Enka Karaoke Popularity Rankings [2026]

Northern fishing groundsKitajima Saburō57rank/position

Saburo Kitajima 'Northern Fishing Grounds' (Official Audio)

Kitano Ryojo is a striking piece with a bold intro that incorporates the sound of strong winds.

It falls into the category of “manly songs,” which are Saburo Kitajima’s specialty.

Manly songs typically feature a rough singing style with shouts, and this piece includes those elements as well.

However, since the shouts only appear in the chorus, it’s one of the more approachable manly songs among his works.

The chorus is expansive, yet surprisingly light on long sustained notes, making it quite singable even without strong foundational technique.

The kobushi (melodic ornamentation) is also relatively restrained for a Kitajima song, making this an ideal piece for practice.

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Flowers of TsugaruHarada Yuuri58rank/position

Yuri Harada - Flower of Tsugaru_low.mp4

Released in 1999 as Yuri Harada’s 17th single.

Although it peaked at No.

42 on the Oricon chart, it became a long-running hit and ultimately sold over 160,000 copies.

The song won the Excellent Work Award at the 41st Japan Record Awards, and with this song she made her first appearance at the 50th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

DreamYoshi Ikuzo59rank/position

Ikuzo Yoshi “Dream” New Japan House commercial song

The classic song “Dream,” which gained nationwide popularity as the commercial jingle for Shin Nihon House, isn’t enka but primarily pop.

It features a breezy, surfer-music-like feel with a smooth, flowing vocal line.

Since it’s pop, there’s no kobushi-style ornamentation.

Additionally, the vocal range is quite narrow, so even those with a limited range or who struggle with enka should be able to sing it without trouble.

Its name recognition is tremendous, making it a big hit at karaoke.

Be sure to add it to your repertoire.

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passionate flameYoshi Ikuzo60rank/position

Passionate Flames — Ikuzo Yoshi

Ikuzo Yoshi is well regarded for his “onna-uta” (songs from a woman’s perspective), and among them, the track Joen is widely praised as a hidden masterpiece.

While its lyrics and melody exude a poignant melancholy, the vocal line is surprisingly straightforward, with gentle rises and falls in pitch.

There are few kobushi (ornamental turns), and the ones that do appear are often close to an extension of vibrato, so even those who feel uneasy about enka-style phrasing should be able to sing it without issue.

The song stays within a comfortable vocal range, making it easy to sing for both men and women.

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Beloved DaysHoriuchi Takao61rank/position

Beloved Days

This is one of Takao Horiuchi’s signature songs.

It was used as the theme song for the year-end period drama Byakkotai, broadcast on Nippon TV in 1986.

The lyrics penned by singer-songwriter Kei Ogura leave a lasting impression.

In terms of vocals, Horiuchi is also a member and songwriter of the rock group Alice, so many parts don’t conform to enka conventions.

He changes the melody and vocal phrasing between the first and second verses, and there are shout-like phrases as well.

Even so, the song doesn’t suddenly jump in pitch or introduce radically different phrasing.

If you can produce the low range clearly and distinctly, and pay attention to how you cut off notes, you’ll likely score higher.

I fell in love with Yuko like that.Masuiyama Tashirō62rank/position

[MV] Masuiyama Taishirō / I Fell in Love with That Yūko (full ver.)

Taijiro Masuiyama is an enka singer with the unusual background of being a former professional sumo wrestler.

People have long said that sumo wrestlers have good voices, and he is a perfect example.

His voice is warm and gentle, yet possesses overwhelming richness.

The song he performs here, “Sonna Yūko ni Horemashita,” fully showcases the essential elements of enka while still being very easy to sing.

There are few kobushi (ornamental turns), and the ones that do appear are simple—just one or two turns—so it should be possible to aim for a high score.

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Such is a woman’s soliloquyMasuiyama Tashirō63rank/position

[MV] Masuiyama Taishiro / Such a Woman’s Soliloquy (full ver.)

A masterpiece by Taishiro Masuiyama that skillfully expresses feelings from the depths of the heart.

The lyrics vividly portray a woman’s heartrending emotions and leave a strong impression.

Released in September 1977, it reached No.

13 on the Oricon chart.

It continued to stay on the charts for an extended period, achieving an astonishing total sales figure of 1.39 million copies.

Highly recommended for those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the subtleties between men and women, as well as for younger listeners who admire mature romance.

Sing it at karaoke and you’re sure to capture the audience’s hearts.