Queen of Enka: A roundup of Aki Yashiro’s easy-to-sing songs
Aki Yashiro, a one-of-a-kind singer who sadly left this world on December 30, 2023.
She began performing as a club singer in her teens and, after her breakthrough, became known as the “Queen of Enka.” Yet she never stayed confined to a single field, taking on challenges in many areas.
In the 2010s, she even released a full-fledged jazz album and made her international debut.
Her tremendous achievements can’t be summed up in just a few lines.
Yashiro’s songs are also very popular for karaoke, but many are quite challenging, thanks to her distinctive husky voice, plaintive tone, and exceptional vocal skill and expressiveness.
So in this article, we’re introducing some of Yashiro’s songs that are relatively easy to sing at karaoke—be sure to check them out.
- Queen of Local Songs: Kaori Mizumori's Easy-to-Sing Tracks
- Songs by Yoshimi Tendo, the songstress born in Osaka, that are easy to sing
- [Enka] Songs that are easy to sing even for those who are tone-deaf [Female singers edition]
- [People・Songs・Heart] A Collection of Miyuki Kawanaka’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- [Tears and Alcohol] A Collection of Kaori Kozai’s Easy-to-Sing Songs [2026]
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke — Women Singers Edition
- [The Pinnacle of Modern Enka] Shimazu Aya’s Easy-to-Sing Songs
- [2026] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Classic Masterpieces to Recent Hits [Female Singers Edition]
- [Asian Songstress] A Collection of Teresa Teng’s Easy-to-Sing Songs
- [Enka Hattori-kun] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Hiroko Hattori [2026]
- [Treasure of Powerful Enka] Takashi Hosokawa’s Easy-to-Sing Songs
- [Mighty Guy] A Selection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Akira Kobayashi
- [Enka 7th Generation] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Yuto Tatsumi [2026]
[Queen of Enka] Aki Yashiro’s Easy-to-Sing Songs (11–20)
love songYashiro Aki
Aki Yashiro’s “Koi-uta” is a classic noted for its powerful vocals.
The song employs a style similar to the Kawachi Ondo, incorporating kobushi while flipping the voice.
Many people may find this style intimidating, but if you carefully adjust the key to the point where the voice naturally flips, it tends to be easier to sing than standard kobushi.
Although the vocal line is generally strong throughout, there are no notable long sustained notes except at the end of the chorus, so even those who struggle with breath control should be able to sing it without difficulty.
To my hometown…Yashiro Aki
Aki Yashiro’s classic “To My Hometown…” features a melody that strikingly balances brilliance and depth.
True to enka style, kobushi appear throughout.
Songs with many kobushi are generally hard to belt out, but that’s not the case here.
The kobushi in this piece are less a specialized technique unique to kobushi and more like strong vibrato—extensions of vibrato, so to speak.
Since this type of kobushi is far easier than the typical kind, the overall difficulty of the song is naturally lower.
While it doesn’t call for outright shouting, singing with a bit of strength will make the song sound more radiant, so give it a try.
Woman Harbor TownYashiro Aki
Onna Minato-machi is a single released by Aki Yashiro in 1977.
In fact, it’s a cover of the original song Onna Minato-machi released in 1973 by Yuji Minami and the Full Sails.
It’s a classic that was performed at the 28th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen and received a Special Award at the 10th All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards.
With a richly kayōkyoku-influenced sound, it’s an ideal choice for karaoke, especially for those who aren’t yet accustomed to straightforward enka or who love Showa-era pop.
The rhythmical A melody with clearly articulated Japanese and light accents, as well as the distinctive vibrato sections that appear in the B melody and chorus, can make it easy to go off pitch, so be sure to focus your practice on those parts.
Moon’s Little BoatYashiro Aki
The coupling track “Tsuki no Kobune” from Aki Yashiro’s 2020 single “Izakaya ‘Showa’” is a hidden gem composed by Yashiro herself.
Having challenged the jazz field in the 2010s and even made her world debut, Yashiro returns here to the realm of enka and kayōkyoku, and her calm, seasoned vocals—tempered by life’s bitters and sweets—truly move you.
From a karaoke perspective, the overall pitch is quite low for a female vocalist, so many men should be able to tackle it in the original key.
If you read the lyrics carefully and sing as if speaking to someone, you can bring out the song’s distinctive atmosphere.
A blues that tingles me to the boneYashiro Aki
Aki Yashiro, who remained active throughout her life from the 1970s to the 2020s, delivered a standout song in the 2000s: “Hone made Shibireru Blues” (“A Blues That Numbs to the Bone”)! With lyrics by Toyohisa Araki, music by Hideo Mizumori, and arrangement by Tatsumi Yano, it’s a kayōkyoku-style track that, true to its title, carries a bluesy flavor.
Overall, the melody sits on the lower side, making it a good recommendation for those who struggle with high notes.
Conversely, for those who find low notes difficult, it’s great practice for singing a sultry low register with vibrato.
In conclusion
In an interview, Ms. Yashiro said, “I’ve sung with the intention of speaking for those who carry pain and sorrow.” Because she spent her teenage years enduring many hardships to become a singer, she was likely able to keep singing as someone’s voice at all times. With that sentiment from Ms. Yashiro in mind, please try singing the songs we introduced this time.