With many hits, including 'Namida no Misao' (Tearful Fidelity), 'Meoto Kagami' (Couple Mirrors), 'Onna no Michi' (Woman's Way), 'Onna no Negai' (Woman's Wish), 'Oyaji no Umi' (Father's Ocean), 'Yokohama Tasogare' (Yokohama Twilight Time), 'Kizudarake no Jinsei' (Life with Bruises), 'Kuchinashi no Hana' (Flower of Gardenia), 'Furusato (Hiroshi ITSUKI)' (Hometown), 'Kassai (Naomi CHIAKI)' (Applause), 'Sensei' (Teacher), 'Kokoro Nokori' (Regret), 'Yosaku' (Yosaku [a popular Japanese name for woodcutters]), 'Funauta' (Sailor's Song), 'Mukashi no Namae de Deteimasu' (Coming out in the Name of Old Days), 'Kita no Yado kara' (From an Inn in the North Country), 'Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyu-geshiki' (Winterscape of the Tsugaru Straits), 'Omoide Zake' (Sake of Memories), 'Kitaguni no Haru' (Spring in the North Country), and 'Yume Oi Zake' (Dream-chasing Sake), enka music developed steadily, competing with folk, new music, and idol songs.
「なみだの操」「夫婦鏡」「女のみち」「女のねがい」「おやじの海」「よこはま・たそがれ」「傷だらけの人生」「くちなしの花」「ふるさと(五木ひろし)」「喝采(ちあきなおみ)」「せんせい」「心のこり」「与作」「舟唄」「昔の名前で出ています」「北の宿から」「津軽海峡・冬景色」「おもいで酒」「北国の春」「夢追い酒」など多くのヒット曲が生まれ、フォーク、ニューミュージック、アイドル歌謡などと競い合いながら安定した発展を見せていた。