Enka Karaoke Popularity Rankings [2026]

abandonedNagayama Yōko43rank/position

Yoko Nagayama “Suterarete” Music Video

One of Yoko Nagayama’s signature songs and an absolute karaoke favorite! Released in 1995, “Suterarete” cemented her status as an enka singer after she transitioned from idol singer to enka in 1993.

Her “demo ne” pose also became a hot topic at the time.

While it’s an enka number, it carries a slightly kayōkyoku-like flavor.

Although techniques like subtle kobushi (grace notes) and vibrato appear throughout, the overall difficulty isn’t that high, and there are no extreme high notes, making it relatively easy to sing.

It’s a great choice even for beginners singing Nagayama’s songs for the first time!

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KOH-1

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Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo44rank/position

Snow Country by Ikuzo Yoshi

Yoshi Ikuzo’s classic “Yukiguni,” with its strikingly sorrowful tone, leaves a strong impression.

While the piece firmly inherits the elements of enka, its vocal line is characterized by a finish closer to mood kayō.

As a result, the use of kobushi is far less frequent than in typical enka, and the instances that do appear are relatively simple.

For those who struggle with the Tsugaru folk-style kobushi, this is a very singable song.

Consider adding it to your repertoire.

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Ryo

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Blue Light Yokohamaishida ayumi45rank/position

Blue Light Yokohama

From the late 1960s to the 1970s, Ayumi Ishida was a singer who enjoyed nationwide popularity.

She has many classic hits, but the one I especially recommend is Blue Light Yokohama.

It’s a kayōkyoku-style song with strong blues elements, characterized by a narrow vocal range throughout.

Since it doesn’t feature the kobushi ornamentation that often poses a challenge in enka, if you keep your pitch steady and add vibrato at the end of the long notes to rack up points, it’s a song that anyone can aim for a high score with.

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Ryo

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applausechiaki naomi46rank/position

Naomi Chiaki / Applause [Official Audio]

Kassai is a classic song that represents the Showa era.

It’s one of Naomi Chiaki’s signature numbers, known for its poignant lyrics about a woman who lost her lover in the war.

Rather than enka, this piece leans strongly toward kayōkyoku, and it contains very little of the intricate kobushi ornamentation typical of enka.

There is a slightly stronger kobushi at the end of the chorus, but that’s about the only real challenge, making it a relatively easy piece.

Among the songs introduced here, this one is especially simple, so why not add it to your repertoire?

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Ryo

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marine snowjero47rank/position

Jero – Sea Snow (Music Video)

This is a landmark song by Jero, who made a sensational debut in 2008.

With lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto and music by Ryudo Uzaki, it not only became a huge hit but also set various records as an enka song, making it a masterpiece that will go down in Japanese music history.

Beyond the difficulty of a melody that spans a wide vocal range, the song itself is highly intricate—blending enka elements with straightforward, J-pop-style developments and funky rhythms—yet Jero delivers a flawless performance that really underscores the power of his vocals.

The track has been popular at karaoke since its release, but to be honest, it’s a very challenging song to sing there.

Listen to the original repeatedly and practice until the rhythm and melody are ingrained in your body!

Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Ten48rank/position

Let yourself go with the flow of time

Teresa Teng, the legendary singer from Taiwan.

If you’re in your late 40s or older, you probably know her.

Among her songs, the one I especially recommend is “Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase” (I Only Care About You).

The trickiest part of this piece is probably the falsetto near the end of the chorus.

I think many people struggle there.

In that case, instead of lowering the key, I actually recommend trying to raise it.

Falsetto can sometimes be harder to produce at lower pitches, so give it a try.

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Ryo

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The one I still love even after we’ve broken upRosu Indiosu & Shirubia49rank/position

Los Indios & Silvia - Even If We Break Up, I Still Love You / LOS INDIOS & Silvia Wakaretemo Sukina Hito

Even If We Break Up, I Still Love You is an urban, stylish enka mood duet released in 1979 that became a million seller.

The female vocalist, Sylvia, has an interesting background: she was formerly a corporate league volleyball player, was scouted while singing karaoke in Osaka, joined Los Indios, and their debut song, Even If We Break Up, I Still Love You, became a massive hit.