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[Singing Real Estate King] Masao Sen’s Easy-to-Sing Songs | A Must-See for People in Their 70s
Masao Sen, an enka singer who enjoyed great success from the 1960s through the late 1970s, is also known as the “singing real estate king,” having achieved tremendous success in real estate alongside his singing career.
Although he later experienced a tumultuous life, including business and transaction failures that left him with 250 billion yen in debt, his career as a singer has continued for many years, and he remains highly popular today.
In this feature, we’ve selected some of Masao Sen’s most singable songs.
A former vocal instructor also provides commentary, so be sure to read to the end!
[Singing Real Estate King] Masao Sen’s Easy-to-Sing Songs | A Must-See for Those in Their 70s (1–10)
In every age…Sen Masao
Masao Sen’s classic “Itsunoyo mo…” is known for its orthodox enka-style melody.
The song carries the message that some things remain unchanged even as times change, and perhaps to match that theme, it’s composed with a very straightforward, low-quirk melody.
While it’s full of enka elements, most of the kobushi (melodic turns) and shakuri (scoops) are modest and approachable, making it a song that even beginners or those not yet accustomed to singing enka can handle comfortably.
youSen Masao
Known as a signature song from the mid-career period, “Anta.” Unusually for a song by Masao Sen, it is a piece sung from a female perspective, expressing the feelings of a woman who still longs for the man she parted ways with.
Throughout, the vocals remain quietly reflective, and surprisingly, there are few instances of kobushi (ornamental turns), and the ones that do appear are not difficult.
This makes it very easy for beginners to sing.
The vocal range is also quite narrow, so if you adjust to a suitable key, anyone—regardless of gender—should be able to sing it smoothly.
Singing of the four seasons of my hometownSen Masao
Masao Sen’s classic “Singing of the Four Seasons of My Hometown” is notable for its grand, impressive vocals.
Although Sen often employs a gritty, understated singing style, this work is characterized by warmly enveloping, expansive vocals and a relaxed tempo throughout.
While there are many pauses in the song, it doesn’t rely heavily on vocal ornamentation, so as long as you carefully follow the pitch, it’s quite singable.
However, since it features many long sustained notes, be mindful of using dynamics so you don’t over-project your voice.
Yaima (Yaeyama)Sen Masao
Among recent songs, Yaima (Yaeyama) is especially renowned as a masterpiece.
Originally released in 1999, it was recently re-released as a new version.
Compared to the original, it has a more relaxed atmosphere, and since it’s a song set in Okinawa, the essence of Ryukyuan music—most notably the sound of the sanshin—is emphasized.
As it incorporates many pop elements, there are hardly any demanding techniques such as kobushi (ornamental vocal turns).
It’s a song that beginners will find very easy to sing.
Our town was green indeed.Sen Masao
Masao Sen’s classic “Waga Machi wa Midori Nariki” is notable for its gentle melody.
While it is nominally classified as enka, the vocal line strongly reflects the essence of Showa-era kayōkyoku, and the characteristic enka vocal melisma (kobushi) is scarcely present.
The few instances of kobushi are mostly limited to a single scale step up or down, so even those not adept at enka-style phrasing should be able to sing it without difficulty.
If you enjoy songs with a nostalgic, old-fashioned mood, consider adding this one to your repertoire.
70th birthday celebrationSen Masao
The piece “Koki Celebration,” cherished by many fans as a late-period masterpiece, is exactly what its title suggests—a work celebrating one’s seventieth birthday.
True to that theme, it features a warm, inviting melody.
While it’s solidly enka, most of its characteristic kobushi rely on Masao Sen’s unique style of completely stopping the voice to form the phrases, so you shouldn’t find the ornamentation particularly difficult.
Because it begins with a clear, decisive opening, you’ll need some familiarity with singing it.
Be sure to add it to your repertoire.
You are everything.Sen Masao
Masao Sen’s classic “Kimi ga Subete sa,” released in 1998, is on the technical side among his songs and features frequent kobushi (melismatic turns).
Usually, pieces like this are often difficult, but this one has a secret that makes it easy to sing despite the many kobushi.
That secret is that the kobushi are executed using vibrato.
The kobushi that appear here aren’t like the ad-libbed “runs” you hear in Western music; they’re extensions of vibrato, which makes them far easier to reproduce than typical kobushi.