Popular Enka. Latest Rankings [2026]

a desperate gambleYamauchi Keisuke41rank/position

Keisuke Yamauchi “All-or-Nothing” [Official Audio]

The single “Ichikabachika,” used as the ending theme for the TV anime Hanakappa, is a lively track packed with a flashy rock vibe.

Hearing Keisuke Yamauchi’s signature vibrato delivered through a rock-style song—radiating a power distinct from enka—feels fresh and undeniably cool.

The melody is easy to remember, and since it unexpectedly retains an enka-like atmosphere, it’s a great challenge both for beginners to enka and for those who already count enka as a mainstay of their karaoke repertoire.

The final high-pitched shout is tough, but if you start by projecting powerfully from your diaphragm and let it out, it’s also a great stress reliever!

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KOH-1

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Homeward Journey to the NorthKobayashi Akira42rank/position

Homeward Journey to the North

Hokkikō, a work that depicts the feelings of a man returning to his hometown.

This piece is characterized by a very gentle melody that perfectly matches its theme.

Above all, the tempo is extremely slow, allowing ample preparation before each entry in any part.

In addition, the vocal line itself is simple, and it does not feature the complex lines that often appeared in popular songs of that era using enka-style melismatic ornamentation.

With its narrow vocal range, it ranks among the easiest of Akira Kobayashi’s songs to sing.

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Ryo

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Crow of DawnTakeshima Hiroshi43rank/position

[MV] Hiroshi Takeshima / Crow of Dawn (full ver.)

Released in 2016 as a commemorative work for Hiroshi Takeshima’s 15th debut anniversary, “Yoake no Karasu” features lyrics by Kyosuke Kuni—Takeshima’s mentor and the person who helped launch his career—and composition by Kohei Sachi, who has created many masterpieces with Takeshima and in recent years released the “European Trilogy.” It’s a gently romantic kayōkyoku with Takeshima’s signature style on full display, so those accustomed to singing his songs should be able to perform it without issue.

Be mindful to articulate the lyrics clearly so your voice doesn’t get crushed in the lower register, and pour your feelings into the soaring chorus to bring out the song’s climax.

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KOH-1

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And, KobeMaekawa Kiyoshi44rank/position

And then, Kobe — Hiroshi Uchiyamada and The Cool Five

A signature song by Kiyoshi Maekawa, known for his stand-still singing style.

I listened to it a lot during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.

At first it seems like enka, but when you really listen, it isn’t quite enka, which overlaps with Kobe’s stylish, cosmopolitan image.

By the way, he never seems to age, does he?

America BridgeYamakawa Yutaka45rank/position

America Bashi

Among Yutaka Yamakawa’s songs, “America-bashi” stands out for its particularly catchy melody.

As the title hints with “America” in it, the piece is generously infused with pop elements.

While the vocal line strongly evokes the flavor of Showa-era kayōkyoku, the interlude features an accordion that conjures up French jazz.

True to classic Showa pop, the song is characterized by a gentle, relatively even vocal line with few dramatic rises and falls.

Though expressive nuance is required, the scarcity of open vowels relative to the melody allows you to set up a solid pause before each entrance.

If you find breath control or the distinctive kobushi ornamentation of enka challenging, consider adding this song to your repertoire.

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Kiyoshi’s Zundoko SongHikawa Kiyoshi46rank/position

Kiyoshi Hikawa / Kiyoshi no Zundoko-bushi [Official]

Kiyoshi Hikawa, a figure who sent shockwaves through the enka world.

Though an idol-type enka singer, he possesses solid vocal prowess and has influenced many as an artist who combines skill with catchiness.

“Kiyoshi no Zundoko Bushi” is one of his hit numbers.

While this song spans a fairly wide range—mid1 C to hi B—the pitch shifts in the kobushi (melodic ornaments) are kept to at most two notes, making the overall difficulty as enka relatively low.

If you have a reasonably wide vocal range, you should be able to sing it without trouble.

It’s immensely popular among madams, so consider adding it to your repertoire.

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Hanjirō of the Hakone Eight RiHikawa Kiyoshi47rank/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!

Fleeting LoveKouzai Kaori48rank/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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Osaka ShigureMiyako Harumi49rank/position

Osaka Shigure

Harumi Miyako is an enka singer known for her powerful vocals, often referred to as the “Harumi-bushi,” which leave a strong impression.

If you’re familiar with enka, you’ve surely heard of her.

While her songs are generally considered to be quite challenging, there are also some catchy ones among them.

One I especially recommend is Osaka Shigure.

Compared to her typical style, which features growling, shout-like vibrato, this song uses more high-pitched kobushi (ornamental turns), so it doesn’t demand as much sheer power.

At the same time, the melody itself is bright, making it both easy to sing and a crowd-pleaser.

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pinwheelYoshi Ikuzo50rank/position

[Full MV] IKUZO YOSHI “Kazeguruma” [Official]

Kazuo Yoshii’s masterpiece “Kazeguruma,” released in 2024, opens with an electric guitar that’s very characteristic of enka.

From there, the voltage settles as it moves into the A-melody.

As you can hear, however, this piece reflects strong pop elements rather than being pure enka.

The chorus in particular evokes 1970s and ’80s folk rock.

Naturally, there are fewer instances of kobushi (ornamental vocal turns), making this one of the easiest songs to sing in Yoshii’s catalog.

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