Masterpieces about girls: recommended popular songs
We’ve put together a collection of masterpieces by Japanese female artists that pour women’s feelings and feminine emotions into their lyrics.
It’s a playlist that shines with a uniquely female perspective.
It’s recommended not only for girls who want to relate, but also for guys who want to understand a woman’s heart.
Classic songs about girls: Recommended popular tracks (1–10)
planetariumOtsuka Ai
Ai Otsuka’s iconic song was released in September 2005 as the image song for the drama “Boys Over Flowers.” It beautifully portrays memories of a lost first love while gazing up at the starry sky.
The quiet melody that opens into a soaring chorus is striking, and the aching feelings of love hit close to the heart.
Ai Otsuka, at 19, was moved by the starry sky she saw over the dark sea in Ishikawa Prefecture and composed this song.
In a dreamlike, planetarium-like space, one hopes to preserve memories with someone special forever… You can feel the pure emotions of a woman in that wish.
If you want to soothe a heart hurt by unrequited love or heartbreak, give it a listen.
I hope I can be your lover.Kaneyori Masaru
Kaneyori Masaru is a girls’ band that resonates with relatable, true-to-life lyrics capturing everyday moments.
This work of theirs is a love song that straightforwardly conveys the swelling feelings for someone you like and the frustrating inability to take that one last step.
Even when you know it might be a love that won’t come true, the aching wish to share a future with them tightens the hearts of anyone nursing a crush.
It’s included on the mini-album “To Us Who Won’t Live Yesterday,” released in January 2025, and was also chosen as the theme song for the film “Yoyogi Johnny’s Melancholy After School.” Riding on a driving band sound, Chitose Mina’s emotionally rich vocals ring out in this track.
Let this message gently give a push to a heart that’s grown timid about love.
roseTsuchiya Anna
This is one of Anna Tsuchiya’s signature songs, known for its powerful vocals and memorable melody.
The themes of “the need for love” and “the pain of losing love,” combined with its cool, rock-driven sound, leave a deep impression on listeners.
Released in June 2006, it was also used as the theme song for the anime NANA.
It reached No.
6 on the Oricon charts and captured the hearts of many listeners.
Packed with Anna Tsuchiya’s appeal, this track is especially recommended when you’re going through heartbreak or feeling lonely.
Her strong, cool vocal presence is sure to give you courage.
i love youchanmina
Crafted by Chanmina, known by the nickname “Beyoncé of Nerima,” this song is imbued with a poignant desire to affirm one’s existence through the gaze of a loved one.
While carrying her own fragility and wavering, the lyrics resonate by honestly expressing feelings for someone dear.
The choice to start the title in lowercase reflects the artist’s wish to convey a reserved, understated emotion.
The layered, multi-tiered choruses leave a strong impression, carefully shaping the song’s emotional depth.
Released in October 2025, the track was written as the theme song for the double-lead drama “Fake Mommy,” starring Haru and Rina Kawaei.
Its exploration of reexamining love amid life’s changing phases aligns with the drama’s worldview.
It’s a perfect song for anyone who struggles to be straightforward in front of the person they like, yet still longs to convey their feelings.
GibbsShiina Ringo
A song by Ringo Sheena said to have been written when she was 17, before her debut.
Released in January 2000, it drew attention as her first ballad single.
The complex emotions of romance and the fragility of human relationships are portrayed through her uniquely distinctive worldview.
It delicately expresses the feelings of a woman in love—her resistance to moments turning into the past when captured in photos, and her doubts about the word “absolute.” It debuted at No.
3 on the Oricon charts and reportedly surpassed 400,000 copies in first-week sales.
It’s a perfect song for women troubled by love, as well as for men who want to understand a woman’s heart.
User ManualNishino Kana
This song portrays the delicate emotions of women through the fresh, inventive concept of an “instruction manual.” The phrase, “If I start to feel a bit worn and your eyes begin to wander, remember the day we first met,” expresses a woman’s wish for unwavering love.
Released in September 2015, it was also chosen as the theme song for the film No Longer Heroine (Heroine Shikkaku).
It resonated with many people, including through appearances at the 2015 and 2018 Kohaku Uta Gassen.
It’s a recommended track not only for women struggling with their relationships, but also for men who want to understand a woman’s heart.
moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro
This song is also known as the theme for the first season of the TV Asahi drama TRICK.
It carries a philosophical atmosphere that conveys a woman’s feelings toward the world.
At the time of its release, Chihiro Onitsuka was 19 years old, a period of transition between adolescence and adulthood, and she expressed her view of the world through her distinctive lyrics and vocals.