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[For Female Choir] Carefully Selected Heartfelt Recommendations & Women's Choir Arrangements

Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Choral singing weaves beautiful harmonies across multiple parts.

There are many wonderful masterpieces in choral music that are moving not only to sing but also just to listen to.

In this article, we’ve gathered recommendations especially for women, focusing on works for women’s chorus, pieces suited to female vocal ranges, and arrangements.

We’ve also picked out J-pop hit songs arranged for choir, so if you’re new to choral singing or part of a group just starting out, it might be a good idea to begin with familiar songs before moving on to more traditional choral repertoire.

Enjoy the lovely harmonies and spend some time that fills your heart!

[For Women’s Choir] A Curated Selection of Moving Recommended Works & Treasured SSA/SSAA Arrangements (11–20)

everythingSakushi: Sakura Momoko / Sakkyoku: Aizawa Naoto

[Naoto Aizawa, Piano] Women’s Chorus “Zenbu” ~ Shonan Coro Stella

everythingSakushi: Sakura Momoko / Sakkyoku: Aizawa Naoto

This is a heartwarming choral piece that shines a light on the many emotions we feel in everyday life.

With simple yet profound lyrics, it expresses honest feelings that resonate with both children and adults.

Included in the 2008 choral collection “Zenbu Koko ni” published by Ongaku no Tomo Sha, the piece gained wider recognition as a choral work after being featured in the 2015 TBS drama “Omotesando Koukou Gasshoubu!” Its warm melody, woven with beautiful harmonies, makes it an ideal choice for performances at graduation ceremonies and choral competitions.

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swallowYOASOBI

Swallow / YOASOBI

swallowYOASOBI

A song of hope woven together with the pure voices of children.

Its powerful message—that small actions can change the world—perfectly matches the beautifully clear, translucent vocals.

Chosen as the theme song for NHK’s SDGs program series for children, “Hirogare! Irotoridori,” it was also broadcast on “Minna no Uta” in October and November 2021.

With its gentle melody, grand soundscape, and the children’s soaring voices creating a rich harmony, this work delivers a moving experience that resonates deeply.

It’s also recommended as a piece for choir practice or for singing at school events.

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Song of LifeTakeuchi Mariya

[Insert Song from the NHK Morning Drama “Dandan”] Inochi no Uta / ManaKana

Song of LifeTakeuchi Mariya

In NHK’s morning drama Dan Dan, the lead actresses Mana Mikura and Kana Mikura performed the in-show song “Inochi no Uta” (Song of Life).

Mariya Takeuchi, who wrote the lyrics, later released her own self-cover as a single in 2012.

Despite the weighty title, listening to the music and reading the lyrics is cleansing for the heart.

Heard as a choral piece, it’s such a natural fit that you might think it was composed as a chorus from the start, with the piano accompaniment enhancing its beauty.

It’s sure to become a moving choral work without a doubt.

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BelieveLyrics and Composition: Sugimoto Ryūichi

With Lyrics: BELIEVE [Three-Part Female Chorus]

Believe Composer/Lyricist: Sugimoto Ryūichi

A heartwarming choral piece by Ryuichi Sugimoto that sings of “support and hope for friends.” Its beautiful melodic line is striking, imbued with the warmth of standing by one another and the hope of walking into the future together.

The piece was used in 1998 as the ending theme for NHK’s nature documentary program “Ikimono Chikyū Kikō” (The Living Earth Travelogue), and later gained widespread recognition for its appeal as a choral work, becoming a staple at school events and choral competitions.

It’s a wonderful song that deepens bonds with friends by uniting voices as one—perfect for creating cherished memories with dear friends and companions.

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To the futuresakushi: tanikawa shuntarō/ sakkyoku: nobunaga takatomi

"To the Future" composed by Takafumi Nobunaga / Women's Choir Prunus

To the futuresakushi: tanikawa shuntarō/ sakkyoku: nobunaga takatomi

A choral piece by Shuntaro Tanikawa and Takatsugu Nobunaga whose calm yet powerful melody resonates in the heart.

With delicate word choices and beautiful harmonies, it delves deeply into reflections on life and the future.

Included on the album “Kanashimi wa Atarashii,” the work was premiered in June 2009 at the 45th Anniversary Special Regular Concert of the Saitama Prefectural Omiya High School Music Club.

Frequently performed at school choir competitions and regular concerts, it is highly regarded as a piece well-suited for women’s choirs.

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fightYUI

"Fight" choral piece / three-part women's voices / full ensemble (All) / with full lyrics - for part practice, covered by singer Micah

fightYUI

YUI’s 2012 release “fight” was chosen as the set piece for the junior high school division of the 2012 NHK All-Japan School Choir Competition.

It tells a story of accepting a reality that includes both joy and sorrow and finding new hope, giving listeners the strength to take a step forward.

Its comfortably resonant melody gently encourages those who hear it, making it a song especially worth listening to when you’re feeling down.

When performing it as a chorus, try singing gently like YUI and be sure to convey the message embedded in the lyrics.

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[For Women’s Choir] Carefully Selected Moving Recommendations & Treasures of SSA/SSAA Arrangements (Nos. 21–30)

Eyes of the heartSakamoto Kyu

Eyes of the Heart / Kyu Sakamoto [SSA (two-part female choir)]

Eyes of the heartSakamoto Kyu

Kokoro no Hitomi is a song about “love” directed toward someone dear.

It’s a piece Kyu Sakamoto—one of Japan’s most acclaimed singers—sang while thinking of his beloved wife.

Sadly, this song became Sakamoto’s final work, but it has since become a choral standard cherished by many.

The song’s protagonist doesn’t rush to define what “love” is; instead, while still unsure, they learn what love means through a warm, tender feeling of cherishing the other person.

It’s a song that reminds us of the important things we tend to forget amid our busy lives.

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