Popular Enka. Latest Rankings [2026]
We’re excited to present the latest top 100 enka hits from the monthly popularity rankings, listed in order of most views! Enka is a uniquely Japanese music genre.
With a long history, it continues to captivate devoted fans today—so be sure to check it out! The playlist is updated every month.
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Popular enka. Latest rankings [2026] (71–80)
freezing rainKayama Akio71rank/position
A signature work by Akio Kayama that poignantly sings of the heartache of unrequited love through the figure of a woman enjoying a solitary drink at a bar.
This classic captivates many fans with its bittersweet vocals and richly expressive delivery.
Released in 1977 as his debut single, it has gradually seeped into people’s hearts over time.
In 1983, it won the Long-Seller Award at the Japan Record Awards and is highly regarded as a beloved song of the Showa era.
With a light, folk-tinged melody, the key is to value rhythm and hold back overt power, emphasizing restrained emotion over force.
For karaoke, try singing up to the chorus as if speaking to the listener, and have fun by getting friends to handle the tricky parts.
You can just cry.Futami Souichi72rank/position
Souichi Futami’s song is a poignant love ballad that sings of deep feelings for a beloved person from whom one has been separated.
It features a sweeping melody and dynamic arrangement, with Futami’s clear, translucent vocals brilliantly conveying the song’s emotions.
Released in August 2024, the composition was handled by singer-songwriter Takao Horiuchi.
Futami won the Grand Prix at the Nippon Crown newcomer audition in 2017, marking his debut.
This work resonates with listeners who have experienced the pain of parting or loss.
Its heartfelt lyrics and refreshing vocals make it a captivating track.
Shirakami-SanchiNagayama Yōko73rank/position
Released in 2024, Shirakami Sanchi—an upright Tsugaru shamisen performance that epitomizes Yoko Nagayama—is already drawing attention as one of her signature songs of the Reiwa era.
Its major key gives it a fresh, bright, up-tempo feel, and the interplay between the shamisen ensemble and rock-style guitar is seriously cool.
It’s already a big hit at karaoke, and many people are surely eager to give it a try.
While Nagayama’s singing features her characteristic kobushi (ornamental vocal turns), the melodic development isn’t tricky, so we’d love for even enka beginners to take on the challenge.
Our LullabyToba Ichirō · Yutaka Yamakawa74rank/position
A song by the brother duo Ichiro Toba and Yutaka Yamakawa, released in December 2024.
Centered on the themes of brotherly bonds and family love, this work is deeply moving.
It opens with the desolation of city life, then gradually swells with a longing for their hometown.
The dramatic musical style—and of course, their solid, resonant vocals—are captivating.
Their first-ever duet, realized more than 40 years after their debuts, is truly stirring.
Big brotherYamakawa Yutaka75rank/position
A work that leaves a strong impression of masculinity and sincerity, “Aniki” honors an older brother and is known for its moving lyrics.
While the piece firmly inherits elements of enka, the vocal line is surprisingly understated, with none of the intricate kobushi runs typical of the genre.
If the presence of kobushi is used to define enka, this work would be classified as kayōkyoku, as every part features a simple vocal line.
As a result, even those who are not confident in their singing ability should be able to perform it without difficulty.
Snow, Moon, and Flowerstatsumi yūto76rank/position
A song that beautifully intertwines Japan’s four gorgeous seasons with a bittersweet love.
Yuto Tatsumi’s clear, translucent voice adds even greater depth, resonating powerfully in the listener’s heart.
Demanding a wide vocal range and delicate expressiveness, this piece is perfect for a karaoke challenge.
Released in January 2022, it reached No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Enka Rankings.
Highly recommended for those who want to lose themselves in lyrics that fuse traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern sensibilities, and for anyone seeking the new allure of enka.
If you can convey the emotions of a heart swaying between duty and human compassion, you’re sure to become the star of the karaoke stage.
The Makioka SistersItsuki Hiroshi77rank/position
Set against the wintry scenery of a snow country, this song portrays a fleeting love.
Hiroshi Itsuki’s warm, resonant low voice beautifully conveys the world of the heartrending lyrics.
Released in September 1983, it peaked at No.
9 on the Oricon chart and stayed on the charts for 33 weeks, becoming one of Itsuki’s signature songs.
Composed mainly in the low to mid range, it’s a great choice even for those who find high notes challenging.
When the winter cold feels like it might freeze your heart, why not sing this song and regain a little warmth within?
YukoYūji Matsuo78rank/position
It feels like a sweet love story that seeps into the heart.
This song by Yushi Matsuo, who has built a firm place for himself in the enka world as a singer, was released in December 2024.
It carefully weaves the tale of a protagonist who stays by the side of a woman named Yuko and seeks to lead her toward a happy future.
Matsuo’s distinctive phrasing, featuring his signature rolled Rs, and his warm vocal tone further elevate the story.
It’s a track that lets you fully savor the appeal of enka that stands by life’s side—one you’ll want to listen to with someone special.
TATSUYATanaka Aimi79rank/position
Aimi Tanaka is an enka singer known as the beloved disciple of Takashi Hosokawa.
She possesses a remarkably deep voice for someone in her early twenties, and on top of that, her expressive power is extraordinary.
She is undoubtedly expected to play a leading role in the future enka scene, yet she has also released many songs that are easy to sing.
Among them, the one you can especially expect to get the crowd going is “TATSUYA.” While the lyrics are sad, depicting a widow, the melody is powerful and still brings out a feminine quality, so you can expect it to be quite exciting.
It leans more toward kayōkyoku in style, and the absence of difficult pitch movements—such as the dramatic ups and downs often associated with kobushi—makes it notably easy to sing.
A Man’s FistKimura Tetsuji80rank/position
A powerful enka-style song with a strong message has arrived from Tetsuji Kimura.
Released in July 2024, this work is a tour-de-force written and composed by his brother, Ryuzo Kimura.
Centered on themes of “masculinity” and “indomitable spirit,” it portrays a man who faces adversity head-on.
Presented as part of the single “Midarezaki / Otoko no Kobushi / Hamanasu no Nemuri Uta (Acoustic ver.),” it skillfully fuses traditional enka with a contemporary sensibility.
It’s a piece that fully showcases the talents of Tetsuji Kimura, a past recipient of the Japan Record Awards New Artist Prize.
For those standing at life’s crossroads or confronting difficulties, this is a song that will offer courage and hope.