![[2026] Enka Songs That Are Hard to Sing – Male Singers Edition](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/0c6ptWGaM1U/maxresdefault.webp)
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] Easy Enka Songs Recommended for Karaoke – Male Singers Edition
- [2026] Amazing If You Can Sing It! Classic Enka Masterpieces [Male Singers Edition]
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Masterpieces for Karaoke — Male Singers Edition
- 【2026】Difficult Enka Songs to Sing — Women Singers Edition
- 【2026】Recommended Enka by Male Singers with Captivating High Notes
- [2026] Recommended for those who find high notes difficult! Enka by male singers that you can sing in a low register
- [Men] Enka Songs That Can Score High in Karaoke
- Enka songs that are easy for men to sing: a roundup of tracks to try at karaoke
- [2026] Easy Enka Songs for Karaoke: Recommended Picks — Women Singers Edition
- [2026] Representative Famous Enka Songs: A Compilation of Classic Favorites [Beginner-Friendly]
- [For Men] Masterpiece Enka Songs with High Difficulty
- Men’s enka: a collection of classic songs portraying the way men live and their fighting spirit
- [2026] A roundup of classic enka and kayōkyoku masterpieces: male-male duets
[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.
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.
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.