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 31–40) who sing well and have high vocal ability
STARSNakajima Mika
Mika Nakashima passed the SD SINGERS REVIEW and debuted in 2001.
Her first single, “STARS,” was used as the theme song for the TV drama “A Love Song Scarred” (in which Nakashima herself also appeared).
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.
ENDLESS STORYItō Yuna
Yuna Ito is a Japanese female singer who was born in Los Angeles and raised in Hawaii.
Incidentally, her real name is written in English as Yuna Ito.
I’m ashamed to admit that until writing this piece I didn’t know about her background, but learning it made me feel I understood the source of her powerful vocal projection.
She likely grew up in an English-speaking environment, and unlike Japanese—which has fewer consonant types and is often produced mostly at the front of the mouth—English generally requires so-called diaphragmatic (abdominal) breathing.
Many readers have probably noticed from experience that voices of Westerners tend to carry very well.
From gentle, whisper-like singing to powerful, driving delivery, she handles both softness and intensity with remarkable finesse, and I think her singing is truly outstanding.
CHANGEFukuhara Miho
Miho Fukuhara, born in 1987 and hailing from Sapporo, is a Japanese singer-songwriter who made her major-label debut in 2008 with her first single, “CHANGE.” She is said to be one-quarter American, and knowing that makes it easy to understand her somewhat non-Japanese vocal quality, sense of rhythm, and feel for the beat.
The “CHANGE” featured here is her major debut single released in April 2008.
Beyond her assured vocals, if you listen with particular attention to her sense of groove and rhythmic phrasing, I think you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the appeal of Fukuhara’s singing.
Great singers. Japanese female vocalists with high singing ability (ages 41–50)
Boat SongYashiro Aki
Aki Yashiro was born in 1950 and is an enka singer from Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
Her father was reportedly a rokyoku storyteller, and perhaps under his influence, she loved singing from a young age, even participating in choir competitions.
At 15, she moved to Tokyo against her parents’ wishes, became a club singer in Ginza while attending a music academy, and made her major debut in 1971 with “Ai wa Shinde mo” (Even If Love Dies).
As for the appeal of Aki Yashiro’s singing, it surely lies in her slightly husky, alluring voice, her stable vocal technique, and her emotional expression that skillfully employs vibrato and kobushi (ornamental turns).
This time, one of her signature songs, “Funauta” (Boat Song), expresses a “man’s feelings” through her superb singing, and just one listen will immediately show you her charm.
Howl at the Moonsuis (Yorushika)
Yorushika is a Japanese rock duo consisting of a man and a woman.
Today, I’d like to introduce suis, the singer of Yorushika.
What stands out immediately about suis is her deep, soft yet powerful voice.
Without resorting to any overbearing display of “heat” or intensity, she consistently delivers a gentle vocal performance that still conveys the essence of each song with precision—something truly worthy of high praise.