Shinichi Mori’s Most Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Entertainment District BluesMori Shinichi15rank/position

Shinichi Mori — Nightlife District Blues

This is a blues number by Shinichi Mori whose low, subdued, and dandy musical style evokes a mature allure.

It’s also a very popular karaoke song, widely beloved by middle-aged and older listeners, and it’s a classic that comes highly recommended.

Even if it costs my lifeMori Shinichi16rank/position

Even if it costs my life

This is a smash hit by Shinichi Mori, featuring an irresistibly moody, wistful saxophone in the intro.

Released in 1967, “Inochi Karatemo” is said to be Mori’s first million-selling single.

In 1968, a kayō (popular song) film based on the song was released with Tatsuo Umemiya in the lead, and it has remained a classic in enka history, continually covered by many singers.

Unsurprisingly, it’s also a staple in karaoke.

While “Inochi Karatemo” may sound like it’s being sung with effortless ease, actually performing it is quite challenging: it takes Mori’s innate husky voice—blending melancholy and allure—along with his exceptional vocal technique and expressive power.

Be sure to master essential enka techniques like vibrato, and practice delivering the wide-ranging melody without becoming overly constrained by the rhythm, yet without losing it either.

As an aside, women who’d like to try this song at karaoke might consider choosing the cover versions by Keiko Fuji or Aki Yashiro.

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New York StoryMori Shinichi17rank/position

New York Story

In Shinichi Mori’s song released in 1983, the lyrics were written by Takashi Matsumoto, just like the previous work “Fuyu no Riviera.” The composition was by Haruomi Hosono of YMO, and the arrangement was handled by Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto, making it a distinctive, unconventional track.

The Winter RivieraMori Shinichi18rank/position

Winter Riviera

This is a fresh, pop-style song by Shinichi Mori.

When you think of Shinichi Mori, you probably picture enka with a husky, seasoned voice that touches the heart, but in this track, while still husky, his vocals are breezy and light, letting you enjoy a different charm from enka.

Lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto, music by Eiichi Ohtaki.

Released in November 1982, it was used in a Suntory Winter Gift commercial.

A man says goodbye and leaves the woman.

That loneliness that wells up so strongly you try to tell yourself, “I’m not sad at all!”—many of us have probably felt it, haven’t we?

Wandering ShipMori Shinichi19rank/position

Wandering Ship

This is a classic by Shinichi Mori that captures the subtle shifts of a man’s heart.

Singing of heartbreak and the transience of life, it rides on an emotionally rich enka melody and shakes the soul with his deep, resonant voice.

Released in 1972, this masterpiece is the work of the lyricist Yū Aku and composer Kōshō Inomata.

Though it had no tie-ins with films or TV dramas, it has been etched into the hearts of many.

Showcasing Mori’s soaring high notes and delicate emotional expression, this song offers empathy and comfort when you find yourself at a crossroads in life or carrying wounds in your heart.

Farewell, shadow of youthMori Shinichi20rank/position

Farewell, shadow of youth

This is a gem of “melancholic pop” whose poetic worldview, woven by ZARD’s Izumi Sakai, strikes straight to the heart.

Released in November 2004 as Shinichi Mori’s 109th single, the song features music by Aika Ohno, creating a sound that clearly sets it apart from traditional enka.

Nostalgia for a youth that has passed and a resolve to walk into the future without clear answers seep deeply into the soul through Mori’s richly expressive vocals.

It was performed at the 55th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, etching itself into many people’s memories.

If you listen to it in those moments when you pause in the journey of life and look back on the past, you may find yourself wrapped in a feeling that is both achingly sad and warmly comforting.

bad personMori Shinichi21rank/position

bad person

This is a song composed by Shinichi Mori himself, steeped in the fervent spirit of Showa-era enka.

Released in May 1993 as one of the tracks on a double A-side single, it was also included that July on the album “Shinichi Mori Composition Anthology,” a collection of his own compositions.

It depicts the pure love of a protagonist who throws themselves into a romance so intense it makes them waver between life and death.

The inescapable, tragic end of that love is conveyed through Mori’s husky, deeply expressive voice, piercing the listener’s heart.

The anguish of surrendering to a passion that blazes on, even while knowing it’s hopeless—many may find themselves empathizing with that inner conflict.