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 (11–20)
Genesis of AquarionAKINO
A song released solo by AKINO, a member of bless4, a bilingual music unit of four siblings.
As the title suggests, it was produced as the theme song for the TV anime Genesis of Aquarion, and its lyrics are crafted to align with the anime’s worldview.
With melodic accents drawn from church modes and AKINO’s clear, soaring vocals, it’s a track that showcases the evolution of Japanese anime songs.
Even now, it remains a highly popular choice for karaoke.
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.
Muv-LuvKuribayashi Minami
Minami Kuribayashi is active as a singer-songwriter and as a voice actor.
Her debut single as a singer was Muv-Luv, released in 2002.
The song was used as the theme for the PC game Muv-Luv, which shares the same title.
The lyrics, depicting a secret, bittersweet unrequited love, really hit home.
They’re sung with a cute yet resonant voice that makes listeners’ hearts skip a beat.
Since then, Kuribayashi has continued to focus on songs for games and anime.
Important personUemura Kana
Kana Uemura, the singer-songwriter who drew attention with “Toire no Kamisama” (The God of the Toilet), debuted with the single “Taisetsu na Hito” in 2005.
The lyrics were written by Natsumi Watanabe, who has penned songs for many artists including BoA and Hiroko Moriguchi, and the composition was by Seiji Kameda, the bassist of Tokyo Jihen, who also produces and writes for numerous artists.
It’s a track that showcases a fresh and slightly cool side of Kana Uemura, different in style from “Toire no Kamisama.”
INishino Kana
This is Kana Nishino’s debut song; she went on hiatus in 2019.
Many people were likely captivated by Kana Nishino—affectionately known as “Kanayan”—and her songs and voice.
Her debut track “I,” released in 2008, features a pleasant sense of rhythm that makes it an exceptionally easy listen.
It’s neither up-tempo nor slow—this just-right balance makes it very approachable.
After enjoying her intense songs, her heart-wrenching ballads, and tracks brimming with girlish charm, you’ll find yourself wanting to return to this one as a way of going back to the beginning.
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.
[2000s] Debut songs by Japanese female artists (21–30)
ake-kazeHayashi Asuka
It was released in 2003 as Asuka Hayashi’s debut single.
The song was featured in a commercial for Matsushita Electric Industrial’s IH rice cooker “Kyōbi no Dōgama.” With vocals so powerful it was hard to believe she was only 13 at the time, it drew significant attention and went on to become a long-running hit, staying in the Oricon Top 30 for eight consecutive weeks after its release.