Debut songs by Japanese female artists from the 2000s
Have you ever had the experience where you listened to something so much back then, but now you can’t remember the singer’s name? It’s frustrating, isn’t it? In this article, we’ve put together songs by female artists who debuted in the 2000s.
You might just find that song you’ve been searching for with only a hazy memory to go on.
Or you might discover, “Oh, she sang this kind of song too!” The range is truly wide—from soothing tracks to high-energy tunes! Find the perfect song to match your mood right now!
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[2000s] Debut songs by Japanese female artists (1–10)
Brilliant DreamNakagawa Shoko
It was released in 2006 as Shoko Nakagawa’s debut single.
In the music video, in addition to the image outfit, a total of 12 different costumes—including cosplay—were prepared, and the debut event “Shokotan☆Matsuri” was held.
It reached No.
29 on the Oricon chart.
Level42Kimura Kaera
“Level42” is singer Kaela Kimura’s debut single.
It’s written as “Level42” and read “Level Forty-Two.” It was released in 2004.
The song as a whole gives a strong sense of looking forward.
Its youthful energy, perfect for a fresh debut, feels exhilarating to listen to.
The moderate sense of speed makes you want to start moving.
It’s rock, yet it intriguingly has a touch of pop-friendly accessibility.
I hope you’ll take your time savoring Kaela Kimura’s early, unspoiled charm.
STARSNakajima Mika
It was released in 2001 as Mika Nakashima’s debut single.
The song was used as the theme for the Kansai TV/Fuji TV drama “A Love Song Full of Scars,” in which Mika Nakashima appeared, marking her acting debut at the same time as her singing debut.
Despite being her debut work, it entered the Oricon chart at No.
3.
[2000s] Debut songs by Japanese female artists (11–20)
B’coz I Love YouYaita Hitomi
It was released in 2000 as Hitomi Yaida’s major-label debut single.
The song was used as the opening theme for TBS’s “COUNT DOWN TV,” and the lyrics and music were written by Yaida herself.
The intense guitar and catchy melody leave a striking impression, and the straightforward lyrics about a girl’s feelings of love are adorable.
SariAndō Yūko
This is Yuko Ando’s debut song.
Ando made her debut as a singer at 26, handling both the lyrics and the composition herself.
While it’s a gentle track, it also has an atmosphere that feels like it creates a world only Ando could bring to life.
Her singing has a distinctive way of pronouncing words.
Yet it’s somehow very pleasing to listen to, and within the song’s calm yet unique sense of rhythm, it makes you want to keep listening.
It’s also worth tuning in to the characteristically 2000s sound that evokes a sense of nostalgia.
Always With MeKimura Yumi
The theme song of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, which set a record by holding the top spot in Japanese box-office history for 20 years.
It is the debut single by female singer Yumi Kimura, known for her lyre-accompanied performances; her gentle voice and the lyre’s soft timbre make for a soothing number.
Its melody, which offers a sense of relief at the end of a story about a girl overcoming various hardships to return to everyday life, resonates deeply.
It’s a song that truly conveys the film’s happy ending.
I believeayaka
This is the debut single by female singer-songwriter Ayaka, released in 2006.
It’s also known for being used by her close friend, figure skater Miki Ando, in an exhibition program.
Ayaka herself has stated that she created the song under the constraint of using the same chord progression as the Beatles’ “Let It Be,” which may be why its catchy yet somehow nostalgic melody resonates.
It’s a moving number whose message—pressing forward on the path you believe in even amid uncertainty—rings out through Ayaka’s powerful vocals.