[2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Classic Masterpieces to Recent Hits [Female Singers Edition]
“I’m interested in enka, but which songs are easy to sing at karaoke…?” “I want to find recent enka songs I can sing…” If you’ve got those questions, be sure to check out this article!
When it comes to popular enka tunes sung at karaoke, many people likely imagine classic masterpieces that have been loved for decades.
But we also want you to discover standout enka songs by younger artists from the 2020s and beyond.
This time, we’ve put together a lineup of “easy-to-sing enka,” from timeless classics to recent hits and fan favorites—featuring female singers only!
We’ve also published an article featuring male singers only, so please enjoy that one as well.
- [2026] Easy Enka Songs for Karaoke: Recommended Picks — Women Singers Edition
- [Enka] Songs that are easy to sing even for those who are tone-deaf [Female singers edition]
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke — Women Singers Edition
- [2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Timeless Classics to Recent Hits [Male Singers Edition]
- [2026] Amazing if you can sing them! Enka Masterpieces [Women Singers Edition]
- [Queen of Enka] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Sayuri Ishikawa [2026]
- 【2026】Difficult Enka Songs to Sing — Women Singers Edition
- [For Women] A roundup of enka songs that can score high in karaoke
- [2026] Easy Enka Songs Recommended for Karaoke – Male Singers Edition
- [Enka] Songs That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf [Male Singer Edition]
- [2026] Enka Songs That Are Hard to Sing – Male Singers Edition
- [Enka First Year] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Yoko Nagayama [2026]
- [2026] A Collection of Masterpieces of Enka and Mood Kayō
[2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Classic Masterpieces to Recent Hits [Female Singers Edition] (31–40)
I want to get drunk aloneIshihara Junko
Ishihara Junko’s heartbreaking masterpiece “Hitori Yoitakute” portrays the pain of lost love.
Like Hitomi Ishikawa’s “Amagi-goe,” it features a melody that is both wistful and passionate.
In contrast to the passionate melody, however, the vocal line in this piece is crafted to be very simple.
There are few kobushi (ornamental turns) and no drastic rises and falls in pitch.
With careful attention to pitch control, you should be able to aim for a high score.
For those who want to sing it even better, try adding a breathy quality to the K-row consonants to emphasize dynamics.
Yorisoi grassIshihara Junko
Yorisoigusa, a masterpiece by Junko Ishihara that beautifully captures one of enka’s charms—its wistful melancholy.
Although this song features more subtle kobushi (ornamental turns) than many of her other works, they aren’t the kind that repeatedly shift pitch on the same vowel; rather, they add a light embellishment to the ends of phrases, so the overall difficulty isn’t very high.
In addition, the vocal range is narrow, so as long as you focus on dynamics and pitch control during long tones, you should be able to deliver it with a high level of polish.
Be sure to add it to your repertoire.
I’ve fallen for you.Ishihara Junko
Junko Ishihara’s classic “Horemashita.” Released in 1988, this piece marked her memorable debut and is still beloved by many fans today.
While it inherits elements of enka, the song as a whole features an easy-to-sing vocal line reminiscent of kayōkyoku.
In particular, the kobushi (ornamental vocal turns) are very easy—there are no difficult kobushi in this piece at all.
They’re limited to, at most, a one-step pitch change, so anyone with experience singing enka should be able to perform it with ease.
I want to see you—I wish I could be with you right now.Ishihara Junko
Junko Ishihara’s classic “Aitai, Ima Sugu Anata ni….” Among her songs, this one is particularly easy to sing.
Rather than enka, it leans more toward kayōkyoku, with a melody that evokes the style of Machiko Watanabe or Mariko Takahashi.
The key reason it’s easy to sing is the gentle rise and fall of the pitch.
The tempo is slow and there’s no kobushi ornamentation, so if you focus on solid pitch control and sustained vibrato on long tones, you can even aim for a high karaoke score.
Eternal JourneyIshikawa Sayuri
The single song “Tokoshie no Tabi,” released in June 2024, is a single by Sayuri Ishikawa, with lyrics by Goro Matsui, music by Tokiko Kato, and arrangement by Neko Saito.
It conveys a sense of compassionate, Buddha-like serenity that reflects her long career, while her unchangingly beautiful voice leaves you feeling purified.
While retaining elements of enka, the song has the vibe of a medium-tempo J-pop ballad, so Ishikawa refrains from kobushi ornamentation and heavy vibrato, instead delivering the wistful melody gently—making it easy to sing even for those who aren’t fond of enka.
Take time to read the lyrics thoroughly, and try to sing with heartfelt feeling.
[2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka — From Classic Masterpieces to Recent Hits [Female Singers Edition] (41–50)
human dramaIshikawa Sayuri
Human Moyo (Human Patterns), with lyrics by Aku Yū and music by Sugimoto Mahito, is a single released by Sayuri Ishikawa in 2003.
It’s a love song in a major key that feels bright yet somehow wistful, featuring warmly toned guitar and Ishikawa’s intimate, conversational singing—such a lovely combination.
It’s also very popular for karaoke, and many people likely have it in their repertoire.
The characteristic enka-style vocal ornamentation (kobushi) is used relatively lightly, and the song includes J-pop elements, making it approachable even for beginners to enka.
Among Ishikawa’s songs, the pitch range is set on the lower side, so it’s easier to sing for those who struggle with high notes.
Harbor Pier DrizzleIshikawa Sayuri
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!