[2026] Roundup of Popular Japanese Female Singer-Songwriters

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

Singer-songwriters—artists who write lyrics and compose their own music—feel familiar to us, and many are active today.

In Japan, the term “singer-songwriter” is said to have taken hold in the 1970s, and it was also during this period that female singer-songwriters emerged who would go on to influence countless artists, not just their male counterparts.

In this article, we introduce female singer-songwriters who are indispensable to any discussion of Japanese music history.

Alongside legendary artists, we also feature Gen Z singer-songwriters, so if you love female singer-songwriters, this is a must-read!

[2026] Roundup of Popular Japanese Female Singer-Songwriters (21–30)

yellow flowerEri Takenaka

Eri Takenaka - Yellow Flower (Live) -Wedding Story-

yellow flower Eri Takenaka

Released in 2007 as Eri Takenaka’s third major-label single.

It is the first chapter of her marriage-themed trilogy, a song she wrote for her best friend’s wedding.

It was used as the image song for Wedding GyaO and has also been featured in many wedding venue commercials.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

ContrastTOMOO

TOMOO – Contrast [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

ContrastTOMOO

TOMOO is an artist who creates music that gently touches listeners’ hearts with simple piano tones and an emotionally rich voice.

She began her career in the early 2010s and made her major debut in 2019.

While taking on a wide range of genres from pop to ballads, her dedication to a stripped-down, singer-songwriter style is also striking.

Many of her signature songs have been used as drama theme songs, and in 2022 she successfully held her solo concert “Estuary” at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA.

Her strong will, standing on stage after overcoming health issues, moved many fans.

Her songs, often themed around nature and the passage of time, are gentle yet deeply resonant.

She’s an artist especially recommended for those who want to reflect on their inner selves through music.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Be…Ms. OOJA

Ms OOJA Be

Be…Ms. OOJA

It was released in 2012 as Ms.OOJA’s fifth single.

It was chosen as the theme song for the TBS drama “Love Neet: How to Start a Forgotten Love,” and an alternate arrangement, “Be…

duet with Kaoru Kurosawa,” was included as a bonus track on the best-of album released in 2016.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Friend’s PoemNakamura Ataru

Ataru Nakamura / Friends' Poem

Friend's PoemNakamura Ataru

Included on the 2007 album “Ten Made Todoke.” Born in 1985, from Tokyo.

She is also active as an actress.

This song was written based on her experience of having an unrequited crush on a bandmate she played with when she was 15.

Her sultry yet wistful voice brings distant memories back to life, stirring a faint ache deep in the chest.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Angel’s RestHisamatsu Fumina

Angel's Rest — Fumina Hisamatsu — PV

Angel’s RestHisamatsu Fumina

Released in 1992 as Fumina Hisamatsu’s fifth single.

It was used as the theme song for the Yomiuri TV-produced/Nippon TV network drama “Kirei ni Naritai” (“I Want to Be Beautiful”), became her first Top 10 hit, and marked her best-selling record.

It’s a very cool track featuring her husky vocals.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

voiceamano tsuki

Voice (with lyrics) — Tsukiko Amano

voiceamano tsuki

This is the 11th major single released under the name Tsukiko Amano.

It serves as the theme song for the PlayStation 2 game Fatal Frame III: The Tormented (Japanese title: Zero: Shisei no Koe).

The lyrics reflect the feelings of the game’s protagonist and fit the game’s worldview.

In 2009, she changed her stage name from Tsukiko Amano to Tsuki Amano.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

I’ll give you my heart.Kuroki Nagisa

Nagisa Kuroki “I’ll Give You My Heart” MV (Promotion ver.)

I'll give you my heart.Kuroki Nagisa

It was released as Nagisa Kuroki’s first single.

Initially, it was sold only in the Kyushu region and at live venues, but it was later released nationwide.

The song is a love song themed around ultimate love.

Nagisa Kuroki originally performed as part of a mixed-gender rock band.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem