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.
- [Overwhelming Vocal Ability] A Compilation of Popular Female Singers
- Diva of Enka: A roundup of female singers leading the enka world
- [Feels Great to Listen To!] Popular Songs by Female Artists with Captivating High Notes
- [If You Can Sing These, You're Amazing!] Cool Karaoke Songs for Women
- [Powerful] A roundup of Japanese pop singers with incredible vocal power
- 【2026】Difficult Enka Songs to Sing — Women Singers Edition
- Recommended female vocalists for anime songs
- A masterpiece with exhilarating high notes. An enchanting high-tone voice.
- Reiwa era mustn't be missed: an enka singer with excellent vocals.
- [For Teen Girls] Popular Karaoke Songs That Are Easy to Sing
- [Crystal Voice] An artist with a clear, translucent singing voice.
- [For Women] A roundup of enka songs that can score high in karaoke
- Songs you’d want women to sing at karaoke! Karaoke picks recommended for Gen Z
Female Japanese singers with great vocals (rank 51–60)
snow camelliaKobayashi Sachiko
Sachiko Kobayashi, known as a grand dame of the enka world, debuted in 1964 at the young age of 10 and skyrocketed to stardom with “Omoide-zake” in 1979.
She won the Japan Record Award for Best Vocal Performance, and the song became a massive hit, surpassing two million copies sold.
With her overwhelming vocal prowess and distinctive artistic worldview, she continues to captivate countless fans.
At the 2015 NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, she drew attention with a special-guest appearance and internet-driven collaborative staging.
In recent years, she’s affectionately known as the “Last Boss” and is active on her YouTube channel.
Her willingness to take on a wide range of genres beyond enka makes her an inspiration to anyone who believes in the possibilities of music.
Bloom like a rose, fall like a cherry blossom.Matsuda Seiko
Seiko Matsuda’s 82nd single, released in September 2016.
Lyrics, composition, and arrangement are by YOSHIKI of X Japan, and the song was used as the theme for the TBS Tuesday drama “Seisei Suruhodo, Aishiteru.” Back at her 1980 debut, “Seiko-chan” was a cute idol who couldn’t exactly be called a great singer, but this performance clearly shows how she has grown into a fully mature vocalist.
Her singing eloquently proves that a career spanning over 30 years is no fluke.
The unique collaboration between YOSHIKI and Seiko Matsuda is another highlight of this track.
The soft piano timbre and Matsuda’s voice, rich in high-frequency overtones, are a perfect match, resulting in a very pleasing listen.
May it be filled with kindnessJUJU
This is Japanese singer JUJU’s ninth single, released in February 2009.
JUJU is known for her strong vocal abilities, but since she was originally heavily influenced by jazz, her singing at the time of her debut—such as her consonant pronunciation—was completely different from what it is now.
She also used to smoke, so her style didn’t make use of the clear, high tones she’s known for today.
After quitting smoking, her voice became clearer and her range expanded, making this a good example of how smoking isn’t good for singers.
Her vocals, perhaps because of her jazz influence, also stand out for their vibey delivery that never loses that 16-beat feel.
One Last KissUtada Hikaru
Hikaru Utada is a Japanese singer-songwriter.
The fact that she possesses exceptionally high vocal ability is already well known among Japanese fans and listeners—you hardly need me to point it out here.
That vocal prowess and expressive singing are on full display in “One Last Kiss,” the theme song for the anime film Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.
In particular, her mastery of middle voice (mixed voice)—a technique that could be called essential for so-called R&B singers—is nothing short of remarkable.
Also, perhaps related to her being born in New York and raised in an English-speaking environment, she truly “sings the rests” in the music, which keeps the vocals from ever feeling flat even in a slow-to-mid-tempo track like this.
In my own recording work, I often direct artists on the importance of “singing the rests,” but there are very few Japanese singers who render even the off-beats of sixteenth notes this beautifully.
Female Japanese singers with excellent vocals (61–70)
If I could forgive youieiri reo
The gentle singing voice, which seems to contain many high-order overtones and is less “bright” than it is radiantly shining, has a charm that instantly captivates the listener’s ear the moment the song begins.
It’s not a performance that overwhelms with sheer power or range, but the persuasive force within that soft, tender, conversational delivery—apparently innate—fuses with that captivating vocal quality to produce a song and a performance of remarkably high completeness.
A song like this is surprisingly hard to pull off when you actually try it!
The color of loveHiguchi Ai
Ai Higuchi, who is active as a singer-songwriter, released this digital-only single in July 2023.
Over a simple backing track centered on piano and strings, she delivers a stunning vocal performance.
In particular, the sections sung in her powerful mid-to-high alto range let you fully savor the appeal of her voice.
If you listen with attention to how she closes phrases, her use of rests within the melody, and the effective placement of breath noises, you’ll truly appreciate her exceptional expressive singing technique.
Let It Go ~Ari no mama de~Matsu Takako
The Japanese version of the theme song from Disney’s animated film Frozen, which everyone knows, is sung by Takako Matsu, who also voices the lead character, Elsa.
Born into a Kabuki family and with extensive stage experience from an early age, she delivers a flawless performance in every respect: a stable vocal tone, beautifully articulated Japanese lyrics, and crisp, soaring high notes.
This Japanese version sung by Takako Matsu has reportedly earned praise overseas as well, with some saying it’s more moving than the original May J.
version.
As I mentioned, her clear, transparent high notes are wonderful, but the real highlight of this song is the ending—the closing phrase.
She never misses a pitch, making it fully stand as a song while also expressing it convincingly as spoken lines.
That’s something most ordinary singers just can’t do.
If you’re aiming for musical theater, definitely use this as a model and give it your best!