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.
- [Overwhelming Vocal Ability] A Compilation of Popular Female Singers
- Diva of Enka: A roundup of female singers leading the enka world
- [Feels Great to Listen To!] Popular Songs by Female Artists with Captivating High Notes
- [If You Can Sing These, You're Amazing!] Cool Karaoke Songs for Women
- [Powerful] A roundup of Japanese pop singers with incredible vocal power
- 【2026】Difficult Enka Songs to Sing — Women Singers Edition
- Recommended female vocalists for anime songs
- A masterpiece with exhilarating high notes. An enchanting high-tone voice.
- Reiwa era mustn't be missed: an enka singer with excellent vocals.
- [For Teen Girls] Popular Karaoke Songs That Are Easy to Sing
- [Crystal Voice] An artist with a clear, translucent singing voice.
- [For Women] A roundup of enka songs that can score high in karaoke
- Songs you’d want women to sing at karaoke! Karaoke picks recommended for Gen Z
Great singers. Japanese female vocalists with high singing ability (91–100)
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.
Great singers. Japanese female vocalists with high singing ability (101–110)
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/
True loveMay J.
May J.
is a singer who made her operatic stage debut at the age of eight.
“Honto no Koi” (True Love) was released in 2014 and became her first single to enter the Oricon Top 10.
The song was used as an insert track in the TV drama “Dousousei: Hito wa, Sando, Koi wo Suru” (Classmates: People Fall in Love Three Times).
Nagasaki BluesAoe Mina
Mina Aoe, born in 1941, was a leading figure in the world of enka and popular songs.
She debuted in 1966 and gained popularity with her husky voice and blues-influenced enka style.
In 1968, she had two million-selling singles and won the Japan Record Award for Best Vocal Performance.
The following year, she earned the award again with the biggest hit of her career.
She appeared on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen 18 times, cementing her status as a singer.
In the 1990s, she broadened her musical activities by releasing jazz albums and performing in Brazil.
Despite falling ill in 1998, she continued her musical career and passed away in July 2000 at the age of 59.
Aoe’s songs are still loved by many today and are highly recommended for fans of enka.
The Sun of the DowntownBaishō Chieko
It’s undeniable that her work as an actress—especially known as Tora-san’s younger sister, Sakura—has been so outstanding that her identity as a singer has faded into the background.
But she truly has a beautiful voice.
And no wonder—she was active in the Shochiku Revue, so of course she’s good at singing.
evening cicadaNagayama Yōko
This is Ms.
Nagayama’s enka debut song.
Since she used to sing folk songs, she has tremendous vocal power and is an excellent singer.
Even as she’s aged, her cute face and outstanding figure haven’t changed—and on top of that, she sings so well; it’s like giving a demon an iron club.
There was a rise of beautiful enka singers in the 1990s, but she stood out even among them.