Sayuri Ishikawa Karaoke Hit Songs Ranking [2026]

Crossing Amagi PassIshikawa Sayuri1rank/position

Sayuri Ishikawa “Amagi-goe” LIVE Ver. (from Sayuri Ishikawa On Stage: Utazammai 2015 at Hakataza)

This is a classic masterpiece in the history of Japanese popular music that won the Gold Prize at the 28th Japan Record Awards.

Set at the Amagi Pass in Izu, it dramatically portrays a woman’s intense passion and has been performed many times on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

When you think of Sayuri Ishikawa, the two top songs that come to mind are Amagi-goe and Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyugeshiki.

The overall vocal range of the song is F3 to D#5, with a structure that surges from the chorus.

Since the A and B sections are quite calm, be careful not to strain when you enter the chorus.

If you take a solid breath right before the chorus and imagine projecting your voice with momentum, it should come out more easily.

The trick is to sing as if you’re aiming your voice as far into the distance as possible.

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Kubota Mami

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Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneIshikawa Sayuri2rank/position

Sayuri Ishikawa “Tsugaru Strait: Winter Scenery” LIVE Ver. (From the 40th Anniversary Sayuri Ishikawa Concert ‘As I Feel’ – Uta-Shibai ‘Ichiyō’s Love’)

Sayuri Ishikawa’s signature song “Tsugaru Strait—Winter Scene,” released on January 1, 1977, is a masterpiece that portrays parting and resolve set against the northern strait, and it marked her turning point into a full-fledged enka singer.

The intro is also very striking—so famous you can hum it right from the start.

The song’s overall range is a slightly high F#3–D5, and the chorus suddenly leaps into the high register, so be careful—some people may end up tensing up by trying to sing powerfully.

Keep your head resonance engaged at all times, and when you go into the high notes, aim to resonate in the same place.

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Kubota Mami

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Eternal JourneyIshikawa Sayuri3rank/position

Sayuri Ishikawa “Eternal Journey” Music Video

The single song “Tokoshie no Tabi,” released in June 2024, is a single by Sayuri Ishikawa, with lyrics by Goro Matsui, music by Tokiko Kato, and arrangement by Neko Saito.

It conveys a sense of compassionate, Buddha-like serenity that reflects her long career, while her unchangingly beautiful voice leaves you feeling purified.

While retaining elements of enka, the song has the vibe of a medium-tempo J-pop ballad, so Ishikawa refrains from kobushi ornamentation and heavy vibrato, instead delivering the wistful melody gently—making it easy to sing even for those who aren’t fond of enka.

Take time to read the lyrics thoroughly, and try to sing with heartfelt feeling.

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KOH-1

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Iyasa(ka), YassaiIshikawa Sayuri4rank/position

Sayuri Ishikawa “Yasaka (Iyasaka) Yassai” Music Video

This enka number, themed on Noto’s traditional Abare Festival, delivers a bold, powerful impression.

With lyrics by Shohei Mozu and composition by Keisuke Hama, it’s an ambitious work set to be released in March 2025 as a song by Sayuri Ishikawa.

The layered chants create a vibrant sense of motion, while the intricate arrangement enhances the song’s appeal.

It’s a track brimming with immediacy, as if you can feel the festival’s heat and hear people’s breathing.

Carrying the spirit of a festival with a 350-year history into the present, it sings grandly of prayers for health and bountiful harvests.

It’s a song you’ll want to hear when you need a lift or when you’d like to sing along with someone special.

You like whisky, don’t you?Ishikawa Sayuri5rank/position

You like whisky, don’t you?

This song is a very popular number—a mellow, bittersweet blend of jazz and enka.

It’s also a karaoke favorite.

The melody follows a familiar flow, making it easy to sing.

The key is to take it slow and avoid rushing, singing in a way that draws listeners in.

Try delivering it with a relaxed, distinctive tempo and a mature sound.

Your karaoke room might just turn into another world (lol).

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Yoshizaki Keiko

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Tokyo Meguri-ai (Tokyo Serendipitous Encounters/Love by Chance in Tokyo)Ishikawa Sayuri / Kotokaze6rank/position

Tokyo Meguri-ai (Fateful Encounter) - Sayuri Ishikawa & Kotozakura

This is a duet released in August 1984 by the unusual pairing of Sayuri Ishikawa, known as a treasure of the enka world, and Masanori Kotonofuji (formerly the sumo wrestler Kotonofuji) after his transition from professional sumo.

The story portrays lovers who reunite in Tokyo after being apart and reaffirm their love, expressed through Rei Nakanishi’s emotionally rich lyrics and Shosuke Ichikawa’s wistful melody.

The work received the Planning Award at the 26th Japan Record Awards and was also performed at the 35th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen that same year.

It’s a perfect song to sing in sync with a duet partner at karaoke or in a snack bar.

Naniwa SistersShimakura Chiyoko, Ishikawa Sayuri7rank/position

Naniwa Sisters - Sayuri Ishikawa + Chiyoko Shimakura (Chinese and Japanese Subtitles)

For fans of enka and kayōkyoku, this is an unmissable duet: a song released in October 1987 by Chiyoko Shimakura and Sayuri Ishikawa.

Set in the back alleys of Osaka, its lyrics—sprinkled with Kansai dialect lines—vividly depict the bond of two sisters helping each other.

Carried by a gently flowing enka-style melody, their voices blend beautifully, evoking the feeling of real sisters.

Place names like “Iroha Yokocho” and “Sumiyoshi-san” also appear, steeping the song in Osaka’s atmosphere.

It’s a must for enka fans and a great pick for anyone who wants to savor the mood of the Showa era.