Roundup of popular female guitarists: introducing guitar players from Japan and around the world.

Limit LoversIgaraishi Miki

SHOW-YA – Limit Lovers (from the DVD “Great Revival Festival”)

Miki Igarashi, known as the guitarist of SHOW-YA, is an indispensable figure in the history of Japanese all-female rock bands.

Making their major debut in 1985 with Toshiba EMI, SHOW-YA drew attention as a full-fledged hard rock band composed entirely of women—rare at the time.

Igarashi’s heavy guitar riffs and outstanding solo work have continued to influence countless musicians.

Although the band went on hiatus in 1998, they reunited in 2005.

Since then, they have remained highly active, appearing at rock festivals in Japan and abroad, with their presence showing no signs of fading.

Igarashi’s playing style, which combines power and delicacy, enjoys overwhelming support from hard rock and heavy metal fans, making her a musician highly recommended for all music lovers captivated by the guitar.

We’ll meet again…Ataka Miharu

KIX-S – We can meet again ...

Miharu Ataka has captivated audiences with her delicate guitar playing and diverse songwriting.

She made her solo debut in 1990 and formed KIX-S the following year.

As a duo with vocalist Tsukasa Hamaguchi, they were active across a wide range of genres from hard rock to pop.

Their fusion of powerful, technical performances with catchy melodies has held music fans spellbound.

She now runs a music school, dedicating herself to nurturing the next generation.

For those who want to experience the essence of guitar rock and crave passionate melodies, she is the perfect artist.

summer festivalInatsuki Aya

summer festival

Aya Inazuki served as the guitarist for Whiteberry, a band formed in 1994 in Kitami, Hokkaido.

She began playing guitar in first grade, and in third grade the band was formed after a flyer posted at her mother’s shop sparked the idea.

They initially performed under the name Strawberry Kids.

Making their major-label debut in 1999, her powerful sound—played on a Fernandes guitar—brought vivid color to the band’s poppy, energetic songs.

Whiteberry performed at the 2000 NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen and contributed theme songs to anime and TV dramas, gaining exposure across a wide range of media.

The band captivated many fans until disbanding in 2004 when members moved on to further education.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy bright, energetic female-vocal rock.

Raitei (Thunderbolt)hazuki

NEMOPHILA / Thunderbolt -RAITEI- [Official Music Video]

Hazuki commands a seven-string guitar as if it were an extension of her own body, unleashing a thunderous metal sound.

She launched her full-fledged career in 2019 as the guitarist of NEMOPHILA, showcasing a wide range of styles from heavy metal to nu metal and metalcore.

Their December 2021 album “REVIVE” hit No.

1 on the iTunes rock chart and No.

5 on the Oricon weekly ranking.

In February 2024, they successfully headlined at the Nippon Budokan, continuing their rapid ascent.

A graduate of MI Japan Nagoya, she studied under Mikio Fujioka—renowned guitarist of BABYMETAL’s Kami Band—and her exceptional technique and delicate expressiveness captivate fans of hard rock and metal alike.

AsturiasAna Vidović

Ana Vidovic plays Asturias by Isaac Albéniz on a Jim Redgate classical guitar

Ana Vidovic, widely acclaimed as one of the world’s foremost guitar virtuosos today, is a Croatian classical guitarist born in 1980.

At the age of 13, she became the youngest student ever admitted to the Academy of Music in Zagreb.

She went on to win the Fernando Sor International Competition, the Mauro Giuliani International Competition, and the Francisco Tárrega International Competition, firmly establishing herself as one of the world’s top artists.

Metal MessiahGREAT KAT

GREAT KAT : Metal Messiah

Great Kat, who has a background in classical music, is active in the world of speed metal.

Her music is characterized by a unique style that aims to fuse classical and metal.

She released her debut album, “Worship Me Or Die!” in 1987, and has continued to put out works that arrange classical music in speed metal form, such as “Beethoven on Speed.” Drawing on her background as a Juilliard-trained violinist, she transcends the boundaries between classical and metal by performing masterpieces by Paganini and Bach on guitar.

Her live performances also feature provocative staging, including blood-themed effects.

She’s an artist highly recommended for anyone interested in both classical and metal.

RomanceCarrie Brownstein

Wild Flag – Romance (Live on KEXP)

Carrie Brownstein, whose transparent and surreal sound expression truly shines.

Born in 1974 in Washington State, she is a guitarist active in the band Sleater-Kinney.

Even from a young age, she showed her talent—for example, the album Dig Me Out was selected in Rolling Stone’s 1997 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.