[Songs I'd love women to sing!] Popular ballads performed by female artists
Many women say they love singing ballads, don’t they?
At karaoke, there are times when you don’t just want to hype up the room with upbeat tracks—you also want to deliver something tender and heartfelt.
So in this article, we’re introducing ballad songs by Japan’s leading female artists!
We’ve picked a wide range: from universally known masterpieces and timeless staples to the latest hits.
If you’re thinking, “I want to know popular ballads I can sing at karaoke,” or “I’m looking for Japanese ballads sung by women,” be sure to check this out.
Each track is unique yet soothing and moving—songs that heal our hearts and leave a lasting impression.
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Songs We Want Women to Sing! Popular Ballads Performed by Female Artists (51–60)
I want to see you.sawada chikako
In addition to her energetic work as a singer—including nationwide tours—singer-songwriter Chikaco Sawada is also active in a wide range of fields such as musical composition for stage productions and dramatic readings.
This is her eighth single.
Chosen as the ending theme for the infotainment program “Tonight,” the song’s poignant lyrics, which overlap with her own experiences, garnered broad support across generations.
It is also famous for having been covered by many musicians, and it’s a karaoke favorite that invites women to imagine the story and sing with heartfelt emotion.
Things that have formShibasaki Kou
Known internationally as MuseK, singer Kou Shibasaki is also active as an actress and entrepreneur.
Her 6th single, “Katachi Aru Mono,” chosen as the theme song for the TV drama Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World, features a dramatic, strings-forward ensemble that mirrors the drama’s worldview.
Her clear vocals and melody, paired with the heartrending lyrics, truly squeeze your heart.
It’s a ballad that everyone will be captivated by—and one you’ll want to hear women sing at karaoke.
Imo-rai Imotuki.
You know how the smallest exchanges with someone you love can shake your heart.
This song is a ballad that delicately portrays the complex emotions of love and lies in romance.
It’s sung by tuki., a singer-songwriter whose collaborative video with Yuuri, released in December 2023, drew a lot of attention.
In this track from November 2024, the anxieties that arise precisely because you care so deeply—and the earnest wish to keep believing in the other person—come through clearly in her expressively rich voice.
You may find yourself resonating with its profound message of accepting the other person, love, lies, and all.
For hearts that long to be loved yet grow timid, this song will gently stay by your side.
youHY
HY is a popular mixed-gender band known for signature songs like “366 Nichi,” “AM11:00,” and “NAO.” Their song “Anata” is a ballad in which vocalist Izumi Nakasone’s voice delivers an overwhelmingly commanding presence.
It pours out overflowing feelings toward a loved one.
While many of HY’s songs are heartrending, this one carries warmth amid the melancholy.
It takes solid vocal ability to sing it perfectly, but if you put emotion into it, you can capture the mood—so I hope many women will give it a try.
[Songs I'd love women to sing!] Popular ballads sung by female artists (61–70)
setting sunToukyou Jihen
If you want to evoke the aura of a mature woman, this song is the one.
With Shiina Ringo’s signature lyrical, wistful words set to a beautiful, resonant piano, it’s a dramatic ballad.
The title “Rakujitsu” means the setting sun, and the theme is the heartache of losing something precious.
Goodbyes are truly painful, but by facing the warmth of the time you shared and the certainty of what once was, you can sometimes overcome the sadness.
Engage with lyrics that shine a single ray of light like that, and sing it with gentle restraint.
threadNakajima Miyuki
This song, released in 1998, was originally written in 1992 to celebrate the marriage of Zenji Nakayama, the fourth Shinbashira of Tenrikyo.
No matter when I listen to it, its lyrics and melody move me to tears.
It continues to be covered by many artists today, and it will likely remain a song passed down for years to come.
It’s a song that teaches us the wonder of meeting others.
tobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawa
Koresawa is a singer-songwriter who continually releases songs that resonate with women.
Among her works, the song “Tabako” (“Cigarette”) is especially popular.
This track, which portrays a breakup with someone she loved deeply, is heartbreaking in every line and sure to bring tears.
The depiction of her, who hates cigarettes, smoking while thinking about her beloved ex tightens your chest.
She regrets what she could have done, and though there’s no going back, memories keep flooding her mind.
It’s a breakup song that will make women cry as they sing along.