Japanese jazz singer. A jazz vocalist representing the domestic jazz scene.
There are many Japanese jazz musicians who are recognized worldwide, but there may be surprisingly few people who can immediately name a representative Japanese jazz singer.
The history of jazz singers in Japan actually goes back to before World War II.
After the war, a string of hit songs based on jazz emerged, and many stars beloved by the public were born.
With that history in mind, this article spotlights Japanese jazz singers from a broad perspective!
From legendary superstars with a foundation in jazz to pure jazz vocalists, and even those unexpected artists who actually sang jazz—we’ll bring you a richly varied selection!
A Japanese jazz singer. A jazz vocalist representing the domestic Japanese jazz scene (1–10)
Tennessee WaltzAyado Chie
Influenced by her parents, she had loved jazz since elementary school.
After graduating from high school, she moved to the United States and began performing there.
She returned to Japan in 1991 and launched a full-fledged career as a jazz vocalist, even appearing on the prestigious NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2003.
In addition to her soul-stirring, bluesy singing, her down-to-earth personality as a friendly woman from Osaka is one of her charms.
Through caring for her mother, she has also gained popularity in TV commercials and as a television commentator.
and I’ll sing once moresari
Sari, a jazz vocalist who originally aspired to be a musical theater actress, was influenced by Ella Fitzgerald in high school and enrolled in the Jazz Vocal Department at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music to pursue a career as a jazz singer.
The daughter of jazz tenor saxophonist Seiichi Nakamura, she has won awards in various contests, released albums, and showcased her singing and narration in TV commercials.
She is an artist whose future endeavors are highly anticipated.
It Don’t Mean A ThingKobayashi Kei
Kei Kobayashi, truly a thoroughbred of the jazz world, is the grandson of jazz steel guitarist Kazunori Murakami, the son of jazz pianist Hiroshi Kobayashi, and the son of jazz vocalist Kyoko Murakami.
His delicate high-tone voice is captivating.
As a child, he showed remarkable talent in classical ballet and once earned both the youngest age and highest score in the Royal Academy of Dance’s internationally standardized examinations.
He later developed an interest in jazz and began performing in the genre around the age of 15.
Lover, Come Back to MeMisora Hibari
Hibari Misora, who debuted as a prodigious girl at the age of 12, left recordings of jazz standards that aren’t widely known among her works, but in every respect—vocal ability, sense of swing, phrasing, and pronunciation—they are outstanding.
She may not have been particularly fluent in English, but her innate ear and the two-month U.S.
tour she undertook with vaudevillian Haruhisa Kawada likely helped elevate her skills as a jazz singer.
Fly Me to the MoonYashiro Aki
Since her full-fledged debut in 1971, Aki Yashiro has enjoyed a brilliant career, winning numerous awards.
She also has careers as an actress and a painter, showcasing her talents in many fields.
For those who remember that era, she may be strongly associated with the image of the so-called “Queen of Enka,” but in 2012 she released a full-scale jazz album, Yoru no Album (Night Album), produced by Yasuharu Konishi of Pizzicato Five.
As Yashiro grew up listening to Julie London’s songs, you could say it was a return to her roots.
Remarkably, the album became a hit not only in Japan but across the world, and the following year she received such high acclaim that she performed overseas at a prestigious jazz club in New York.
If you don’t know Aki Yashiro as a jazz singer, be sure to check her out!
Mood swingsAKIKO
Akiko, who drew attention as the first Japanese female jazz singer to sign with Verve Records, one of the most prestigious jazz labels, is known for her moody and stylish songs.
In addition to her work as a jazz vocalist, she publishes essays and collaborates with apparel brands, actively engaging in a wide range of fields.
Through these activities, she may be helping to introduce jazz—often appreciated only by a niche audience—to a broader public.
Sorrowful HeartHirota Mieko
Mieko Hirota was a singer who influenced many famous musicians with her powerful, commanding vocals and skillful scat singing rooted in jazz.
She attended the Japan Jazz School founded by Steve Kamayatsu at the age of seven, receiving a jazz education, and made her debut in her teens with the release of the Western cover song “Kodomo Janai no.” After scoring numerous hits by adapting Western music into Japanese-style pop, her momentum briefly slowed during the Group Sounds boom.
However, “Ningyo no Ie,” released in 1969 with lyrics by Rei Nakanishi and composition/arrangement by Makoto Kawaguchi, became a massive hit, propelling her back to the top of the scene.
She is a great postwar Japanese singer whom I hope younger music fans will also come to know.