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
RE RESCUEREOL
Reol is a female singer-songwriter who’s gained popularity with sharp, danceable music.
She rose to fame with The Sixth Sense and has kept dropping big tunes since, so many of you probably know her.
Unusually for a mainstream crowd-pleaser, she has solid vocal ability.
Because of the genre, it doesn’t always get attention, but her ad-libs are highly polished, and her vocals—brimming with speed and making full use of her unique tone—are breathtaking.
Her singing has grown more refined with each step of her career, so expectations for her in the next 5–10 years are high.
Let’s count your kissesKoyanagi Yuki
There’s no need to explain Yuki Koyanagi’s exceptional vocal ability here—you all know it well.
When she debuted, it was during the so-called diva boom, with many female singers possessing strong vocals making their debuts, but even among them, Koyanagi’s singing stood out.
Still, listening to this debut track again now, you can hear plenty of the freshness characteristic of a first single—like her high-tone delivery and the way she handles certain phrases.
You could call it a bit rough around the edges, but it actually feels quite new and appealing!
Pick you upiri
iri is a singer-songwriter with a rare low-register voice for a female artist in Japanese pop.
In her early days she focused on R&B with a strong pop flavor, but recently she’s been leaning into a more core sound centered on neo-soul and alternative R&B.
Her biggest draw is, above all, her falls.
She’s great at falsetto too, and the contrast with her low-note falls is striking.
She’s also an artist with strong musicality, so be sure to check her out.
StyleShimizu Miisa
Misa Shimizu is a female singer who’s also active on variety shows.
Influenced by Western music, she boasts strong vocal skills, especially exceptional stability in her high-register ad-libs.
While her vibrato can be wobbly at lower pitches, that’s limited to the low range; in the highs, she’s among the best in Japan.
Her pitch control in whistle register is particularly extraordinary, and in “Style,” you can fully savor her whistle tones.
Be sure to check it out.
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.
A bouquet of flowers with loveOchi Shiho (Superfly)
This was Superfly’s fourth single, released in February 2008.
It was also chosen as the theme song for the TBS drama “Edison no Haha” (Edison’s Mother).
From Superfly’s debut, vocalist Shiho Ochi has been highly acclaimed for her dynamic singing, and her powerful vocals are, of course, fully on display in this track as well.
In particular, the soaring high tones in the chorus deliver a powerful, un-Japanese-like vocal presence that overwhelms listeners.
Many people probably aspire to sing like her, but please be careful not to strain your voice and damage your throat.