Popular Enka Singers Ranking [2026]

Osaka RhapsodyUminara Senri · Mari96rank/position

Osaka Rhapsody

This is a signature song by Senri & Mari Unabara, one of Japan’s most iconic female comedy duos.

Released in February 1976, the piece is a kayōkyoku number that portrays the sweet moments of lovers set against the cityscape of Osaka.

With Osaka landmarks like Midosuji and Dotonbori as the backdrop, the protagonists’ emotions are depicted with care.

The seven-colored neon lights are used as a motif symbolizing “sweet dreams,” making the lyrics deeply resonate with listeners.

The song is also included on the album Osaka Rhapsody and reached No.

24 on the Oricon weekly chart.

It became a massive hit, selling around 400,000 copies.

It’s a recommended track not only for those from Osaka, but for anyone who carries feelings of love or nostalgia for their hometown.

Dream-Chasing SakeAtsumi Jirō97rank/position

Dream-Chasing Sake

With an extraordinary hit on his third single since debut, Jiro Atsumi brought a fresh breeze to the enka world.

Released in February 1978, this work topped the annual sales chart the following year and won support not only from enka fans but from a wide audience.

From the lonely tears shed in a bar to the resolve to pursue a new dream, it brilliantly captures the heart’s inner conflict.

Atsumi’s warm voice soothes the pain of heartbreak while giving you the courage to look ahead.

Spurred by this song, he made his first appearance on NHK’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen in 1979, opening the way for a career that transcended the boundaries of enka.

Having sold 1.82 million copies to date, this classic is one you should listen to especially when you feel lost in life.

Okuhida BojoRyū Tetsuya98rank/position

Tetsuya Ryuu – Okuhida Yearning [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Carried by Tetsuya Ryū’s singing voice, you can almost see the scenes woven from Okuhida’s beautiful nature and a heartrending love.

The symbolic expressions are striking too, such as likening a fleeting hope to a white lily in the valley.

Released by Trio Records in June 1980, the song became a massive hit, selling a total of 1.485 million copies.

In 1981, it also earned a spot in the 32nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

It’s a recommended track for those who want to feel the landscapes of Okuhida and the atmosphere of its hot spring towns, or for those seeking to heal the pain of heartbreak.

You’re sure to be moved by Ryū’s deeply emotional singing.

A lie is fine too.Kadokawa Hiroshi99rank/position

Hiroshi Kadokawa “Even if it’s a lie”

With their debut song in 1976, they won that year’s Newcomer Award.

It’s true that singers who are good at singing are also good at impersonations—depending on their vocal quality—and apparently they won so often in the singer-versus-singer impersonation contests that used to air back in the day that all the home appliances in their house are prizes from those victories, which is astonishing.

Bread Love Song of GinzaOka Midori100rank/position

Among enka singers, Midori Oka—who appears in an exceptionally large number of commercials—is featured in a commercial for the premium bread brand Ginza Nishikawa.

The ad shows her visiting a Ginza Nishikawa shop and buying an “an shokupan” (sweet red bean paste bread), and her delighted expression really stands out.

The BGM, Ginza no Pan Koiuta (Bread Love Song of Ginza), is an original track created for this commercial.

Although it lasts only 30 seconds, Oka’s vocals and the catchy, familiar-sounding melody leave a strong impression.

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Hane Keisuke

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