From Comic Songs to Enka: Easy-to-Sing Songs by Ikuzo Yoshi [2026]

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

Of course, he has towering achievements as a veteran enka singer, but he’s also renowned as an exceptional singer-songwriter—an Aomori-born hero, Yoshikazu “Yoshi” Ikuzō—who’s produced everything from comedic, rap-like novelty tunes such as “Ora Tokyo sa Iguda” to heart-wrenching ballads that tug at the heartstrings, as well as providing songs for other artists.

He’s also showcased his talent as an actor, and with his strong name recognition in households across Japan, Yoshi’s songs are hugely popular at karaoke.

In this article, we’ve picked out and compiled some of Yoshi’s many classic tracks that are relatively easy to sing.

We’ve included plenty of famous songs too, so beginners should definitely check them out!

[From Comic Songs to Enka] Easy-to-Sing Songs by Yoshi Ikuzo [2026] (11–20)

passionate flameYoshi Ikuzo

Passionate Flames — Ikuzo Yoshi

passionate flameYoshi Ikuzo

Ikuzo Yoshi is well regarded for his “onna-uta” (songs from a woman’s perspective), and among them, the track Joen is widely praised as a hidden masterpiece.

While its lyrics and melody exude a poignant melancholy, the vocal line is surprisingly straightforward, with gentle rises and falls in pitch.

There are few kobushi (ornamental turns), and the ones that do appear are often close to an extension of vibrato, so even those who feel uneasy about enka-style phrasing should be able to sing it without issue.

The song stays within a comfortable vocal range, making it easy to sing for both men and women.

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In conclusion

Yoshi Ikuzo, who writes, composes, and masterfully performs a wide range of genres—from comedic comic songs to classic enka, ballads, and pop—transcends the confines of the enka singer category to stand as one of Japan’s foremost singer-songwriters, as mentioned at the outset. Beyond the songs introduced here, there are many other singable masterpieces, so be sure to dive deeper and add them to your karaoke repertoire.