![Michinoku Solo Journey: A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Joji Yamamoto [2026]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/kIMBAUZvfV8/maxresdefault.webp)
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 solitary journey to MichinokuYamamoto Jōji
Michinoku Hitoritabi is the signature song that made Joji Yamamoto a household name nationwide, and it stands as the biggest hit in his long career discography.
Released in 1980, it steadily gained sales and became a long-running hit from the following year—a true classic.
Because it’s so well-known, many people can hum along to it, and it’s consistently a top choice for karaoke.
Although it’s enka, it carries a strong kayōkyoku (Japanese pop ballad) flavor, making it a great recommendation for beginners who aren’t quite ready to dive into orthodox enka.
The key isn’t particularly high, but there are some noticeable rises and falls in pitch, so focus on producing a solid, powerful, and lustrous low register, and make the contrast with the high parts clear.
Try singing it the way Yamamoto does—savoring the melancholic lyrics and melody.
sunsetYamamoto Jōji
Released in 1988 as a single by Joji Yamamoto, “Yuuhi” is a masterpiece featuring poignantly melancholic lyrics by Toyohisa Araki that contrast the unchanging dynamics between men and women with the image of a setting sun.
Yamamoto’s careful, heartfelt delivery is deeply moving, and the song is popular at karaoke, so many people have likely heard it.
With an atmosphere between enka and kayōkyoku and only modest use of enka techniques like kobushi, it’s approachable even for beginners to enka.
The melody sits generally low, which helps those who struggle with high notes, but the overall range is somewhat wide—especially in the chorus, where it’s easy to go off pitch—so keep that in mind as you practice.
Michinoku’s Forgotten SnowYamamoto Jōji
The word “Michinoku” instantly grabs your attention, inevitably calling to mind Jōji Yamamoto’s huge hit “Michinoku Hitoritabi.” His “Michinoku Wasurayuki,” released as a single in 2023, also drew buzz among fans because it was composed by Tetsuya Gen, marking their first collaboration since Yamamoto’s 2017 song “Futari de Yokatta.” A guitar contest was even held as part of the “Jōji Yamamoto Metal-ization Project,” which helped raise the song’s profile among listeners who don’t usually listen to enka.
The song powerfully conveys the selfishness and melancholy of a man who leaves the woman he loves without a word—something that makes you want to try it at karaoke, emulating Yamamoto’s commanding delivery.
That said, the techniques like kobushi and vibrato, and especially the low notes, can be a hurdle for those who struggle with lower registers.
Try adjusting the key and practicing with a focus on producing that Yamamoto-style strong low tone.
People are travelersYamamoto Jōji
Released in 2019, Hito wa Tabibito is a powerful “anthem for life,” with lyrics and music by Joji Yamamoto’s close friend, Ikuzo Yoshi.
Yamamoto delivers Yoshi’s signature-style melody with a vocal that has tasted the sweet and bitter of life, turning it into a rousing pep talk.
It’s a song that will especially strike a chord with men entering the middle-to-late stages of life.
The lack of a first-person narrator in the lyrics makes it easy for men to relate to it as their own story—smart writing indeed.
While it’s enka, it also has a kayōkyoku flavor, and the vocal range is average; anyone who’s mastered the basics of enka technique should be able to sing it without difficulty.
Keep the classic 8-beat “hachi-roku” feel in mind, and aim to sing it with a dignified presence that still conveys a man’s gentle warmth.
To live with youYamamoto Jōji
Released as a single in 2002 and performed at that year’s NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, “Omae to Ikiru” is one of Mr.
Yamamoto’s signature songs of the 2000s and is also very popular for karaoke.
It’s classic Joji Yamamoto enka, bursting with his trademark style—conveying the tenderness and love of a somewhat awkward man in a way that’s quintessentially Yamamoto.
Many people likely include this song in their karaoke repertoire.
While it covers the fundamental techniques of enka, it isn’t overly difficult, so it’s also recommended for beginners who want to try singing a manly enka song in the style of Mr.
Yamamoto.
The Blue Bird of HappinessYamamoto Jōji
Many people might feel it sounds vaguely familiar, since it was performed at the 52nd NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen in 2001.
Bluebird of Happiness is a single released that same year by Joji Yamamoto, with lyrics by Takashi Taka—who also teamed up on Miyuki Kawanaka’s smash hit Futari-zake—and composition by Tetsuya Gen.
It’s a masterpiece.
When Yamamoto, known as a devoted husband, sings lyrics filled with pure, unadulterated love, it carries a different kind of conviction.
It’s a bright, major-key enka number with an easy-to-remember melody, so anyone reasonably familiar with enka should be able to sing it without trouble.
I’d love for you to sing it to your partner the next time you go to karaoke together as a couple.
A journey of a thousand milesYamamoto Jōji
With the quintessential atmosphere of classic enka, “Senri no Michi mo,” powerfully yet tenderly sung by Joji Yamamoto, is a single released in 2009 that truly touches the heart.
The lyrics are a warm hymn to life—awkward yet sincere—seemingly reflecting Yamamoto himself, who is also known as a devoted husband.
Composed by Tetsuya Gen, it’s pure, straightforward enka with a simple structure and three verses, so anyone reasonably accustomed to singing enka should be able to handle it without trouble.
Its characteristically enka melody moves between very low and slightly higher notes, making it excellent practice material for beginners—so do give it a try.