Popular Enka. Latest Rankings [2026]

A Man’s Pure Hearttatsumi yūto50rank/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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Homeward Journey to the NorthKobayashi Akira51rank/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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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.

Hokkai Port FestivalMiyama Hiroshi54rank/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.

Dotonbori SentimentTendō Yoshimi55rank/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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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.