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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Female Japanese singers with excellent singing ability (141–150)
twilightYoshizawa Kayoko
Blessed with a delicate sensibility and literary expressiveness, Kayoko Yoshizawa captivates many listeners with her unique musicality, rooted in pop and infused with elements of folk and rock.
She made her debut in 2014 with the mini-album “Henshin Shōjo” (Metamorphosis Girl) and has continued to create songs with subtle, story-like qualities ever since.
Starting with winning an Excellence Award at the Tokyo finals of “The 3rd Music Revolution” in 2010, she has received numerous accolades.
With a clear, translucent voice and poetic lyrics that weave in everyday scenes, she strives for expressions that resonate closely with listeners’ hearts.
She is highly recommended for those who enjoy narrative, storybook-like worlds and delicate emotional expression, or who find beauty in the quiet moments of daily life.
IgnoreIkuta Erika
Erika Ikuta is known as an artist with a clear, beautiful singing voice and solid technique.
She debuted in 2011 as a first-generation member of Nogizaka46 and, alongside her idol activities, also thrived as a musical theater actress.
After graduating from Nogizaka46 in 2021, she transitioned to a solo career.
In 2024, she released her first EP, “capriccioso,” establishing a unique world that fuses her classical roots with pop music.
Having studied piano since childhood, she boasts numerous accolades, including being a prizewinner in the Piano Division of the 21st Japan Classical Music Competition and receiving the 8th Tokiko Iwatani Encouragement Award.
With a wide repertoire ranging from musical theater classics to pop, Ikuta’s expressive voice captivates listeners’ hearts.
Her music is highly recommended for those seeking encounters with beautiful sound.
bonsai (feat. CENT)Uta-ha
Utaha captivates listeners with her translucent singing voice.
In September 2021, she joined the music unit Wednesday Campanella as the second lead vocalist, making her debut the following month at the PARCO Culture Festival.
Drawing attention for her distinctive musical style and fashion sense, she took home two awards in 2021 at Miss iD 2021: “Amazing Miss iD 2021” and the “Eru Akazawa Award.” In July 2024, she released the album “Utau you ni, Hogaraka ni,” for which she wrote and composed all the songs herself, marking the start of her solo career.
Having discovered self-expression through fashion despite her shy personality, she stepped into the world of music, and her voice holds both delicacy and strength.
She’s the perfect artist for music fans drawn to the contrast between highly artistic expression and an approachable singing voice.
Notice me… I love you.Lily
Lily may not be the kind of singer with superhuman range or volume that grabs you in a single listen, but she has a voice with the soothing 1/f fluctuation often called a “healing” quality, and her singing consistently radiates gentle charm.
From a chest voice rich in pleasant high overtones to a tender falsetto, she switches techniques with exquisite control to deliver beautifully nuanced expression.
She’s a singer I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking a gentle, healing female vocal.
horizonHaneda Risa
Risa Haneda is a singer-songwriter who has been active under her current name since 2013.
I must admit my ignorance: I listened to this song, “Suiheisen” (Horizon), for the first time in order to write this piece.
Right from the start, her wonderfully beautiful falsetto scat bursts in, and that alone made me think, “She’s no ordinary talent!” The song itself is a very pretty ballad arranged with elegant simplicity, but within this minimal backing, her vocal expression alone fully conveys the world of the piece.
I found her expressive power truly outstanding.
Let her gentle voice soothe you.
The person I fell in love withMiyako Harumi
Harumi Miyako, who reigned as the queen of enka.
Born in Kyoto, she debuted in 1965 with “Namida no Renrakusen” and went on to produce hits such as “Kita no Yado kara.” She won the Japan Record Award in 1976, and her sudden retirement announcement in 1984 became a social phenomenon.
Her powerful singing style, known as the “Harumi-bushi,” captivated many fans.
After making a full comeback in 1989, she has continued to exert a major influence on the Japanese music scene with her overwhelming vocal prowess.
She is a recommended artist not only for enka fans but also for anyone who wants to be enthralled by exceptional singing.
Song of the DawnKishi Yoko
Yoko Kishi, who made a name for herself as a chanson singer, completed the graduate program in vocal music at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1958.
She signed with King Records in 1961 and made her debut the following year.
In 1964, she won the Singing Award at the 6th Japan Record Awards with one of her signature songs, captivating many with her beautiful voice and expressive power.
Her musical style was influenced by European genres, to the extent that she was described as “Koshiji to dazzle, Kishi to enthrall.” Although she was diagnosed with a collagen disease in 1970, she overcame it and resumed her musical activities in 1971.
She went on to produce many hit songs and appeared multiple times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
She is a highly recommended singer for those who want to experience the charm of chanson and canzone.