Popular Enka. Latest Rankings [2026]

A Man’s Pure Hearttatsumi yūto51rank/position

Yuto Tatsumi “A Man’s Pure Heart” Music Video

Released in 2019, “Otoko no Junjo” was the second single by Yuto Tatsumi, who at the time was active as an enka singer while still a university student.

It topped the enka charts and reached No.

10 on the Oricon overall chart, helping cement the image of a new star for the Reiwa era in the enka world.

It’s classic enka that powerfully sings of supporting the somewhat awkward way a man lives, but its light, refreshing melody—reflecting Tatsumi’s personality—is easy to remember.

The vocal range isn’t very wide either, making it very easy to sing for an enka song.

I’d love for beginners to give it a try!

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It’s nice, it’s nice.Takeshima Hiroshi52rank/position

That's nice, that's nice.

If you only know the current Hiroshi Takeshima, you might be surprised when you hear his memorable debut single, “Iimonda Iimonda,” for the first time.

It’s an enka song with a bright, rhythmic feel, and his singing—light and free as he delivers lyrics that evoke the romance of travel—naturally has a fresh, youthful quality.

That said, what’s distinctive about Takeshima is that even in a song like this, he doesn’t use the typical enka-style vocal melisma (kobushi).

He’s even written on his official blog that it’s “a song that relieves stress,” so don’t overthink it—get everyone together at karaoke and sing along; it’ll be a blast!

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grandchildŌizumi Itsurō53rank/position

Itsuro Oizumi / Mago (Grandchild)

The signature song by Itsurō Ōizumi, which sings of a grandfather’s deep love for his grandchild, was released in April 1999 as his major-label debut single and quickly became a massive hit.

From a grandfather’s perspective, it candidly expresses the grandchild’s adorableness and the wish for their growth, resonating with many people.

The piece was created to mark the birth of Ōizumi’s first grandchild, with lyrics penned by his friend Yoshiharu Araki.

It spent 26 consecutive weeks at No.

1 on the Oricon enka chart and sold a total of 1,129,000 copies—an extraordinary level of popularity for enka in the 1990s, to the point of being called a social phenomenon.

The CD opens with the actual voice of his grandchild, giving the work a warm, heartfelt touch.

It’s a recommended song for those who cherish family love and bonds.

Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Ten54rank/position

Let yourself go with the flow of time

Teresa Teng has many timeless songs, but if we had to name her most famous work, it would surely be “Toki no Nagare ni Mi wo Makase” (“I Only Care About You”).

This song about a bittersweet love became a major hit thanks to its lyrics and emotional melody.

Many listeners are especially moved by the falsetto near the end of the chorus.

While that falsetto is somewhat challenging, the vocal line that follows is relatively simple, so those comfortable with head voice will likely not find it a major hurdle.

If it still feels difficult, lowering the key and singing with a restrained volume in mixed voice is recommended.

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Hokkai Port FestivalMiyama Hiroshi55rank/position

Hiroshi Miyama “Hokkai Minato-bushi” MUSIC VIDEO

This song by Hiroshi Miyama, an enka singer from Kochi Prefecture, was released in 2023 and powerfully portrays the life of a fisherman.

Miyama’s warm “vitamin voice” expressively conveys the hardships and resolve of fishermen with deep emotion.

Depicting a man facing raging waves, it also weaves in bonds with family and mentors, becoming a hymn to life.

Characterized by a driving tempo and powerful vocals known as “gangan enka,” the song demands considerable vocal skill, with a wide range, sharp pitch shifts, and a bold singing style.

Even those familiar with enka will need substantial practice to master it.

When singing it at karaoke, it’s recommended to first grasp the rhythm and practice section by section.

The Camellia Sasanqua InnŌkawa Eisaku56rank/position

The Camellia Sasanqua Inn

Eisaku Okawa’s signature song, released in August 1982.

Its deeply expressive vocals and gently painted lyrics create a moving masterpiece.

Okawa’s beautiful voice and delicate phrasing superbly convey a poignant love.

Four months after its release, the song broke into the Oricon Top 10, and from January 1983 it held the No.

2 spot for three consecutive weeks.

With an astonishing total of 1.2 million copies sold, it remains beloved by many as Okawa’s hallmark song.

It’s recommended not only for enka fans, but also for anyone wrestling with love or life.

The heartfelt lyrics and beautiful melody are sure to soothe your soul.

Dotonbori SentimentTendō Yoshimi57rank/position

[MV] Yoshimi Tendo / Dotonbori (Tonbori) Ninjō (Full Ver.)

Yoshimi Tendo is an enka singer highly acclaimed for her live performances.

With first-class qualities across the board—vocal power, expressiveness, and fine techniques such as kobushi—she also has songs that are relatively easy to sing.

Among them, the one I especially recommend is Dotonbori Ninjo.

It’s a robust enka number with the flavor of Kawachi Ondo, but most of the kobushi are the type that undulate at the start of each phrase, so it’s not particularly difficult.

Of course, if you aim to replicate every detail, the difficulty is high; however, since most of the Kawachi Ondo-style kobushi occur in the lower register, anyone who can control pitch in the low range should be able to sing it without issue.

By the way, the reading of the title is not “Dotonbori Ninjo,” but “Tonbori Ninjo.”

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Yugiri PortMori Konomi58rank/position

Konomi Mori “Yugiri Port” Music Video

A powerful enka released by Konomi Mori in July 2024.

Set in a fog-shrouded port town, it portrays a heart-wrenching love.

Drawing on her unique vocal prowess honed through folk music, she conveys both the misty harbor scenery and the protagonist’s feelings with rich emotion.

Said to be modeled on Kojōhama in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, the lyrics—written by Madoka No—were inspired by her amazement at the fog-covered landscape, and Chiaki Oka set them to a poignant melody.

Mori shares behind-the-scenes stories on her blog, and the song has been generating buzz among fans.

It’s the kind of piece you’ll want to listen to when you’re remembering someone dear or spending a quiet night alone.

Lake FurenYamauchi Keisuke59rank/position

Keisuke Yamauchi 'Furenko' Music Video

As a single released in 2009, this song, “Furen-ko,” lets you enjoy Keisuke Yamauchi’s still fresh, youthful singing.

As the title suggests, it’s themed around Hokkaido’s Lake Furen, and it’s a celebrated enka classic that became a long-running hit thanks to its deeply emotional, wistful atmosphere.

The overall structure is simple in a very enka-like way, making it a good study piece for beginners.

It’s also a great song to learn from—things like kobushi and vibrato—and then use that experience to take on various other enka songs!

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Yokohama TwilightItsuki Hiroshi60rank/position

Yokohama Twilight

Set in the port city of Yokohama and depicting a bittersweet romantic parting, this song has continued to capture many hearts since its release in March 1971.

Serving as Hiroshi Itsuki’s re-debut track, it reached No.

1 on the Oricon weekly chart and won numerous awards, including the Vocal Performance Award at the 13th Japan Record Awards.

The poignant farewell unfolding in a hotel room at dusk and the protagonist wandering the city with the ache of heartbreak vividly express universal emotions that almost everyone has experienced at least once.

It’s a must-listen not only for fans of enka and mood kayō, but also for younger music listeners interested in Shōwa-era pop songs.