Popular Enka. Latest Rankings [2026]

A Love Like Ephemeral LightSakishima Jun1rank/position

“Latest Popular Enka Rankings 2025” No. 1: ‘Tamayura no Koi’ by Jun Sakishima (Short Ver.) Official Music Video

This is a Japanese-style ballad that captures the fleeting beauty of love.

Jun Sakishima’s translucent vocals exquisitely convey a dreamlike world.

While honoring traditional Japanese melodies, the modern arrangement draws out a fresh allure.

Released in March 2025, the piece pairs a lyrical melody with gentle vocals that deeply resonate with listeners.

Its artistic quality has been highly praised, including a nomination as a candidate work for the Japan Music Authors Association’s “Songs of the Heart Concert.” It’s recommended for anyone who wants to connect with the delicacy and poignancy of being in love, or who seeks the soothing comfort of a tender voice.

Rhapsody at MidnightMatsushima Mami2rank/position

[Official] Asami Matsushima “Midnight Rhapsody” Music Video (Release Date: November 13, 2024)

This song showcases a new side of Mami Matsushima, whose gently enveloping vocals are her signature charm.

It’s a danceable, mysteriously tinged kayōkyoku track released in November 2024.

The poetic lyrics, themed around the stillness and madness of the night, leave a strong impression, conjuring the image of a woman possessed by love.

You can sense both inner strength and a fragile, ephemeral beauty.

This passionate, dramatic piece might be the perfect companion for a nighttime drive.

Grazioso LoveMegumi Sakino3rank/position

"Grazioso Love" Megumi Sakino

A track defined by its graceful, sophisticated melody.

This is Megumi Sakino’s debut single, slated for release in December 2024.

True to its title, which means “gracefully,” her calm, soothing vocals leave a strong impression.

The lyrics, which gently look back on days gone by, resonate deeply with listeners.

Created in collaboration with Terumi Takaoka, the song has a warm finish that evokes the essence of Showa-era kayōkyoku.

Filled with Sakino’s heartfelt emotions, it’s a must-listen for fans of classic Japanese pop.

Recommended for those who seek the comforting blend of nostalgia and freshness in her voice.

Boat SongYashiro Aki4rank/position

Aki Yashiro / Funauta (Boat Song)

A classic enka masterpiece by Aki Yashiro that portrays the bittersweet feelings of a seafaring man.

Released in May 1979, this work was Yashiro’s 28th single and became widely known when she closed out that year’s NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

In 1991, it was also used in a commercial song for Sankyo’s digestive medicine, making it beloved across generations.

It’s a recommended number for strong vocalists, but recreating Yashiro’s wistful tone is extremely challenging.

The song demands a wide vocal range from low to high notes and calls for delicate emotional expression, making it a highly difficult piece.

Let’s call it good with this.Mikawa Ken’ichi5rank/position

Kenichi Mikawa 'This Will Do' Music Video

The song announced in September 2024 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Kenichi Mikawa’s singing career is a life-affirming anthem brimming with his signature style.

Created in collaboration with the distinguished artists Takahiro Matsumoto of B’z and TAKURO of GLAY, the piece portrays the ups and downs of life with humor and warmth.

Set to a medium-tempo groove, Mikawa’s voice—singing about facing forward with the message that “it’s enough just to be alive”—is sure to resonate with listeners.

As the culmination of Mikawa’s six decades as a vocalist, it has earned wide support across generations.

It’s a recommended track for anyone feeling lost in life or ready to take a new step forward.

Memories SakeKobayashi Sachiko6rank/position

Omoidezake

A masterpiece whose wistful melody and heartrending lyrics resonate deeply.

The lyrics portray a woman recalling a past love as she drinks, a theme that has struck a chord with many and kept the song beloved for years.

Released in January 1979, it was originally a B-side, but its popularity on cable radio led to it becoming the A-side.

It ranked No.

1 on that year’s “The Best Ten” annual chart and also won the 21st Japan Record Awards’ Best Vocal Performance.

The song is extremely demanding to sing, requiring rich expressiveness and a wide vocal range.

It’s a perfect piece for testing one’s enka singing ability.

Crossing Amagi PassIshikawa Sayuri7rank/position

Crossing Amagi Pass

It’s no exaggeration to say this is one of the most famous songs in the enka genre.

Sayuri Ishikawa’s 1986 release “Amagi-goe” won the Gold Prize at the 28th Japan Record Awards, and thanks in part to being performed alternately with her other signature song “Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyugeshiki” on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, it enjoys nationwide recognition and is a perennial karaoke favorite.

That said, as you’ll find if you actually try singing it, it’s not a song you can pull off easily.

It demands techniques characteristic of enka—such as the dramatic rises and falls in pitch that accentuate the contrast between the restrained delivery of the A-melody and the soaring chorus, as well as expansive vibrato and kobushi ornamentation made possible by the leisurely tempo.

Be sure to study the lyrics closely—written in exquisite Japanese and saturated with a fierce lament that vividly portrays a woman’s passion—and try to recreate “Amagi-goe” in your own expressive way!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem