[For Beginners] Recommended Enka Masterpieces for Karaoke — Male Singers Edition
Enka, which has continued to sing the heart of Japan, has enjoyed unwavering popularity from the Showa era to the present Reiwa period.
In recent years, thanks in part to the resurgence of Showa-era pop songs, classic enka hits have been drawing attention across generations.
So there are surely many people who want to start listening to enka or try singing it at karaoke.
This article is for enka beginners, introducing famous enka songs by male singers that are easy to tackle at karaoke.
While enka does require techniques such as applying vibrato-like kobushi, the songs introduced here are all well-known hits that even beginners are likely to recognize, making it easy to slip into their world.
By the way, we also introduce a version featuring female singers in another article, so be sure to check that out too!
- [Enka] Songs That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf [Male Singer Edition]
- [2026] Easy Enka Songs Recommended for Karaoke – Male Singers Edition
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke — Women Singers Edition
- [2026] Recommended for those who find high notes difficult! Enka by male singers that you can sing in a low register
- [Mighty Guy] A Selection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Akira Kobayashi
- [2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Timeless Classics to Recent Hits [Male Singers Edition]
- A roundup of male enka singers who represent the Showa era
- Classic enka songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended popular tracks
- [2026] Enka Songs That Are Hard to Sing – Male Singers Edition
- [Sub-chan] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Saburo Kitajima [2026]
- [Enka] Songs that are easy to sing even for those who are tone-deaf [Female singers edition]
- Enka songs that are easy for men to sing: a roundup of tracks to try at karaoke
- 【2026】Recommended Enka by Male Singers with Captivating High Notes
[For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke – Male Singers (21–30)
Thank you to you.Yamamoto Jōji
Between 2000 and 2001, Joji Yamamoto released three singles with lyrics by Takashi Taka, music by Tetsuya Gen, and arrangement by Toshiaki Maeda.
The second of these is Omae ni Arigatou, which was released on February 1, 2001—Yamamoto’s birthday.
It’s a classic enka number characteristic of Yamamoto, conveying a gently melancholic mood and masculine strength through his distinctive kobushi vocal ornamentation, and it’s naturally very popular for karaoke.
While the expansive vibrato makes it a bit challenging for beginners, its overall difficulty is moderate for enka, making it a great practice song for those who enjoy this style.
sunsetYamamoto Jōji
Released in 1988 as a single by Joji Yamamoto, “Yuuhi” is a masterpiece featuring poignantly melancholic lyrics by Toyohisa Araki that contrast the unchanging dynamics between men and women with the image of a setting sun.
Yamamoto’s careful, heartfelt delivery is deeply moving, and the song is popular at karaoke, so many people have likely heard it.
With an atmosphere between enka and kayōkyoku and only modest use of enka techniques like kobushi, it’s approachable even for beginners to enka.
The melody sits generally low, which helps those who struggle with high notes, but the overall range is somewhat wide—especially in the chorus, where it’s easy to go off pitch—so keep that in mind as you practice.
For Beginners: Recommended Classic Enka Songs for Karaoke – Male Singers (31–40)
A Migratory Bird with a GuitarKobayashi Akira
Akira Kobayashi’s classic “Guitar o Motta Wataridori” is strongly infused with elements of Western pop.
The song is based on doo-wop, a musical genre that rose to popularity in the 1950s.
While doo-wop has roots in Black music, this track’s melody leans toward a country-flavored pop reminiscent of Elvis Presley, and it’s arranged with a gentle, understated melodic line throughout.
Perhaps to suit that melody, the song features a relatively narrow vocal range for a Kobayashi number.
The long tones aren’t difficult, and there are no intricate melismatic twists like kobushi, so consider adding it to your repertoire.
Song of FarewellKobayashi Akira
Akira Kobayashi’s atypical work “Sekibetsu no Uta.” This piece is a cover song with a few minor arrangements; the original is a Chuo University student song.
Perhaps because it was composed in the early Showa era, it has very little pop influence, and its melody lands somewhere between a military march and enka.
Even so, the song is sung throughout in the low to low-mid range, with no sudden rises or drops in pitch.
While the monotony of the vocal line can make it harder to convey intensity, it’s extremely easy to sing—so consider adding it to your repertoire.
With a fiery heartKobayashi Akira
A work notable for its distinctive sound featuring strings, “Atsuki Kokoro ni.” This piece includes few of Akira Kobayashi’s trademark upward-climbing long tones.
Since most of the long tones occur while the melody descends, even those who struggle with upward vibrato can sing it without issue.
It’s a kayōkyoku with a strong pop flavor, and advanced vocal techniques like kobushi do not appear at all.
However, the rhythm at the beginning of the chorus is somewhat irregular, so you’ll need to practice that part thoroughly.
Chome-chomehoriemonn
This is a song by Takafumi Horie—aka Horiemon—whose unexpected debut as an enka singer made waves.
It was released in January 2025.
One of its charms is the catchy chorus that makes you want to sing along.
The lyrics pack a punch with a message like, “After working up a sweat, let’s cut loose and have a drink!” Coupled with its bright, festive sound, it’s the kind of track that leaves you feeling refreshed.
It’s a perfect number for resetting your mood!
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.