Michinoku Solo Journey: A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Joji Yamamoto [2026]
After a long apprenticeship period, Joji Yamamoto released “Michinoku Hitori Tabi” in 1980 at the age of 30, which became a massive hit and propelled him into the ranks of top enka singers.
Throughout his long career, he has faced major hardships such as hearing loss and cancer, yet he has overcome them admirably.
Even now, well into the 2020s, he remains an active performer, continuing to sing about men who carry a slightly awkward kindness and a tinge of melancholy on their backs.
Among Yamamoto’s catalog—recently notable for new challenges like the “Joji Yamamoto Heavy Metal Transformation Project”—we’ve selected and compiled songs that are easy to sing at karaoke this time.
For those who want to sing like Yamamoto, be sure to check them out!
- Joji Yamamoto Popular Song Rankings [2026]
- [Enka First Year] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Yoko Nagayama [2026]
- [2026] Easy Enka Songs Recommended for Karaoke – Male Singers Edition
- [2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Timeless Classics to Recent Hits [Male Singers Edition]
- The Allure of Deep Vocals: A Collection of Yutaka Yamakawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- Enka songs that are easy for men to sing: a roundup of tracks to try at karaoke
- [2026] Representative Famous Enka Songs: A Compilation of Classic Favorites [Beginner-Friendly]
- [Enka 7th Generation] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Yuto Tatsumi [2026]
- [Mighty Guy] A Selection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Akira Kobayashi
- [People・Songs・Heart] A Collection of Miyuki Kawanaka’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- [Enka] Songs That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf [Male Singer Edition]
- [For Men] Masterpiece Enka Songs with High Difficulty
- [Enka] Songs that are easy to sing even for those who are tone-deaf [Female singers edition]
[A Solo Journey to Michinoku] A collection of easy-to-sing songs by Joji Yamamoto [2026] (1–10)
A toast to the nameless flowerYamamoto Jōji
This is a superb masterpiece whose melody, crafted by the renowned composer Tetsuya Gen—who has provided many songs for Joji Yamamoto since the 2000s—radiates a universal appeal! Released as a single in 2005, it also features excellent lyrics by Rei Shirooka, who brilliantly depicts the image of a clumsy man.
Although the song is in a major key, it somehow carries a hint of wistfulness and melancholy, and Yamamoto’s performance—fully embodying the protagonist and delivering it flawlessly—is nothing short of remarkable.
While the fundamental techniques of enka appear throughout, it isn’t overly idiosyncratic; the vocal range is average and the overall key is low, making it perhaps an ideal practice song for beginners to enka.
Producing low notes like Yamamoto’s is surprisingly more difficult than the higher parts, so be sure to focus on vocalization that keeps the lyrics clearly intelligible!
Dream HighwayYamamoto Jōji
Released in 1994, this is a popular up-tempo number with a strong Showa kayō vibe and a flashy, fiery ensemble that’s seriously cool! “Yume Kaidō” was written and composed by Jōji Yamamoto under the name Kotogorō.
As you can tell from the lyrics, it’s a song that enjoys tremendous support from truck drivers.
If you’re used to singing only laid-back, classic enka, the brisk tempo might throw you off, but for enka beginners, the catchy groove might actually make it easier to get through.
The melody is straightforward, yet it features quintessential enka techniques throughout.
The key is to really study the original and practice until you can deliver it with the same powerful presence as Yamamoto.
wind chimeYamamoto Jōji
For those looking for a classic enka song with a wistful vibe but in a bright major key rather than a minor one, I highly recommend “Fuurin.” It’s a single released by Joji Yamamoto in 2006, and everything from the song’s structure and melody line to Yamamoto’s slightly restrained vocal delivery exemplifies true enka.
The transition from the very low notes in the first half to the build-up into the chorus—and then the climb from the low register to the final, soaring melody—can make it easy to slip off pitch, so it’s worth practicing those sections consciously.
The overall difficulty is on the lower side, and I’d encourage enka beginners to give it a try.
[Michinoku Solo Journey] A collection of easy-to-sing songs by Joji Yamamoto [2026] (11–20)
Thank you to you.Yamamoto Jōji
Between 2000 and 2001, Joji Yamamoto released three singles with lyrics by Takashi Taka, music by Tetsuya Gen, and arrangement by Toshiaki Maeda.
The second of these is Omae ni Arigatou, which was released on February 1, 2001—Yamamoto’s birthday.
It’s a classic enka number characteristic of Yamamoto, conveying a gently melancholic mood and masculine strength through his distinctive kobushi vocal ornamentation, and it’s naturally very popular for karaoke.
While the expansive vibrato makes it a bit challenging for beginners, its overall difficulty is moderate for enka, making it a great practice song for those who enjoy this style.
A single life for the two of usYamamoto Jōji
Speaking of Joji Yamamoto, he’s also famous for being a devoted husband, and he has released many classic songs that portray a man’s clumsy yet pure and gentle love for his partner.
“Futari de Hitotsu no Jinsei wo” (Two People, One Life) is one of them—a single released in 2016, featuring lyrics by Takashi Taka, composition by Tetsuya Gen, and arrangement by Toshiaki Maeda, the trio well known for Yamamoto’s works.
It’s a quintessential, straight-down-the-line enka number bursting with Yamamoto’s signature style, so experienced singers should have no trouble with it.
Beginners, however, may find the kobushi ornamentation and the sultry, powerful low notes challenging.
The difficulty level as enka goes is on the lower side, and if you want to impress your partner by nailing a performance, choosing this as your first practice song is a great idea!
I want to give you happiness.Yamamoto Jōji
While it’s a classic enka rooted in a minor key, rather than a tale of tragic love, it’s a Yamamoto Joji–style masterpiece brimming—just as the title suggests—with a man’s gentleness and affection for someone dear.
Composed by Tetsuya Gen and arranged by Toshiaki Maeda—the duo behind many of Joji’s enka classics—it was released in 2004.
Beyond techniques like kobushi and vibrato, the melody actually ranges widely and features fairly sharp rises and falls in pitch, which may make it feel challenging for enka beginners.
In particular, clearly articulating the words in the lowest notes is trickier than you might expect, so it’s worth giving that area focused practice.
Melancholy CanalYamamoto Jōji
The title “Aishū Unnga” (Melancholy Canal) has a really nice vibe, doesn’t it? Composed and arranged by heavyweights Tetsuya Gen and Toshiaki Maeda—both familiar names from George Yamamoto’s repertoire—and with lyrics by Tsubasa Kazu, also known for Hikawa Kiyoshi’s “Kiyoshi no Dodonpa,” this single was released in 2010.
It’s a masterpiece steeped in wistful travel sentiment, depicting the parting of a man and woman set in Otaru.
Rather than Mr.
Yamamoto’s usual masculinity and vigor, aim for a delivery imbued with longing and sadness, and try singing while feeling the plaintive resonance of the acoustic guitar.