Popular Enka. Latest Rankings [2026]

Osaka ShigureMiyako Harumi50rank/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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Ryo

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pinwheelYoshi Ikuzo51rank/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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A Man’s Pure Hearttatsumi yūto52rank/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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KOH-1

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It’s nice, it’s nice.Takeshima Hiroshi53rank/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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KOH-1

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grandchildŌizumi Itsurō54rank/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.

marine snowjero55rank/position

Jero – Sea Snow (Music Video)

Jero’s debut single.

Released by Victor Entertainment on February 20, 2008, it’s a 2008 enka smash hit with lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto and music by Ryudo Uzaki.

Set against the backdrop of the Sea of Japan, this masterpiece poignantly sings of unreachable love, and it won the Best New Artist award at the 50th Japan Record Awards—quite a memorable song for its time.

Since the track features a guitar-based sound, it may be easier to listen to even for those who aren’t fond of enka.

In the final chorus, there’s a key change and the range rises slightly, so be careful not to belt.

For parts where the ending consonants are cut off, make sure to stop them cleanly rather than letting them trail—this gives it a cool, sharp finish.

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Kubota Mami

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Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Ten56rank/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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Ryo

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