![[Male Singers Edition] The face of New Year’s Eve! Enka singers who appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/WZjHCX3lKT8/maxresdefault.webp)
I want to spend New Year’s Eve relaxing while watching NHK’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen! This national year-end music show in Japan has seen its lineup of artists and bands—and overall trends—change since it began in 1951, but enka singers still play a major role.
In this article, we’re highlighting male enka singers who have performed on Kouhaku.
From legends to rising stars, we’ll introduce renowned vocalists who lit up Kouhaku in the Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras.
Enjoy them along with their signature songs!
- A roundup of male enka singers who represent the Showa era
- [Female Singers Edition] The face of New Year’s Eve! Enka singers who appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen
- [2026] Idol-Worthy! A Roundup of Handsome Male Enka Singers
- [Enka] A special feature on male singers in their 40s: enka artists you can’t afford to miss right now
- [2026] Compilation of Enka Singers from Kumamoto
- [2026] A roundup of enka singers from Niigata
- [2026] Enka Singer from Tohoku
- [2026] Enka’s Seventh Generation! A roundup of young enka singers
- [2026] Amazing If You Can Sing It! Classic Enka Masterpieces [Male Singers Edition]
- A roundup of male enka singers in their 70s: legendary vocalists who support the enka world
- [Treasure of Powerful Enka] Takashi Hosokawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs
- Roundup of male enka singers in their 50s: masters who are active at the heart of the enka world
- [For Men] Masterpiece Enka Songs with High Difficulty
[Male Singers Edition] The Face of New Year’s Eve! Enka Singers Who Appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen (1–10)
Life is a hill of hardships.Yamakawa Yutaka
Born and raised in a fishing town in Mie Prefecture, Yutaka Yamakawa has captivated many fans with a musical world imbued with seascapes.
He made his debut in February 1981 with the single “Hakodate Main Line,” getting off to a brilliant start by winning the Newcomer Award at the 23rd Japan Record Awards that same year.
In 1986, he made his first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen with “Tokimeki Waltz,” and by 2005 had performed there a total of 11 times.
His 1998 release “America-bashi” drew major attention, and with the subsequent “New York Monogatari” and “Kirisame no Seattle,” he established a lyrical musical world as a trilogy.
Together with his older brother, Ichirō Toba, he continues to be a leading figure in the enka world.
Yokohama TwilightItsuki Hiroshi
Hiroshi Itsuki, truly a singer Japan can be proud of, has been active since the 1970s and continues to perform to this day in the Reiwa era.
Since his 1971 debut, he has released countless classics such as “Yokohama Tasogare” and “Nagaragawa Enka,” and his glittering accolades include two Grand Prizes at the Japan Record Awards, three Best Vocal Performance awards, and ten Gold Awards.
With the astonishing record of 50 consecutive appearances on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, Itsuki’s voice continues to captivate fans across a wide range of genres, not only enka.
Hearing Itsuki—an indispensable presence as the face of New Year’s Eve—makes the turn of the year feel real, doesn’t it?
I’ll give you everything.Shinhama Reon
Born in 1996, Leon Niihama is an enka singer who made his debut on May 1, 2019—the first day of the Reiwa era.
His debut single, “Hanasanai Hanasanai,” reached No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Enka/Kayō chart.
In the same year, he won the New Artist Award at the 61st Japan Record Awards, bringing fresh energy to the enka scene.
In 2024, he released “Subete Ageyou,” produced by Noritake Kinashi with lyrics and music by George Tokoro, achieving the remarkable feat of remaining in the Oricon Top 10 for 25 consecutive weeks.
He capped the year with his first appearance at the 75th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, showcasing his talent to a wide audience.
While preserving the charm of traditional enka, his singing incorporates a modern sensibility, earning support from younger generations.
He’s a recommended artist even for those curious about enka but not yet familiar with the genre.
Nostalgic JonkaraHosokawa Takashi
Takashi Hosokawa, blessed with a naturally expansive high register and a folk-music background, has produced numerous hits since his 1975 debut, including “Kita Sakaba” and “Yagiri no Watashi,” and achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Japan Record Award two years in a row.
His powerful voice and emotionally rich expressiveness continue to captivate many fans.
A mainstay of the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, his vocal prowess remains as strong as ever.
He’s a highly recommended singer not only for enka fans but also for anyone who wants to experience truly accomplished vocals.
festivalKitajima Saburō
Saburo Kitajima is a leading figure in Japan’s enka music scene.
He debuted in 1962 with “Bungacha-bushi,” and achieved a major breakthrough the same year with “Namida-bune.” He went on to produce numerous hits known as the “Women Series” and the “Chivalry (Ninkyō) Series,” cementing his status as a top enka star.
He won the Best Vocal Performance award in 1986 and the Japan Record Award in 1991.
He has performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen a record 50 times, the most in history.
With his powerful voice and richly expressive delivery, Kitajima’s songs captivate many fans and are also favorites at karaoke.
However, because of his overwhelming vocal prowess and nuanced expression, many of his songs are quite challenging to sing.
They’re recommended not only for enka enthusiasts but also for anyone interested in experiencing traditional Japanese music.
MotherMori Shinichi
Shinichi Mori, known as one of Japan’s leading singers, made his debut in 1966 with “Onna no Tameiki” (A Woman’s Sigh).
With his husky voice and deeply expressive singing, he has produced many hit songs.
Classics such as “Minatomachi Blues” and “Erimo Misaki” continue to resonate with many people to this day.
He boasts a record 48 appearances on the NHK New Year’s Eve program Kōhaku Uta Gassen, truly earning the title “the face of New Year’s Eve.” While rooted in enka, his broad musicality—incorporating elements of folk and pop—has kept him beloved across generations.
Listening to Mori’s voice feels like experiencing the very essence of Japan’s popular music history.
Castle of White CloudsHikawa Kiyoshi
Born in 1977, Kiyoshi Hikawa is a leading figure in enka of the 2000s.
He made his debut in February 2000 with “Hakone Hachiri no Hanjirō,” achieving remarkable success.
With “Kiyoshi no Zundoko-bushi,” he won the Gold Award at the Japan Record Awards in 2002.
In 2006, he won the Japan Record Award for “Ittō,” marking the first such achievement by an enka singer in 13 years.
Beyond enka, he embraces a wide musical range including pop and rock, and is committed to singing in his own style across genres.
He has appeared many times on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and he is recommended not only for enka fans but also for those drawn to artists who continually take on new musical challenges.