[Men] Enka Songs That Can Score High in Karaoke

A Lone Journey to MichinokuYamamoto Jōji

Joji Yamamoto “Michinoku Solo Journey” Music Video (full ver.)

This is one of Joji Yamamoto’s signature songs.

It was introduced to him by his mentor, Saburo Kitajima.

After hearing it, Yamamoto begged to sing it, which led to a massive hit.

It has since become a classic that continues to be performed.

The low notes in the B section may be difficult to produce even for men.

Practice so that your chest voice resonates solidly within your body.

Doing so will improve not only your low notes but your high notes as well.

The famous, relentless phrase at the ending may feel challenging precisely because the pitch doesn’t change much.

Engage your core and sing with firm abdominal support.

Beloved DaysHoriuchi Takao

Beloved Days

This is one of Takao Horiuchi’s signature songs.

It was used as the theme song for the year-end period drama Byakkotai, broadcast on Nippon TV in 1986.

The lyrics penned by singer-songwriter Kei Ogura leave a lasting impression.

In terms of vocals, Horiuchi is also a member and songwriter of the rock group Alice, so many parts don’t conform to enka conventions.

He changes the melody and vocal phrasing between the first and second verses, and there are shout-like phrases as well.

Even so, the song doesn’t suddenly jump in pitch or introduce radically different phrasing.

If you can produce the low range clearly and distinctly, and pay attention to how you cut off notes, you’ll likely score higher.

Person Sought in the NorthNakazawa Takuya

Takuya Nakazawa “The Person I Seek in the North” MUSIC VIDEO

Born in 1995, Takuya Nakazawa is a multi-talented artist who made his debut in the enka and kayōkyoku fields in his early twenties, has won numerous awards, and also has a career as a racing driver.

His 2020 single “Kita no Tazunebito” is a refreshing masterpiece that perfectly matches his image, and the lyrics, which sing of a pure love set in Hokkaido, are wonderful.

With a classic kayōkyoku structure—clearly delineated A verse, B verse, and chorus—it’s easy to memorize, and the pitch range is fairly standard, making it suitable for karaoke.

For the chorus, its expansive vocal lines and natural vibrato are fine to shorten a bit and take breaths earlier than in the original if you’re not used to it.

Keep practicing little by little, and strive to perform it with a relaxed expression!

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Okuhida BojoRyū Tetsuya

Tetsuya Ryuu – Okuhida Yearning [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

This is Tetsuya Ryu’s debut single, released in 1980.

With this song, he even appeared on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1981.

Despite losing his eyesight at 25, he persevered, debuting as an enka street performer in his hometown of Takayama, Gifu, with an accordion in his arms.

He sings the lyrics, set in his home region of Okuhida, with deep emotion.

This is enka at its finest—a masterpiece packed with its unique charm.

The style features an abundance of kobushi, the characteristic melodic ornaments of enka.

To master it, listen to the recording and try imitating the kobushi.

As you repeat, you’ll start to grasp their nuances.

Be sure to mimic the note sustains and accents closely.

Not only will this help you score higher, it will undoubtedly make singing enka even more enjoyable.

I’m appearing under my former name.Kobayashi Akira

I'm appearing under my former name.

A signature song by Akira Kobayashi, released in 1975, which became a long-selling hit with over two million copies sold over more than two years.

It remains a classic that is still sung today.

Because of its bright timbre it can feel high in key, but it’s actually not that high.

Once you memorize the first chorus, the rest is mostly repetition of the same melody, making it easy to practice.

Try to clearly differentiate the volume and emotional intensity between the verse and the chorus.

If you sustain the long notes well and master the slightly wider melodic intervals, a high score won’t be just a dream.

It was rainy again in Nagasaki today.Uchiyamada Hiroshi to Cool Five

It was rainy again in Nagasaki today.

This was the debut single of Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five, who debuted in 1969, and it’s the group’s biggest hit.

The lead vocal is by Kiyoshi Maekawa, who later self-covered the song as well.

To score high, instead of trying to sing the entire song straight through, it’s effective to practice so you can sing one full verse perfectly without mistakes.

I often introduce this practice method in various places, and especially for enka and kayōkyoku, there are relatively few songs whose melodies change drastically between the first and second verses, so it’s wise to thoroughly learn the melody first.

Also, since the opening lyric starts on a vowel and enters from a low note, if you sing that part with just a slight catch in the throat, you’ll be able to hit the pitch more clearly.

Give it a try!

A street corner in loveYamauchi Keisuke

Keisuke Yamauchi “Koisuru Machikado” Music Video

This is Keisuke Yamauchi’s 2008 hit song about romances between men and women unfolding in bars across bustling districts like Sapporo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.

Although he’s from Fukuoka Prefecture, his career has an interesting twist in that his popularity first took off from Hokkaido.

The song doesn’t demand a particularly wide vocal range, nor does it feature extremely high or low notes.

The classic path to improvement is to grasp the melody and sing so the lyrics come across clearly and crisply.

If you sing while taking a bird’s-eye view of the song’s world—approaching it with the mindset of a narrator—you’ll likely be able to perform without overloading it with emotion, in just the right way.