A roundup of male enka singers in their 70s: legendary vocalists who support the enka world

Enka, long beloved by many listeners, is often called the “heart of Japan,” isn’t it?

In particular, many older folks probably grew up listening to enka from childhood, don’t you think?

In this article, we’ll introduce male enka singers in their 70s from the vibrant enka scene, where countless artists are active.

We’ve selected a wide range—from singers who are popular across generations to those every enka fan is sure to know.

If any singer catches your eye as you read, be sure to check out songs beyond the ones featured here!

Playlist

A roundup of male enka singers in their 70s: legendary vocalists who support the enka world
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	12th graderFunaki Kazuo		Kazuo Funaki, one of the three great stars of kayōkyoku, sings of youth
2	The Camellia Sasanqua InnŌkawa Eisaku		The music and soul of Eisa Ōkawa, master of enka
3	Yokohama TwilightItsuki Hiroshi		Hiroshi Itsuki, a heavyweight in the enka world: 50 years of history
4	It was rainy again in Nagasaki today.Maekawa Kiyoshi		A song of bittersweet memories dedicated to the rain in Nagasaki
5	Love-Crying SparrowKadokawa Hiroshi		The appeal of Hiroshi Kadokawa, an enka singer from Hiroshima
6	Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo		Ikuzo Yoshi from Aomori is popular for his diverse music.
7	North TavernHosokawa Takashi		Enka singer Takashi Hosokawa shines in diverse pursuits
8	Night in KushiroMikawa Ken’ichi		Kenichi Mikawa’s captivating enka and his timeless masterpieces
9	Brother ShipsToba Ichirō		Toba Ichiro, a master of enka who sings of the sea and fishermen
10	newspaper boyYamada Tarō		A famous song about a newspaper delivery boy
11	Go back to Busan PortAtsumi Jirō		The Achievements and Appeal of Enka Singer Jiro Atsumi
12	Northern SpringSen Masao		The Life of Masao Sen, an Enka Singer from Iwate
13	A solitary journey to MichinokuYamamoto Jōji		Joji Yamamoto, a heavyweight of the enka world, a soulful singing voice
14	At the End of the Journeykanmuri jiro		Kanjiro Kanmuri, the breakout story of an enka singer
15	Because I’m a loner girl.Kayama Akio		The illustrious musical career of enka singer Akio Kayama
16	draft (cold air seeping through gaps)Sugi Ryōtarō		Three actors who played the role of Kin-san of Tōyama
17	Celebration BoatKadowaki Rikuo		Enka singer from Miyagi balances farming and music
18	grandchildŌizumi Itsurō		Enka singer and cherry farmer, Itsuro Oizumi
19	lingering flowersIkeda Teruo		The appeal of Teruo Ikeda, a folk-enka singer
20	lieNakaijō Kiyoshi		Enka singer Kiyoshi Nakajō is popular for his deep singing voice.
21	Hakata Love BridgeHoo Shinya		The vocal ability of Shinya Otori, the “male Hibari.”