The Allure of Deep Vocals: A Collection of Yutaka Yamakawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
Yutaka Yamakawa, a veteran enka singer whose debut single “Hakodate Main Line,” released in 1981, became a hit, captivates listeners with his appealing low voice that carries a touch of melancholy while still feeling urbane and polished.
His elder brother Ichiro Toba, as well as his nephews Ryuzo Kimura and Tetsuji Kimura, are also active as enka singers, making the family a force that energizes Japan’s music scene.
Although Mr.
Yamakawa is currently battling illness, he continues to work energetically, and his song “Aniki,” released in October 2024, drew significant attention.
Among Mr.
Yamakawa’s many classic songs, I researched and compiled recommendations that are easy to sing at karaoke.
If you’ve only recently discovered Mr.
Yamakawa, this is a great chance to check them out.
- [Sub-chan] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Saburo Kitajima [2026]
- [Prince of Enka] Keisuke Yamauchi’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- [Japan’s Best Vocalist] Fukuda Kohei’s Easy-to-Sing Karaoke Songs
- [Flower News] A Collection of Hiroshi Takeshima’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- [People・Songs・Heart] A Collection of Miyuki Kawanaka’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- [Enka 7th Generation] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Yuto Tatsumi [2026]
- From Comic Songs to Enka: Easy-to-Sing Songs by Ikuzo Yoshi [2026]
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Masterpieces for Karaoke — Male Singers Edition
- [2026] Easy Enka Songs Recommended for Karaoke – Male Singers Edition
- [2026] Recommended for those who find high notes difficult! Enka by male singers that you can sing in a low register
- [2026] A roundup of classic enka masterpieces about siblings
- [2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Timeless Classics to Recent Hits [Male Singers Edition]
- The Most Idol-Like Star in the Enka World: Easy-to-Sing Songs by Kiyoshi Hikawa
[The Charm of Deep Voices] A Collection of Yutaka Yamakawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026] (1–10)
KeikoYamakawa Yutaka
Yutaka Yamakawa’s classic “Hotaruko” is memorable for its masculine lyrics that express deep feelings for a woman.
While it’s categorized as a so-called “man’s song,” its power is somewhat restrained compared to typical enka.
Instead, it emphasizes a smooth, mellow singing style, so high-level techniques like shouts aren’t required.
Also, aside from the very end of the chorus, there aren’t particularly difficult spots for kobushi (melodic turns), and even there, the kobushi functions as an extension of the vibrato.
Overall, the level of difficulty is quite low for an enka song.
Sake is a lullaby for men.Yamakawa Yutaka
Yutaka Yamakawa is well known for his “men’s songs,” and among them, this track, Sake wa Otoko no Komoriuta (Sake Is a Man’s Lullaby), is especially beloved as a gently heartwarming song tinged with melancholy.
Bright yet gritty enka of this kind often relies on a shouting style that forces the voice, but true to Yamakawa’s approach, this piece is delivered with delicate restraint.
There’s a single instance in the B-melody where an ornamented phrase features fairly sharp rises and falls in pitch, but otherwise the vocal line remains mellow and unhurried, making the song, overall, relatively easy to sing.
Omokage Main LineYamakawa Yutaka
Yutaka Yamakawa, who delivers emotionally charged performances and excels at both masculine and feminine songs, is renowned for many works—but among them, Omokage Honsen stands out as a track that exudes distinctly masculine allure.
While it firmly retains elements of enka, the overall piece leans strongly into mood kayō (mood pop), especially emphasized in the A and B sections.
As a result, there are fewer instances of kobushi (ornamental vocal turns) and no complex pitch movements, making it perfect for beginners to enka.
Be sure to add it to your repertoire.
[The Charm of Low Notes] A Collection of Yutaka Yamakawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026] (11–20)
cherry blossoms at nightYamakawa Yutaka
Among the many enka singers, Yutaka Yamakawa stands out for his especially smooth, tender phrasing.
Of his works, the song “Yozakura” is where you can best savor his mellow delivery.
While the piece faithfully adheres to traditional enka style, the kobushi (ornamental turns) are relatively easy—the majority resemble strongly vibrated notes, essentially the simplest form of kobushi.
As a result, the song is generally easy; however, because it sits largely in the lower register, you do need to stay mindful of keeping your throat open on the low notes.
bond; emotional ties; connectionYamakawa Yutaka
Yutaka Yamakawa’s masterpiece “Kizuna” is distinguished by its wistful melody.
As his career has progressed, Yamakawa has released more songs with a Showa-kayō flavor, but around the time this work came out, his releases tended to emphasize the classic enka style.
In this piece, there are relatively many kobushi (ornamental vibrato turns) for a Yamakawa song.
The kobushi here are more technically demanding than in his other works, but since each turn is limited to changes across two scale degrees, it’s by no means a particularly difficult song.
If you’d like to add a track brimming with enka character from Yutaka Yamakawa to your repertoire, be sure to check this one out.
New York StoriesYamakawa Yutaka
Yutaka Yamakawa is known for actively singing pop songs, but he has also released tracks that mix pop, Showa-era kayōkyoku, and enka.
One such example is New York Monogatari.
Its structure is distinctive: it starts as pop, shifts to Showa-style kayōkyoku in the chorus, and weaves in enka nuances at key moments.
Because the foundation is pop and Showa kayōkyoku, advanced vocal techniques like kobushi aren’t required.
Despite its powerful feel, the song has a narrow vocal range, so even those who aren’t confident in their singing ability should be able to handle it without trouble.
Harbor TavernYamakawa Yutaka
The masterpiece “Minato Sakaba,” with its expansive vocals and bittersweet melody, leaves a strong impression.
Since it’s a relatively recent song, Yutaka Yamakawa’s low, mature phrasing—something he didn’t have in his younger days—really stands out.
Although this piece falls into the so-called ‘man’s song’ category and has plenty of power, it never resorts to the roughness of shouted vocals.
Instead, it conveys masculinity through lower tones, which makes it a bit challenging for men with higher voices.
The frequency and difficulty of kobushi (ornamental vocal turns) are far easier than in typical enka, so if you have a deep voice, consider adding it to your repertoire.