![[Anison Singer] A roundup of popular anime song vocalists](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/WJFWka5VMFw/maxresdefault.webp)
[Anison Singer] A roundup of popular anime song vocalists
Anime, a pillar of Japan’s pop culture, has now secured its place as a cultural export Japan can proudly showcase to the world.
And it’s not just the anime works themselves—their opening themes and insert songs have also gained popularity across the globe.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of anisong singers who have performed many hit anime songs to date.
From long-standing veterans who have shaped the scene to up-and-coming singers making waves in recent years, we’ve curated picks across generations—so we hope you’ll discover your new favorite anisong singer.
[Anison Singer] Summary of Popular Anison Vocalists (1–10)
ImperfectŌishi Masayoshi
The name he uses when performing as an anisong singer is the stage name of Masayoshi Oishi, who is active as a singer-songwriter.
He made his major debut in 1999 as a member of the three-piece band Sound Schedule.
In his solo career, he has earned high praise not only for singing anime songs but also as an anime song creator for his lyric writing and composition.
His soaring yet gentle high-tone voice showcases his exceptional vocal ability and expressive power.
In 2021, prompted by an appearance in the omnibus drama “The World of the Strange” (Yonimo Kimyōna Monogatari), he also began working as an actor.
He is an artist expected to continue pursuing a wide range of activities.
forget-me-notReoNa
A female singer who performs under the catchphrase “Despair-type Anisong Singer.” Since becoming a finalist in the 2017 SACRA MUSIC Audition, her vocals have drawn attention—such as the mini-album released under the name Kanzaki Elsa starring ReoNa, an in-anime artist from the TV anime Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online, which reached No.
8 on the Oricon charts.
Songs built on her own experiences, with the concept of “music that stays close to you in times of despair,” match her clear voice that retains a hint of innocence, creating a uniquely atmospheric presence.
She’s a promising singer who seems poised to reveal even more new worlds going forward.
IGNITEAoi Eiru
A female singer who grew up in a music-loving family and began performing early, playing guitar in a band during high school.
While known as an anisong singer, she electrifies audiences at live shows with headbanging, jumping, and other rock band–style performances.
Her powerful yet crystalline voice pairs well with rock sounds and really lifts listeners’ spirits.
Although she temporarily suspended activities in 2016 due to health issues, she made a comeback and held her first post-return tour at the Nippon Budokan in 2018, and she continues to be active today.
ETERNAL BLAZEMizuki Nana
A female singer from Ehime Prefecture who also boasts top-tier talent as a narrator and voice actor.
Entrusted with her father’s dream of becoming an enka singer, she underwent rigorous early training—vocals, piano, and Electone to hone her ear, as well as calligraphy so she wouldn’t be at a loss when asked for autographs.
As a result of this intensive education, she was even known locally as a “Nodojiman contest raider.” Despite that background, her charming personality has won her a broad fanbase beyond anime enthusiasts, and coupled with her powerful vocal ability, she is a musician who thrives beyond the confines of the anisong singer category.
Northern CrossMay’n
A female singer who began taking full-fledged auditions in elementary school and made her major debut in high school under her real name, Mei Nakabayashi.
Aiming since childhood to be an artist who can both sing and dance, she rose to wide recognition as a new-generation female anime song singer after the success of tracks such as “Diamond Crevasse,” released under the name Sheryl Nome starring May’n for the TV anime Macross Frontier.
Her high expressive ability and vocal power evoke the world of each song and draw listeners in.
Since 2018, she has also been active as a stage actress, showcasing her multifaceted artistic sensibilities.
Butter-FlyWada Kōji
An anison singer who performed vocals on every installment of the TV anime Digimon Adventure series.
After a hiatus to recuperate from illness, his return to singing led fans to dub him the “Immortal Butterfly anison singer,” a nod to his debut song, Butter-Fly.
His voice—sweet and fragile yet imbued with profound power—surely gave courage to many listeners.
Though he sadly passed away in 2016 due to illness, he remains a singer with enduring popularity among anime song fans today.
A Cruel Angel’s ThesisTakahashi Yoko
A singer-songwriter who grew up in a deeply musical environment: her older sister is a voice trainer, her younger brother a composer, and her father taught her piano from the age of two.
She sang in a choir during elementary school, and by the age of ten she was already showcasing her vocal ability and musical talent by contributing to an image album based on the manga of Osamu Tezuka—remarkable for someone so young.
She is a female singer with numerous hit songs, including her signature track “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” the opening theme of the TV anime Neon Genesis Evangelion and a beloved karaoke favorite across a wide audience.