Popular Enka Singers Ranking [2026]

That girl is dotchicchi.Eya Masashi71rank/position

Masafumi Eya “That Girl Is Docchi-chi” MUSIC VIDEO

This was Masashi Eya’s major-label debut.

With lyrics by Reiji Mizuki and music by Hideo Mizumori, it tells a poignant love story about searching everywhere for someone you love who has disappeared.

The catchy melody contrasted with the seeping sorrow is irresistibly moving.

The frustration conveyed in his vocals makes your chest tighten without you even realizing it.

Evoking the atmosphere of a Showa-era coming-of-age drama, this world is perfect for anyone who wants to remember what it feels like to be in love.

freezing rainHino Mika72rank/position

Mika Hino Cold Rain

This song is a quintessential example of enka, where a catchy melody and emotionally rich lyrics blend beautifully.

Released in December 1982, it remains beloved by many as one of Mika Hino’s signature numbers.

The lyrics, which intertwine the chill of winter rain with the pain of heartbreak, portray a universal theme that anyone can relate to.

Hino, renowned for her vocal prowess, conveys the aching heart of a forlorn love with remarkable expressiveness.

With its relaxed tempo and relatively modest melodic shifts, it’s a song that even beginners to enka will find approachable.

Why not sing it slowly, savoring the lyrics that resonate so deeply?

draft (cold air seeping through gaps)Sugi Ryōtarō73rank/position

draft (cold air seeping through gaps)

This work has long been cherished as a signature masterpiece of the enka genre.

Since its release in 1976, it has become a major hit, selling over one million copies, and it was also used as the ending theme for the TV drama “Tōyama no Kin-san.” Centered around low to mid-range melodies, it is easy to sing even for those who struggle with high notes, and Ryōtarō Sugi’s gentle, composed vocals further enhance the song’s appeal.

While depicting the subtleties of life and loneliness, the lyrics convey a forward-looking attitude that resonates deeply with listeners.

It’s a recommended choice for those who want to try enka at karaoke or are seeking a calm, mellow song.

Come back.Matsumura Kazuko74rank/position

Come back.

Kazuko Matsumura is an enka singer from Hokkaido.

While she also performs orthodox enka, her essence arguably lies in rock-influenced enka.

Many people have surely been moved by her performances, where she holds a shamisen and sings as if she were a rock musician doing an acoustic set.

“Kaette Koi yo” is one of her signature songs; it maintains the fundamentals of enka yet stands out with a rock-tinged power.

The range is somewhat high, from mid2 A# to hi D#, but since the overall span is narrow, it shouldn’t be difficult to sing if you adjust to a suitable key.

It also features fewer kobushi (ornamental turns) than typical enka, making it a recommended choice.

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wintering swallowMori Masako75rank/position

wintering swallow

Released in 1983, this is one of the greatest masterpieces of enka by Masako Mori! This classic, which depicts a woman’s heartrending love, has continued to be cherished not only by fans but by many artists as well.

The melody, full of emotion and expressing a woman consumed by love, is striking—but to fully convey its world, exceptional vocal skill is essential.

It’s quite difficult to master the enka-typical transition from restrained low notes to beautifully soaring highs.

Pay attention to open, resonant high notes, clear diction, and the use of vibrato, and practice carefully to capture that bittersweet feeling.

This work is also famous for Mori’s tearful performance at the 1984 NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

If you sing it as if you were on a grand stage, it’s sure to move your audience.

Secret FireflyNagai Miyuki76rank/position

[MV] Miyuki Nagai / Himebotaru (Secret Firefly)

Miyuki Nagai’s “Hibotaru” is set in early-summer Nara, overlaying a fleeting love with fireflies dancing in the dark.

The song moves from a flower-scented daytime scene to a night where fireflies take flight, drawing you into a world that feels like reading a short novel.

A Western-style arrangement that goes beyond traditional enka and the aching timbre of the erhu intertwine exquisitely, evoking the smoldering passion of a secret love.

Nagai’s breathy vocals vividly depict the protagonist burdened with growing feelings, tightening the listener’s heart.

hesitationNagatsuki Akari77rank/position

Akari Nagitsuki / Hesitation - Music Video

A ballad whose melody sinks deep into the heart.

It’s a farewell song set in an airport, released in March 2025 by enka singer Akari Nagatsuki.

Kyo-ko Asahina’s sorrowful yet elegant lyrics blend beautifully with the dramatic composition.

Nagatsuki’s all-embracing vocals are captivating as well.

Each listen deepens the ache, a song that tightens the chest with bittersweet pain.

Please take your time and listen closely.