Enka Karaoke Popularity Rankings [2026]

Mount IwakiMiyama Hiroshi50rank/position

Hiroshi Miyama “O-Iwakisan” MUSIC VIDEO

Set against the majestic backdrop of Mount Iwaki, Aomori Prefecture’s iconic peak, this song powerfully and refreshingly portrays a man’s inner feelings, marking a major turning point in Hiroshi Miyama’s career.

Released as a single in February 2015, it reached a peak of No.

13 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and enjoyed long-lasting popularity, staying on the charts for 75 weeks.

By September of the same year, cumulative sales surpassed 100,000 copies, earning it Gold Disc certification.

Known affectionately as the “vitamin voice,” Miyama’s warm vocals, paired with lyrics that seem to speak directly to Mount Iwaki, create a deeply moving listening experience.

Among Miyama’s songs—which span a wide vocal range—this one sits relatively low in pitch, with less dramatic movement between highs and lows.

For karaoke, aim for a balance of strength and gentleness when you sing it.

Hokkai Port FestivalMiyama Hiroshi51rank/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.

I want to see you againYashiro Aki52rank/position

Aki Yashiro 'I Want to See You Once More'

Although Aki Yashiro is known for many poignant and bluesy songs, she has also released some orthodox, warmly toned enka.

Among them, the one I especially recommend is “Mou Ichido Aitai” (“I Want to See You Once More”).

Compared to her usual work, this piece is a bit more powerful and includes sections that demand a certain amount of vocal projection.

Because of that, it sacrifices some of the subtlety of kobushi (melismatic ornamentation), so overall the difficulty level can be considered relatively low.

While it is a powerful song, rather than focusing on singing with sheer force, it tends to sound better if you lower the key and solidly support the lower notes—please keep that in mind.

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Ryo

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Boat SongYashiro Aki53rank/position

Aki Yashiro / Funauta (Boat Song)

There aren’t many songs that fit a nighttime bar as well as this one.

It’s a hit number powerfully delivered by Aki Yashiro’s natural vocal prowess.

Men should have this song in their repertoire, too.

Don’t force it—sing it gently while picturing yourself drinking at the bar counter.

Fragments of Men and WomenMaekawa Kiyoshi54rank/position

Kiyoshi Maekawa “Fragments of a Man and a Woman” (Lyric Video)

A standout hit from the early Heisei era with a strong Showa kayō vibe, this song showcases lyricist Toyohisa Araki’s flair—having the title read as “kakera” instead of “hahen.” ‘Otoko to Onna no Kakera’ was released in 1991 as a single by Kiyoshi Maekawa and is one of his signature songs, beloved in karaoke.

As mentioned, it leans more toward classic Showa pop than straight enka.

While techniques like kobushi appear, the overall difficulty is relatively modest, making it approachable even for beginners to enka.

Don’t be shy—channel Maekawa himself and try expressing your own take on this “cool, grown-up song”!

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KOH-1

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Rose music boxMaekawa Kiyoshi55rank/position

Rose music box

One of Kiyoshi Maekawa’s signature solo songs, also performed at the 1997 NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, is “Bara no Orugōru” (The Rose Music Box).

With its moody guitar phrases, an instantly catchy chorus, and Maekawa’s irresistibly masculine delivery that poignantly conveys a woman’s heartache, it’s the kind of classic that makes you want to sing it at karaoke.

The production straddles enka and mood kayō, and the overall melody line is easy to sing, so even beginners who struggle with straight enka should find it approachable.

That said, clearly projecting the low notes and adding vibrato like Maekawa does is surprisingly difficult, making this a great practice piece for those who aren’t confident with their lower register.

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KOH-1

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Mount TsurugiKitayama Takeshi56rank/position

Takeshi Kitayama / Ken-zan

It was released in 2009 as Takeshi Kitayama’s eighth single.

Composed by Saburō Kitajima, the song is powerfully crafted, overlaying a man’s life with Mount Tsurugi, a famous peak that offers a distant view of the Seto Inland Sea.

It was performed at the 60th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen and reached No.

16 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.