
The depiction of sharing drinks with one’s former teacher is particularly memorable, and the whole piece is set to a warm, unhurried melody.
There’s hardly any kobushi (ornamental vibrato), so even those who find enka vocal stylings challenging can sing it comfortably.
Consider adding it to your repertoire.
Yaima (Yaeyama)Sen Masao
Among recent songs, Yaima (Yaeyama) is especially renowned as a masterpiece.
Originally released in 1999, it was recently re-released as a new version.
Compared to the original, it has a more relaxed atmosphere, and since it’s a song set in Okinawa, the essence of Ryukyuan music—most notably the sound of the sanshin—is emphasized.
As it incorporates many pop elements, there are hardly any demanding techniques such as kobushi (ornamental vocal turns).
It’s a song that beginners will find very easy to sing.
nostalgic personSen Masao
Among Masao Sen’s songs, “Natsukashi no Hito” is renowned as a particularly mood-rich piece.
While the arrangement prominently features traditional enka elements, the vocals lean closer to Showa-era kayōkyoku and folk, resulting in a simple, streamlined vocal line.
The range is somewhat wide, but there are no difficult techniques involved, and the tempo is relaxed, making it easier to sing than it might sound.
If you use the hiccup technique, where the voice flips, you can get even closer to the feel of the original, so give it a try for reference.