Queen of Local Songs: Kaori Mizumori's Easy-to-Sing Tracks
Among female enka singers, Kaori Mizumori stands out as an especially catchy presence, loved by many fans.
When people think of enka, it often requires a very high level of vocal ability—but Kaori Mizumori is different.
Many of the enka songs she performs are catchy numbers that even those without strong singing skills can hum along to and sing together.
This time, we’ve selected some of Kaori Mizumori’s songs that are especially easy to sing.
Be sure to read to the end and find the tracks that suit you!
[Queen of Local Songs] Kaori Mizumori’s Easy-to-Sing Tracks (1–10)
Shimane Love JourneyMizumori Kaori
Kaori Mizumori’s classic “Shimane Koi Tabi” is distinguished by its heartwarming melody.
As the title suggests, it portrays a woman traveling alone in Shimane Prefecture after a broken romance.
While it might sound like it would be steeped in pathos, the melody is remarkably warm, and the vocal line is crafted to be relaxed to match it.
With few instances of kobushi and a low level of difficulty, it’s a very singable piece for those familiar with enka.
KatsurahamaMizumori Kaori
Kaori Mizumori’s masterpiece “Katsurahama” is notable for its melody brimming with pathos.
While many of Mizumori’s heartbreak songs tend to have a bright feel, this piece maintains a wistful mood from beginning to end.
Songs of this type often feature strong dynamic contrast to fully convey emotion; however, because the tempo is slow, they remain relatively easy to sing despite the wide pitch fluctuations.
True to form, this song shares those traits, and its vocal line is crafted to be easy to sing throughout, making it approachable even for those who aren’t fond of enka.
Sanriku ElegyMizumori Kaori
When you think of Kaori Mizumori, her warm enka style is memorable, but she also has some powerful songs.
Among them, I especially recommend “Sanriku Banka.” The vocal range is a bit wide and there are many strong sections, but there aren’t any shout-like, raspy power vocals, so anyone with a reasonable range should be able to sing it without issue.
It also features relatively few kobushi (melismatic enka ornamentation), so consider adding it to your repertoire.
Kujūkuri BeachMizumori Kaori
Kujukuri Beach, known as the largest sandy coastline in Japan, is one of Chiba Prefecture’s signature tourist spots.
The song ‘Kujukuri Beach,’ sung by Kaori Mizumori, is a moving enka piece set against that backdrop.
It opens with a tragic melody, gradually shifts to a brighter tone, and then returns to a tragic melody in the chorus—resulting in a work with many changing expressions.
It may seem difficult, but since it features almost no kobushi (melodic ornamentation typical of enka), anyone comfortable singing kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs) should be able to perform it without trouble.
Shinano RoadMizumori Kaori
Kaori Mizumori’s signature song “Shinanoji.” As the title suggests, it’s a local-themed song about Nagano Prefecture and has gained nationwide popularity.
While it is authentic enka, it features many catchy vocal lines throughout, and there are no kobushi ornaments that require pitch movement of three or more notes.
Instead, the chorus includes fairly high notes, so proper key adjustment is necessary.
If you still can’t hit the high parts, one option is to raise the key and sing them in falsetto.
Cape HyugaMizumori Kaori
Kaori Mizumori’s classic “Hyuga Misaki.” Set at Cape Hyuga in Miyazaki Prefecture, this song beautifully portrays the feelings of a woman who visits the cape after a heartbreak.
Although the theme is filled with sorrow, the melody itself isn’t particularly somber.
If anything, it has a warm, traditional quality.
The vocal line is simple, without intricate melismatic ornamentation.
The tempo is slow enough that even those not used to singing enka can handle it with ease, so consider adding it to your repertoire.
Akashi StraitMizumori Kaori
Kaori Mizumori’s famous song “Akashi Kaikyō” is memorable for its wistful, melancholy melody.
Set against the tourist spot Akashi Strait in the Seto Inland Sea, the piece is characterized by a deeply heartrending sense of pathos.
Although the song has a slightly wide vocal range, it doesn’t feature the repeated 2–3-note up-and-down ornamentation (kobushi), and overall it’s arranged with an easy-to-sing vocal line.
If you find the falsetto parts tough, we recommend lowering the key; conversely, if your low notes become hard to produce, try raising the key to a point where the falsetto is easier to sing.
TsuwanoMizumori Kaori
Tsuwano, a town in Shimane Prefecture known as a quintessential “Little Kyoto.” Its compact yet elegant streetscape is a defining feature, drawing many tourists every year.
This piece is set in Tsuwano and is characterized by a warm melody that matches the town’s atmosphere.
Although there are many sections that alternate slightly between falsetto and chest voice and may seem challenging, the song mainly sits in the mid-high to high range, so the overall range isn’t very wide.
The kobushi (ornamental vocal turn) difficulty is also low, so as long as you adjust the key to suit your voice, it’s a song that anyone can sing.
AkiyoshidaiMizumori Kaori
Kaori Mizumori’s famous song Akiyoshidai is set in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The piece captivates with its deeply heartrending lyrics, depicting a heartbroken woman who travels alone to Akiyoshidai in Yamaguchi and is overwhelmed by sorrow.
Surprisingly, the song features a warm melody, with a relaxed vocal line throughout.
The kobushi ornamentation isn’t particularly difficult, so even those not adept at enka should be able to sing it without trouble.
Consider adding it to your repertoire.
Kumano KodoMizumori Kaori
Kaori Mizumori’s famous song “Kumano Kodo,” set along the pilgrimage route that spans Mie, Nara, Wakayama, and Osaka, is a piece where the essence of enka truly bursts forth, with a relatively high number of kobushi (ornamental scoops).
The vocal range is wide, so it may seem somewhat difficult.
In reality, however, there are no kobushi that require leaps of more than three notes, and there are no sustained high notes, making it unexpectedly easy to sing.
If you’re fairly familiar with enka, you should be able to perform it without any trouble.