[2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Classic Masterpieces to Recent Hits [Female Singers Edition]

airportTeresa Ten

Kuukou

The classic song “Kūkō” (Airport) is notable for its passionate brass intro.

While it’s categorized as kayōkyoku, its melody and structure are thoroughly enka, with familiar phrases sprinkled throughout that resonate with Japanese listeners.

The vocal range is somewhat wide and the pitch movement a bit dynamic, but there are no kobushi—those intricate enka-style pitch ornaments—so the overall difficulty is relatively low.

Because the dynamics are dramatic, be mindful to use a whispery tone effectively in the quieter phrases.

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Ryo

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Harbor Pier DrizzleIshikawa Sayuri

Harbor Pier Drizzle

The single song “Hatoba Shigure,” released in 1985, is a local tune set at Tonosho Port on Shodoshima in Kagawa Prefecture.

It became a milestone masterpiece that marked Ishikawa’s transition into a mature enka singer, winning the 27th Japan Record Award and being performed at the 36th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, following life experiences such as marriage and the birth of her first daughter.

A commemorative monument was erected in 1992 in Tonosho Town, Shōzu District, Kagawa Prefecture, and in 2012 a monument honoring Osamu Yoshioka, who wrote the lyrics, was also built on Shodoshima.

Hugely popular in karaoke, the song exudes the classic, heartfelt feel of traditional enka, and those accustomed to singing enka should be able to handle it with ease.

As the song builds, the pitch gradually rises, then drops to a deep note before climbing again.

Take your time and sing carefully to avoid going off pitch as the melody intensifies!

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KOH-1

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The Ephemeral WomanIchikawa Yukino

Utakata no Onna

Utakata no Onna, a signature song by Yukino Ichikawa included on the album Yukino Ichikawa Recital 2023: Sonosaki no Hajimari.

While Yukino Ichikawa often sings pop-style numbers, this piece is crafted as a full-fledged enka.

Even so, it’s not difficult; the highly advanced kobushi with repeated, intricate pitch rises and falls—often heard in her songs—hardly appear here.

The ornamentation mainly stays within 1–3 note movements, and the overall range is on the narrow side, so women accustomed to singing enka should be able to perform it without issue.

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Ryo

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Longing for RainYashiro Aki

Aki Yashiro “Yearning in the Rain”

Aki Yashiro’s classic “Ame no Bojo” (Yearning in the Rain).

It’s a memorable piece that makes the most of her distinctive husky voice, with a vocal line that stays restrained throughout.

There are no parts that call for belting; it’s the kind of song that’s meant to be sung with a subdued, weathered tone, so it doesn’t require powerful vocals like strong projection or shouts.

For one of her songs, it also features relatively few kobushi (ornamental vocal turns), making it comparatively easy to sing.

Consider adding it to your repertoire.

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MaybeKobayashi Sachiko

Moshikashite

Even if you didn’t know it was sung by Sachiko Kobayashi, you’ve almost certainly heard this melody somewhere! “Moshikashite,” released in 1984 as Kobayashi’s single, also came out the same year as “Moshikashite PART II,” a duet version with the composer Katsuhiko Miki, and it was performed on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen—truly a classic of the ’80s.

Rather than enka, it leans more toward the kayōkyoku style, and since Kobayashi sings it with almost no enka-style techniques, it should be relatively approachable even for those who aren’t fond of enka.

That said, the song spans a wide vocal range overall, so try to be mindful of a delivery that brings out the sultriness of the lower notes.

In particular, the chorus melody is easy to go off-pitch on, so be careful!