Popular Enka. Latest Rankings [2026]

evening cicadaNagayama Yōko81rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Higurashi” Music Video

Branded as the “first year of enka,” this commemorative song, Higurashi, marked Ms.

Nagayama’s re-debut as an enka singer in 1993.

It is her biggest hit, a renowned piece widely recognized for being used as the theme song for the TBS drama Journey of Life and for her appearance at that year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Built on a 6/8 rhythm in a minor key, it embodies the classic style of enka, featuring fundamental enka techniques throughout.

While it can be a challenging song for beginners to enka, the melody is easy to remember, and anyone reasonably accustomed to singing enka should be able to manage it.

Because the pitch moves up and down rather dramatically, it’s easy to go off the melody, so be sure to listen carefully to the original before attempting to sing it.

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Scorpio womanMikawa Ken’ichi82rank/position

Kenichi Mikawa “Woman of Scorpio (New Recording)” (Official Audio)

This is a smash hit by Kenichi Mikawa, featuring an irresistibly moody, wistful saxophone in the intro! Released in 1972, this song is said to be one of Mikawa’s signature works.

It has been performed multiple times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen and remains a classic in enka history that many artists continue to cover.

With a relatively narrow vocal range and an easy-to-remember melody, it’s particularly recommended for those who struggle with high notes.

Channel your inner Mikawa and have fun!

A Man’s HarborToba Ichirō83rank/position

Ichiro Toba "Man’s Harbor" (Official Audio)

With a fisherman father and an ama diver mother, Ichiro Toba is truly an enka singer worthy of being called a “man of the sea.” Released in 1986, this song became a popular hit and was even performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Characterized by lyrics themed around the sea and fishermen’s lives and a powerful melody, it showcases Toba’s vocal prowess to the fullest.

The overall pitch is on the lower side, but it’s challenging to deliver the lyrics clearly while employing vibrato.

It takes considerable technique to sing the low-register melody with stability.

If you’re not confident with vibrato, you might focus on delivering the lyrics clearly with crisp articulation.

It’s a recommended track for those who want to let their thoughts drift to the world of the sea and its fishermen.

Premonition of PartingTeresa Ten84rank/position

Premonition of Parting

She has produced numerous masterpieces, and among them, “A Premonition of Parting” is one of her most well-known works.

Although the chorus sits mostly in the mid-to-high range, the pitch movement is very gentle, so even if it feels high, you may find it surprisingly easy to sing.

If you still find the height challenging, don’t hesitate to lower the key.

This song has a narrow vocal range, so even if you lower the key, you won’t struggle with the low parts.

Be sure to add it to your repertoire.

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Mist-bound feelingsYamauchi Keisuke85rank/position

Keisuke Yamauchi “Foggy Affection” Music Video

As the catchphrase “I’m an enka high-schooler” suggests, this is Keisuke Yamauchi’s memorable debut song, Kijō! Released in April 2001, Kijō features lyrics by none other than the grand master Tetsurō Hoshino, and composition by Hideo Mizumori—who is quintessentially associated with Yamauchi—resulting in a classic enka in a minor key.

Though youthful and fresh, his poised, self-assured singing is astonishing even now, hardly what you’d expect from a high school student.

Hallmark enka techniques like kobushi are woven throughout, and to be honest, it’s tough to sing right off the bat if you’re not used to enka.

The melody is easy to learn, so start by humming along, and gradually practice incorporating elements like kobushi and vibrato over time!

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