A Japanese female singer with excellent singing ability; an outstanding vocalist.
Even when we say someone is “a good singer,” that can mean many different things.
They might have astonishingly steady pitch, a superhuman vocal range, exquisite sense of rhythm, or a truly overwhelming voice.
This time, I’ve picked out female singers who are widely regarded as “great” from various angles like these, as well as female singers who, from my years of experience as a vocal producer and voice coach, make me think, “She’s outstanding!”
Of course, a singer’s appeal doesn’t necessarily lie only in technical skill.
But every now and then, isn’t it nice to listen with a focus on “skill”?
I hope this will be helpful for those who aspire to become singers as well.
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Great singers. Japanese female vocalists with high singing ability (91–100)
BelieveShenelu
It’s a track from Che’Nelle’s third album, “Believe,” released in July 2012.
It was selected as the theme song for the fourth film in the Umizaru series, “BRAVE HEARTS: Umizaru,” which premiered on July 13, 2012.
It’s a grand ballad, yet powerful—the soaring high notes and expressive vocals feel remarkably beyond what you typically hear from Japanese artists.
I think it’s also an ideal song for practicing high notes, so if you want to improve your singing, be sure to study her performance!
flameLiSA
LiSA is a Japanese female solo singer who made her major debut in 2010.
The song we’re featuring here, Homura, is a somewhat heavy, slow-tempo rock track, and even in this piece she delivers a stunning vocal performance.
In particular, in the highest notes of the chorus, she sings the first chorus gently using falsetto, making you momentarily think, “Maybe high notes aren’t her strong suit?”—only to shift from the second chorus onward to a brilliant, chesty head voice that soars with piercing high tones.
That breadth of expressive range is truly overwhelming to hear.
From the perspective of a producer like myself, she’s such an outstanding singer that I can’t help but think, “I’d love to direct her in the studio at least once!”
LOVE ～Destiny～Hamasaki Ayumi
Ayumi Hamasaki debuted as a singer in 1998 and came to be known as the “charisma of high school girls.” “LOVE ~Destiny~” is a single released in 1999 and was used as an insert song in the TV drama “Semi-Double.”
AliveNiizuma Seiko
Her singing, having also performed as a musical theater actress, is striking for its beautifully soaring high notes, and I think she’s a vocalist with exceptional skill.
It seems she spent several years living abroad, and perhaps that experience contributes to her nuanced rhythmic phrasing that never feels flat.
If you listen closely to how she subtly varies her vocal placement within a single song depending on the expression, you’ll gain an even deeper appreciation of her high level of ability.
The end of a dream, the beginning of loveAnjura Aki
Angela Aki is a singer-songwriter who made her major debut in 2005.
This song was released as a single in July 2013 and was used as the commercial song for Shionogi Pharmaceutical’s Sedes High.
It peaked at No.
30 on the Oricon chart.
idolIkuta Rira (YOASOBI)
Rira Ikuta, who is active as the singer of the music duo YOASOBI.
She doesn’t excel in the sense of having an overwhelmingly wide range or powerful volume, but I believe her vocal expressiveness—centered on her soft tone—deserves high praise.
Throughout songs with melodies that rise and fall intensely and intricately, she skillfully switches her vocal production as needed, yet delivers an overall understated, even-keeled impression.
As mentioned, she’s not a singer who flaunts flashy “technical prowess,” but it’s fair to say her appeal and capability as a vocalist are immense.
A gentle feelingChara
The 14th single by Japanese female singer Chara, released in April 1997.
Chara’s distinctive, now well-established vocal style is alive and well on this track too! At first listen, her whispery singing—rich in breath—might sound easy and like something anyone could imitate.
But in reality, making whisper vocals work as actual singing is very difficult.
The way she has mastered this technique and elevated it into a defining “individuality” is nothing short of impressive.
Within a performance centered on whisper vocals, the chorus uses squeezed, chest-voice high notes to powerful effect, making it a model example of how a whisper-style singer can shine.
If you’d like a detailed explanation of whisper vocals, see this reference: https://aqua-cube.jp/1546/