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 (ages 21–30) who are good at singing / have strong vocal ability
Not Drunk (Bewitching Goldfish)RIRI
Right now, the underground is buzzing about the female R&B duo Yoen Kingyo.
Their core sound is captivating, evoking the deep cuts of late-’90s and 2000s hip-hop and R&B.
Among the members, RIRI stands as one of the top talents in contemporary Japanese R&B.
Her control over falls is especially outstanding, and when it comes to delivering that airy, effortlessly smooth R&B, she’s second to none.
Her ad-lib skills are also excellent, so be sure to check her out.
Stars on EarthNakajima Miyuki
Miyuki Nakajima is a Japanese singer-songwriter.
She made her major debut in 1975 with the single “Azami-jō no Lullaby,” and since then she has continued to release numerous hit songs up to the present day.
Her voice and singing style are highly distinctive, so I feel listeners tend to be sharply divided over whether they like her or not.
Even so, her vocal delivery—maximizing the qualities of that “unique voice”—and her expressive power in singing are truly remarkable, and I believe that is a key part of her enduring appeal that has kept her at the forefront of the music industry for nearly half a century since her debut.
If you isolate just the vocal melodies of the songs she composes, the range used is not particularly wide, and melodically some pieces can feel rather flat.
Yet when she sings them, her exceptional expressive ability transforms them into highly dramatic works, leaving listeners with a powerful, overwhelming impression.
Aim to be a Pokémon MasterMatsumoto Rika
Rica Matsumoto is also highly regarded as a voice actress and is especially famous for playing Ash in the TV anime Pokémon.
The song used as the Pokémon theme, “Mezase Pokémon Master,” was released in 1997 and sold 1.85 million copies.
A Long, Short FestivalShiina Ringo
Japanese singer-songwriter Ringo Sheena—featured here with the song Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri—performs a duet on this track with Ukigumo, formerly of Tokyo Jihen.
From her debut, Sheena has been highly regarded for her edgy songwriting and distinctive vocals, and that direction is fully on display in this piece as well.
She intentionally applies AUTO-TUNE, an effect that automatically corrects pitch, in full-auto mode across the entire vocal, creating a curious performance that feels somewhere between live singing and machine.
While pitch correction is often perceived as something used to make a weak singer sound better, this is a prime example of how, when an artist like Sheena—who has strong natural vocal ability—embraces it proactively, the result can be so compelling.
Song of Voltes VHorie Mitsuko
Mitsuko Horie is a Japanese singer, voice actress, and actress.
She debuted as a singer in 1969, and since then she has performed theme songs for numerous hit anime, becoming known as the Queen of Anison (anime songs).
Her vocal ability and expressive power span an exceptionally wide range of styles—from gentle, heartwarming, cute tunes to the powerful themes of robot anime—which she sings with remarkable mastery.
It’s said that she was the first female singer in Japan to perform the theme song for a boys’ robot anime.
That’s quite an episode that proves her outstanding vocal prowess, isn’t it? Please enjoy her strong, crystal-clear voice to the fullest.
NeverlandJASMINE
Appearing on the scene seemingly out of nowhere in 2009, R&B singer JASMINE quickly earned high praise from R&B enthusiasts.
Shortly after her debut, she delivered an impressive run of performances for the R&B world, including serving as an opening act for the globally renowned R&B singer Ne-Yo.
Though still unrefined in some ways, her soulful vocals are captivating, and she particularly excels at natural, emotionally charged shouts and hiccups.
Be sure to check her out.
moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro
Japanese singer-songwriter Chihiro Onitsuka made her major debut in February 2000 with her first single, “Shine.” Her second single, “Gekkou,” was selected as the theme song for the popular TV Asahi drama “TRICK,” which helped propel her to instant stardom.
I feel that the greatest appeal of her singing lies in her solid vocal projection, grounded in a strong technical foundation.
Even in songs that call for a gentle voice—such as her second single “Gekkou”—she delivers performances that are tender in expression yet never weak, displaying masterful control.
She is a singer who reminds us anew that firm, well-supported vocal production is essential to singing and to expressing a piece of music.