Popular Enka Singers Ranking [2026]

Memories SakeKobayashi Sachiko15rank/position

Omoidezake

A masterpiece whose wistful melody and heartrending lyrics resonate deeply.

The lyrics portray a woman recalling a past love as she drinks, a theme that has struck a chord with many and kept the song beloved for years.

Released in January 1979, it was originally a B-side, but its popularity on cable radio led to it becoming the A-side.

It ranked No.

1 on that year’s “The Best Ten” annual chart and also won the 21st Japan Record Awards’ Best Vocal Performance.

The song is extremely demanding to sing, requiring rich expressiveness and a wide vocal range.

It’s a perfect piece for testing one’s enka singing ability.

Hanjirō of the Hakone Eight RiHikawa Kiyoshi16rank/position

Kiyoshi Hikawa / Hanzirō of Hakone Hachiri [Official]

The debut song of the prince of the enka world is a traveling ballad that seeps into the listener’s heart.

You can almost picture Hanjiro in his mawashi-gappa outfit making his way along the Hakone mountain path.

Many younger listeners have probably heard the memorable phrase from the chorus, and it’s the kind of line that makes you want to hum along.

Released in February 2000 and used in a Taisho Pharmaceutical commercial, this piece is recommended even for newcomers to enka.

That said, many of Kiyoshi Hikawa’s songs are technically challenging, and this one is no exception.

For starters, enjoy the lyrical world and melody, and practice repeatedly so you can sing it better little by little!

Let’s call it good with this.Mikawa Ken’ichi17rank/position

Kenichi Mikawa 'This Will Do' Music Video

The song announced in September 2024 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Kenichi Mikawa’s singing career is a life-affirming anthem brimming with his signature style.

Created in collaboration with the distinguished artists Takahiro Matsumoto of B’z and TAKURO of GLAY, the piece portrays the ups and downs of life with humor and warmth.

Set to a medium-tempo groove, Mikawa’s voice—singing about facing forward with the message that “it’s enough just to be alive”—is sure to resonate with listeners.

As the culmination of Mikawa’s six decades as a vocalist, it has earned wide support across generations.

It’s a recommended track for anyone feeling lost in life or ready to take a new step forward.

Fleeting LoveKouzai Kaori18rank/position

Hagureso

A work that remains highly popular among fans as an early-career masterpiece, “Ryūren-sō.” Typically, enka singers tend to take on more technically demanding songs as they enter the later stages of their careers, but Kaori Kozai has taken the opposite path, performing increasingly catchy songs centered on pop in her later years.

As this is an early piece, it features a structure that is more characteristically enka compared to her current repertoire.

While it contains a fair number of kobushi (ornamental vocal turns) and has clear dynamic shading, there are no kobushi that span more than three scale steps, so it is by no means extremely difficult.

Anyone reasonably accustomed to singing enka should be able to handle it without issue.

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Kawachi Otoko-bushiNakamura Mitsuko19rank/position

Kawachi Otoko-bushi

Mitsuko Nakamura’s classic “Kawachi Otoko Bushi.” This signature song of hers became a nationwide hit after achieving explosive popularity in the Kansai region.

In Kansai, it’s known as a staple at festivals.

While the song features complex rises and falls in pitch, the kobushi ornamentation itself isn’t very difficult, and the vocal line is catchy enough that anyone familiar with enka can hum along.

Because many of the kobushi use a hiccup-like technique that mixes in falsetto, be sure to adjust the key to suit your own range.

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Like the flow of a riverMisora Hibari20rank/position

Like the flow of a river

This work is the final single released during the lifetime of the legendary songstress Hibari Misora, and among her monumental discography that has long sung to the hearts of the Japanese people, it is a particularly renowned masterpiece among masterpieces.

Hibari’s vocal performance, which flawlessly delivers the life philosophy penned by Yasushi Akimoto and the beautiful melody composed by Masao Hirao, continues to move many people today.

Released in January 1989, it was also performed at that year’s Kohaku Uta Gassen.

Even beginners can enjoy singing it comfortably at karaoke by feeling the wonderful melody that naturally draws you in!

From the northern innMiyako Harumi21rank/position

Harumi Miyako / From the Northern Inn [Lyric Video]

When it comes to classic enka songs, this one is indispensable.

Set against the backdrop of a cold northern winter, it conveys the heart-wrenching feelings of a heartbroken woman through a voice that is both gentle and powerful.

Asei Kobayashi’s richly emotive melody and Yū Aku’s profound lyrics blend beautifully, resulting in a masterpiece that resonates deeply with listeners.

Released in December 1975 as Harumi Miyako’s 68th single, it quickly soared in popularity after being performed at the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen the following year.

It won numerous awards, including the Japan Record Award, and became a massive hit, selling over 1.435 million copies.

It’s the perfect song for healing the pain of heartbreak or reaffirming your feelings for someone special.