[Men] Enka Songs That Can Score High in Karaoke

draft (cold air seeping through gaps)Sugi Ryōtarō

draft (cold air seeping through gaps)

Among Ryotaro Sugi’s career as a singer—he’s also renowned as an actor—his best‑selling signature song is Sukimakaze.

It was used as the theme song for his masterpiece period drama Toyama no Kin-san and achieved an astonishing record by staying within the Oricon Top 100 for 147 weeks.

It’s also a karaoke favorite, so it’s a great pick to sing with plenty of mood and aim for a high score.

While the melody may sound steady overall, you’ll notice when you sing it that the pitch range is actually fairly wide.

The song’s rich, deep low notes are part of its charm, so if low tones are difficult for you, we recommend listening to the original repeatedly and practicing those parts intensively.

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America BridgeYamakawa Yutaka

America Bashi

This is a 1998 song by Yutaka Yamakawa, the younger of the star brothers from Toba City in Mie Prefecture.

His older brother is Ichiro Toba.

It’s amazing that both brothers have hit songs, isn’t it? “America Bridge” is another name for Ebisu Minami Bridge, located between Ebisu and Meguro Stations on Tokyo’s Yamanote Line.

Tokyo has its own local songs, too.

To aim for a high score with this song, make sure you can feel the 6/8 time.

If you get left behind by this rhythm, scoring high won’t even be the issue.

Once you’ve got the 6/8 down, pay attention to matching the words with the melody.

Then—like magic—you’ll find it’s surprisingly easy to sing, and it becomes more and more enjoyable.

Savor the chorus’s melody and lyrics that are unique to 6/8 time, and sing with pleasure.

The high score will naturally follow.

To my daughter…Yoshi Ikuzo

To my daughter...

From the very intro—melancholic acoustic guitar and tasteful strings—you can feel a poignant atmosphere.

It’s a masterpiece written and composed by Ikuzo Yoshi, imbued with the clumsy yet heartfelt feelings of a father toward his daughter as she marries and leaves home.

Fathers who’ve had similar experiences will likely find themselves in tears.

It’s a classic not only for karaoke but also one we’d love to see the bride’s father sing at weddings and receptions.

The melody sits on the lower side, making it easier for those who struggle with high notes, and the pitch is straightforward, so you can expect a solid karaoke score.

That said, more important than any flashy technique is pouring your deep, aching love for your daughter into the performance.

Be sure to read the lyrics carefully and then sing your heart out.

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Cape ErimoMori Shinichi

Cape Erimo

This is a song released by Shinichi Mori in 1974.

The lyrics were written by Osami Okamoto and the music was composed by Takuro Yoshida—big names who symbolize the folk music scene of the 1970s contributed to this track.

The song was born from Takuro Yoshida’s wish to write a piece for Shinichi Mori and Mori’s desire not to be confined solely to the enka genre.

It’s easier to approach if you take the style of singing a folk song with an enka vocal approach.

Since there are no pitch-shaking techniques like kobushi or vibrato here, sing it straight.

There’s a challenging section in the chorus where the melody rises sharply and then falls; if you can get through that part, a high score is within reach.

North TavernHosokawa Takashi

North Tavern

This is Takashi Hosokawa’s signature song, released in 1982 and a major hit.

Many people might name this track when they think of enka.

It’s memorable for its approachable, more kayōkyoku/pop-like feel and its rock-style arrangement rather than traditional enka.

While many enka songs place accents on the first and third beats, this one emphasizes the second and fourth beats, like Western music and J-pop.

Memorizing the melody is important, but keeping the rhythm throughout the entire song is crucial.

Also, while Hosokawa’s high notes tend to draw attention, being able to produce solid low notes is another key point.

Kiyoshi’s Zundoko SongHikawa Kiyoshi

Kiyoshi Hikawa / Kiyoshi no Zundoko-bushi [Official]

This is a single released by Kiyoshi Hikawa in 2002, and of course it was a hit.

His strong vocal ability has been a draw since his debut, but even so, his earliest songs are full of a fresh innocence and the vibrant quality of youth at the time.

Among Hikawa’s songs, which might seem difficult, this one is relatively approachable.

If I were to point out a tricky spot, it’s the part where the pitch drops at the end of phrases.

Generally speaking, descending motion is considered harder than ascending.

Practice so you can drop the pitch cleanly.

Karaoke scoring systems are pretty strict about pitch, after all.

The Makioka SistersItsuki Hiroshi

[MV] Hiroshi Itsuki “Sasameyuki” [Official]

This is a celebrated song by Hiroshi Itsuki that tenderly sings of a woman’s complex, shifting heart as she single-mindedly longs for a man, set against a snowy backdrop.

Released as a single in 1983, it’s one of his signature tracks, ranking fourth in lifetime sales within his discography.

Because it’s a beloved classic, many people have it as their go-to karaoke number, and many others may be eager to give it a try.

As for singing tips, while the overall pitch sits slightly on the low side, the range spans widely—as if mirroring the protagonist’s emotional shifts—so the key is to sing with clear contrasts and dynamic shading.

Avoid sounding too flat; aim to deliver the climactic moments with dramatic, heartfelt emotion.

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