![[2026] Enka Songs That Are Hard to Sing – Male Singers Edition](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/UPkIGJSRLtk/maxresdefault.webp)
[2026] Enka Songs That Are Hard to Sing – Male Singers Edition
When it comes to enka, there’s an image that only truly skilled singers can pull it off.
Of course, there are relatively easy songs as well, and enka is a very popular genre at karaoke.
This time, we’ve put together a list of classic enka songs that are difficult to sing, aimed at those who are fairly accustomed to singing enka.
Beyond the genre’s signature techniques—like vibrato and kobushi (ornamental turns)—these songs demand high expressive ability, including handling wide vocal ranges.
In this article, we introduce masterpieces by male enka singers, but we also feature difficult-to-sing classics by female singers in another piece, so be sure to check that out as well.
[2026] Enka Songs That Are Hard to Sing – Male Singers Edition (1–10)
Chikumagawa RiverItsuki Hiroshi
Hiroshi Itsuki is truly a singer Japan can be proud of, and he’s also renowned as a songwriter, continuing to perform from the 1960s right up to the Reiwa era.
He’s like a living encyclopedia of Japanese entertainment history, and the countless masterpieces he has sung continue to be loved across generations.
Among his many famous songs, this time I’d like to introduce Chikumagawa, which could be called one of his signature works.
Released in 1975, it’s a regional song set in Nagano Prefecture that became a huge hit.
As Itsuki himself has described it as “a difficult song you can’t sing carelessly,” the melody—sung expansively over a triple meter—spans a wide vocal range, making it a challenging piece in which the contrast between the low tones of the verse and the high notes of the chorus is key.
It can be surprisingly hard to articulate lyrics clearly in the lower register, so pay particular attention to avoid muddiness in the lowest passages.
Savor the beautifully written Japanese lyrics and sing in a way that fully conveys the rich sense of travel and nostalgia!
Nostalgic JonkaraHosokawa Takashi
Since his debut in 1975, Takashi Hosokawa has remained an active force even in the Reiwa era, thanks to his naturally expansive high register and outstanding vocal and expressive abilities rooted in his background in traditional folk music (min’yō).
“Bōkyō Jongara,” released in 1985, is one of Hosokawa’s signature songs—a masterpiece whose striking shamisen intro and folk-influenced singing are utterly overwhelming.
Even a novice can tell from the very beginning how hard this song is to pull off, but the folk-style sections are arguably the toughest part.
That said, the main sections also feature many passages that showcase Hosokawa’s hallmark powerful high notes and sustained tones, demanding considerable lung capacity.
Keeping time in the folk-style parts will likely feel especially difficult, so listen to the original repeatedly and train your body to internalize the rhythm and melody.
marine snowjero
This is the milestone debut song by Jero, the enka singer who made a sensational debut in 2008 as the “first Black enka singer.” With lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto and music by Ryudo Uzaki, it not only became a huge hit but also set various records as an enka track—truly a classic that will go down in Japanese music history.
In the music video, many viewers were stunned to see Jero, dressed as if he might start rapping any moment, suddenly deliver Japanese lyrics with exceptional vocal skill.
It’s been a popular karaoke pick since back then, but to be frank, it’s a very difficult song to sing at karaoke.
Beyond the wide vocal range and challenging melody, the arrangement itself is extremely intricate: it blends traditional enka elements, straightforward J-pop developments, and funky rhythms in a way that’s anything but simple.
It really drives home how remarkable Jero’s singing technique is in mastering it perfectly.
Listen to the original repeatedly and practice until the rhythm and melody sink into your body.
Wind HarborŌkawa Eisaku
Since his debut in 1969, Eisaku Ōkawa—the grand master of the enka world—has continued to work energetically even into the Reiwa era.
Beginning with his massive hit Sazanka no Yado, many of you surely have Ōkawa’s masterpieces in your karaoke repertoire.
This time, we’re introducing Kazemina-to, a Heisei-era classic that Ōkawa released in 2007.
Though Ōkawa can deliver any style of enka with overwhelming vocal skill, Kazemina-to is a gem whose overall sound carries a refreshing lightness while exuding an inescapable melancholy—a remarkable warmth and depth that really hits home.
The melody spans a fairly wide range, and performing the classic enka-style kobushi (ornamental bends) without overexertion is no easy task.
I recommend repeatedly listening to the original track and studying details such as where Ōkawa takes his breaths.
A Man’s HarborToba Ichirō
Raised in a family of fishermen with a father who was a fisherman and a mother who was an ama diver, Ichiro Toba is truly worthy of being called a “man of the sea.” With numerous hit songs, music awards, and multiple appearances on NHK’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen, Toba is undeniably one of Japan’s most beloved enka singers.
Many people admire the way he conveys the rough, masculine world with a powerful yet wistful voice, and there are surely plenty who channel Toba at karaoke and sing in his style.
The song introduced here, “Otoko no Minato” (A Man’s Harbor), was released in 1986 and was also performed on Kouhaku, making it a popular number.
Because the overall pitch is low, it’s a welcome choice for those who struggle with high notes.
However, singing the low melodies like Toba—using vibrato while delivering the lyrics with crisp, clear articulation—is quite challenging.
If you can’t manage vibrato, it’s a good idea to focus on conveying the lyrics distinctly with clear pronunciation.
Donko-zakaMiyama Hiroshi
The timeless appeal of enka and kayōkyoku that’s been passed down through generations remains unchanged even in the Reiwa era.
“Donkozaka,” by Hiroshi Miyama—one of the leading enka singers since the late 2000s—was released in 2023 and stands as a new enka masterpiece born in Reiwa.
Miyama’s signature “vitamin voice” gently stays close to the listener’s heart, moving you to tears with a hymn to life that seems to watch over the journey of a married couple or lovers.
With a wide vocal range and considerable leaps up and down in pitch, it naturally demands strong singing ability.
That said, as a classic, straight-ahead enka number, those familiar with the genre shouldn’t find it too difficult.
Since the overall pitch sits on the lower side, if it feels too low for you, consider adjusting the key.
Dream PlayUmezawa Fumio
Umezawa Tomio, who became an overnight star for his superb onnagata performances that earned him the nickname “Tamasaburō of the downtown,” has in recent years also become a household favorite through appearances on variety shows, achieving nationwide recognition.
Many younger people, who mainly know him from those variety shows, may not realize that he actually had hits as a singer as well.
Yume Shibai, his debut single with lyrics and music by the renowned Ogura Kei, was released in 1982 and became an instant smash, even being performed at that year’s 34th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
The moment the clapper sound in the intro—said to have been struck by Umezawa himself—rings out, you’re drawn right into the world of the song.
Although it’s a track by an actor whose main profession isn’t singing, Umezawa’s rich, deep voice and assured vocal skill are outstanding.
The overall pitch sits very low, so those who struggle with low notes would do well to adjust the key.
You’ll find when you actually try singing it that the range is unexpectedly wide, and riding the rhythm—more in the kayōkyoku style than straight enka—makes this melody relatively challenging.
Listen to the original many times, and give it a strong, spirited rendition!
Even if it costs my lifeMori Shinichi
This is a smash hit by Shinichi Mori, featuring an irresistibly moody, wistful saxophone in the intro.
Released in 1967, “Inochi Karatemo” is said to be Mori’s first million-selling single.
In 1968, a kayō (popular song) film based on the song was released with Tatsuo Umemiya in the lead, and it has remained a classic in enka history, continually covered by many singers.
Unsurprisingly, it’s also a staple in karaoke.
While “Inochi Karatemo” may sound like it’s being sung with effortless ease, actually performing it is quite challenging: it takes Mori’s innate husky voice—blending melancholy and allure—along with his exceptional vocal technique and expressive power.
Be sure to master essential enka techniques like vibrato, and practice delivering the wide-ranging melody without becoming overly constrained by the rhythm, yet without losing it either.
As an aside, women who’d like to try this song at karaoke might consider choosing the cover versions by Keiko Fuji or Aki Yashiro.
Kiyoshi’s Zundoko SongHikawa Kiyoshi
The moment you hear this song, your body just starts moving and you slip into a bon dance… Surely there are many people like that.
Even in the Reiwa era, the classic hit “Kiyoshi no Zundoko-bushi,” wildly popular across all ages as a bon dance staple, is a signature 2000s enka piece released in 2002 by Kiyoshi Hikawa, the “Prince of Enka,” and it became a huge hit.
Many people probably sing it at karaoke, but in fact, when you actually try to sing it, it’s quite difficult due to the tricky intonation and wide vocal range it requires.
The rhythm itself is familiar to Japanese listeners, and above all, rather than overthinking it, I recommend just enjoying yourself to the fullest—ride the distinctive phrasing and rhythm of the traditional “Zundoko-bushi” passed down since the Showa era, and sing your heart out!
Motherly bondedoarudo
Edoardo, born in São Paulo, Brazil, is active as the first Brazilian singer in the enka world.
Like Jero, once called the “Black Ship of the enka world,” Edoardo has inherited the spirit of enka in flawless Japanese, and many people were astonished when they first heard his wonderful singing.
Edoardo’s “Haha Kizuna” is his memorable debut song, released in 2015.
With lyrics that reflect the lives of Edoardo and his mother-in-law, along with his superb vocals, the song resonated with listeners’ hearts and became a long-selling classic.
The melody showcases Edoardo’s vocal prowess, effortlessly spanning from a rich, resonant low register to powerful high notes; it’s not an easy piece, so we encourage those who are fairly accustomed to enka to give it a try.
In particular, for the long sustained note at the end of the chorus, sing with deep emotion, using vibrato while carefully keeping your pitch and rhythm steady.