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
99LANA
In today’s R&B scene, there’s no doubt the queen is LANA.
With rapper LEX as her older brother, she’s been immersed in Black music since childhood.
Her vocal ability is exceptionally high-level, wielding an overwhelming groove honed from Western music and a signature husky-voiced fall as her weapons.
The falls and vocal runs that maximize her unique timbre are so stunning they can hold their own against artists worldwide—be sure to check her out.
Flower of the AbyssShimamiy a Eiko
Eiko Shimamiya is a singer who was the main vocalist for I’ve.
“Naraka no Hana” is her second single, released in 2007, and it was used as the opening theme for the TV anime Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai.
It ranked 12th on the Oricon charts.
Female Japanese singers (ages 31–40) who sing well and have high vocal ability
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.
dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo
Hanamizuki is one of Yo Hitoto’s signature songs, and even today you still hear it often at live events featuring singer-songwriters.
I imagine many women also keep it in their karaoke repertoire.
Within a composition that carries a hint of “Japanese flavor,” she uses expressions that evoke elements of Japanese folk songs and enka, yet her singing never loses its clarity; it remains expansive and never becomes a piercing, edgy voice.
In contrast to the song’s and lyrics’ gentleness, there’s something overwhelmingly powerful about it.
Another hallmark of her singing is how she achieves a straight, high tone without relying much on the kind of middle voice typical of R&B singers.
I’d encourage you to listen closely to the subtle melodic inflections and the articulation of consonants.
JOYYU-KI
YUKI, the former vocalist of JUDY AND MARY.
The track I’m introducing here is arranged with programmed dance beats, making it a bit of an outlier among YUKI’s catalog, which tends to be more acoustic.
That said, her distinctive voice—rich in high overtones and acclaimed since the JUDY AND MARY days—is alive and well here.
With vocals that exude a uniquely laid-back, “no-trying-too-hard” atmosphere, she creates a world that’s entirely her own.
What always impresses me, not just on this song but whenever I listen to YUKI, is her astonishing pitch accuracy.
Even though her singing doesn’t sound like it relies on a particularly stable vocal setup, the intonation is truly remarkable.
While the piercing high tones you could hear on many of JUDY AND MARY’s hits are toned down in this track, it still draws you in with its distinctive sense of relaxed ease.
Tears Flowing EndlesslyNatsukawa Rimi
Rimi Natsukawa is a Japanese singer.
She seems to have been good at singing since she was little: starting with winning the “1st Kids’ Amateur Singing Contest” hosted by Ishigaki Cable Television in her hometown of Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, she went on to sweep awards at contests across the country, and in 1984 she also won the “Amateur Masters Kids’ Contest.” Later, in her first year of junior high school, she competed in the 10th Nagasaki Kayōsai (Nagasaki Song Festival), where she became the youngest-ever Grand Prix winner, which led to being scouted by a major label and launching her professional career.
Her first professional career was as an enka singer under the name Misato Hoshi, but she later made her re-debut in 1999 under her current name, Rimi Natsukawa.
The charm of her singing voice surely lies in its healing power.
Her vocals are powerful and persuasive, yet never overbearing, and listening to her leaves you with a warm, peaceful feeling.
She’s a wonderful singer with great vocal ability who never flaunts it in her singing.
I’m falling in love with you againSakamoto Fuyumi
Fuyumi Sakamoto is a Japanese enka singer from Wakayama Prefecture, born in March 1967.
In 1986, she won NHK’s “Kachinuki Kayō Tengoku” (Wakayama competition) to become a champion, and debuted as an enka singer in 1987 with “Abare Daiko,” which became a major hit selling over 800,000 copies.
That same year, she won numerous newcomer awards, including at the 29th Japan Record Awards.
Enka singers generally possess a fairly high level of vocal ability, but I believe Sakamoto’s clear voice—rich in strong higher overtones across her entire range from low to high—is uniquely captivating.
Her handling of phrase endings within songs is also superb.