[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!
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[Singing Real Estate King] Masao Sen’s Easy-to-Sing Songs | A Must-See for Those in Their 70s (1–10)
Poem of Miso SoupSen Masao
The uniquely titled piece “Miso Soup Poem” leaves a strong impression.
It’s not exactly a comic song, but it carries a flavor somewhat reminiscent of Ikuzo Yoshi, featuring lyrics and a melody that evoke both pathos and charm.
The vocal range is on the narrow side, mostly occupying the mid-to-low register throughout.
Near the end of the chorus there’s a slightly higher phrase, and a brief kobushi-style turn that shifts the scale by one step appears there, so it’s best to pay attention only at that point when singing.
Consider adding it to your repertoire.
nostalgic personSen Masao
Among Masao Sen’s songs, “Natsukashi no Hito” is renowned as a particularly mood-rich piece.
While the arrangement prominently features traditional enka elements, the vocals lean closer to Showa-era kayōkyoku and folk, resulting in a simple, streamlined vocal line.
The range is somewhat wide, but there are no difficult techniques involved, and the tempo is relaxed, making it easier to sing than it might sound.
If you use the hiccup technique, where the voice flips, you can get even closer to the feel of the original, so give it a try for reference.
Beside the TearsSen Masao
Masao Sen is known for his wide-ranging repertoire, but among his works, “Namida no Tonari” is especially beloved by many fans as a real outlier.
While it’s categorized as enka and the vocal lines are sung very much in an enka style, the song as a whole incorporates a Hawaiian music flavor.
As a result, it settles into a very relaxed tempo, with relatively few instances of kobushi (ornamental vocal inflections), which is a distinctive feature.
Consider adding it to your repertoire.
[Singing Real Estate King] Masao Sen’s Easy-to-Sing Songs | A Must-See for People in Their 70s (11–20)
A lone pineSen Masao
A masterpiece, “Ippon no Matsu,” released as the coupling track for the new version of “Yaima.” This work is quite traditional, with a melody strongly infused with a Japanese flavor reminiscent of the early days of enka.
However, unlike classical enka or folk songs, it doesn’t feature complex kobushi-style ornaments or vocal lines with frequent pitch fluctuations, making it approachable even for beginners.
While the range rises slightly at the end of the chorus, the overall vocal range is very narrow, so it’s also recommended for those who are concerned about their range.
old man teacherSen Masao
Masao Sen has left behind many great songs, but among them, Oyaji Sensei is especially known for its outstanding storytelling.
The spoken lines at the beginning draw you into the piece, and from there the world of the song unfolds all at once.
The depiction of sharing drinks with one’s former teacher is particularly memorable, and the whole piece is set to a warm, unhurried melody.
There’s hardly any kobushi (ornamental vibrato), so even those who find enka vocal stylings challenging can sing it comfortably.
Consider adding it to your repertoire.
farewellSen Masao
Masao Sen is known for his wide range of vocal expression.
While his rugged, earthy phrasing is particularly striking, he also has songs that primarily feature a gentle, enveloping style of singing.
Among these, the one I especially recommend is “Wakare.” Rather than enka, its melody feels more like a mid-Showa-era kayōkyoku, with very little kobushi ornamentation.
Instead, the range is somewhat wide and there are many long tones, so it’s important to carefully determine the appropriate key to avoid running out of stamina midway.
Motomachi BluesSen Masao
Speaking of the Showa era, it’s also memorable as the heyday of blues.
Unlike overseas blues, the Japanese take on blues was about whether it carried a bluesy feel within an enka style, and by that definition, this work is a spot-on blues kayō song.
It preserves the essence of enka while combining the grit of blues with the singability of pop kayō, and the vocal lines are kept very simple throughout.
It’s approachable even for beginners, so consider adding it to your repertoire.