Enka Singer Popularity Ranking in Karaoke [2026]

Koitou (Koitome) Coastyamaguchi hiromi64rank/position

Hiromi Yamaguchi “Koitoi Coast” Music Video

This song, which gives voice to a bittersweet love, is set on Hokkaido’s Koitoi Coast and unfolds like a story that weaves together the pain of heartbreak and hope for the future.

The beautiful scenery of the Pacific Ocean blends perfectly with Hiromi Yamaguchi’s richly expressive vocals.

Released in July 2024, the track was created by the songwriting team behind the successful “Mitsui no Banshō,” bringing out Yamaguchi’s charm to the fullest.

It’s also great for karaoke, and perfect for times when you want to reflect on love and life.

Premonition of PartingYamamoto Miyuki65rank/position

Club Thump / Billy BGM channel

Miyuki Yamamoto, an enka singer, delivers an emotionally rich rendition of Wakare no Yokan, a beautiful melody line that evokes a subtle sense of melancholy.

If your relationship has gone on for a while and you’ve started to neglect things a bit, try singing it in front of him and surprise him.

The original song, familiar in Japan, was released by Teresa Teng in June 1987.

A solitary journey to MichinokuYamamoto Jōji66rank/position

Joji Yamamoto “Michinoku Solo Journey” Music Video (full ver.)

A signature work by Joji Yamamoto whose lyrical lyrics and beautiful melody move the heart.

Depicting a parting and a new journey with a loved one, this piece is a masterpiece that even newcomers to enka can fully appreciate.

Released in August 1980 and selling over one million copies, the song led to Yamamoto’s first appearance at the 32nd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen the following year.

Overall, the pitch is relatively low and easy to sing, highlighting the charm of the middle to lower registers.

When attempting it at karaoke, savor the lyrics that evoke the scenery of the Tohoku region and try to convey a world rich with the sentiment of travel.

Kinokawa RiverYamanishi Akari67rank/position

Akari Yamamoto “Kino River” Official Music Video

A song overflowing with love for one’s hometown, delivered by Akari Yamanishi, an enka singer from Wakayama, resonates deeply with the heart.

Its charm lies in the carefully woven gratitude to her mother and reverence for nature.

The lyrics skillfully capture the delicate ebb and flow of emotions—strength and kindness characteristic of a Kishu woman—drifting like the Kinokawa River, and they are sure to seep into the listener’s soul.

Released in October 2023, this track is a significant work in Yamanishi’s solo career.

When your heart is weary, when you want to remember someone dear, or when you long to return home—this is the gem of a song you should listen to.

You don’t have to go back.Shimazu Aya68rank/position

Is It Okay If I Don’t Go Home?

This song was released in 2004 as Aya Shimazu’s 36th single.

The title “Kairanchayoka” means “You don’t have to come home” in the Kumamoto dialect, and the lyrics are written entirely in that dialect.

It originated as a song called “Ikitarayoka,” written and composed in 1995 by folk singer Hideki Sekijima, inspired by his own parents.

Battan Arakawa later recorded it under the changed title “Kairanchayoka.” There is an anecdote that Aya Shimazu liked the song so much that she asked for permission to sing it.

A Doll’s HouseHirota Mieko69rank/position

A Doll's House

A timeless classic representing the Showa era and one of Mieko Hirota’s signature songs.

Its poignant lyrics and beautiful melody strike a deep chord.

The lyrics, which depict the sorrow of a woman who lived for love by likening her to a doll covered in dust, are particularly memorable.

Released in October 1969, it reached No.

1 on the Oricon charts and was also included on an album of the same name.

It has been covered by many artists and even featured in popular anime such as Sazae-san.

Perfect for times when you want to soothe the pain of heartbreak or savor the nostalgic atmosphere of the Showa period.

Why not immerse yourself in the heartfelt lyrics along with Hirota’s vocals?

freezing rainHino Mika70rank/position

Mika Hino Cold Rain

This song is a quintessential example of enka, where a catchy melody and emotionally rich lyrics blend beautifully.

Released in December 1982, it remains beloved by many as one of Mika Hino’s signature numbers.

The lyrics, which intertwine the chill of winter rain with the pain of heartbreak, portray a universal theme that anyone can relate to.

Hino, renowned for her vocal prowess, conveys the aching heart of a forlorn love with remarkable expressiveness.

With its relaxed tempo and relatively modest melodic shifts, it’s a song that even beginners to enka will find approachable.

Why not sing it slowly, savoring the lyrics that resonate so deeply?