Top Female Singer-Songwriters and Popular Songs of the 2000s [2026]

The summer you gave meieiri reo78rank/position

Leo Ieiri - “The Summer You Gave Me” (Full Ver.)

This is a celebrated song by Leo Ieiri that became a massive hit as the theme for the Monday 9 p.m.

drama Koinaka.

Overlapping with the drama’s heartrending story starring Sota Fukushi and Tsubasa Honda, it’s a song that surely tightens many listeners’ chests.

Released in August 2015 as her 10th single, the track delicately depicts the sweet yet bittersweet emotions—from the pure beginning of a romance, to the frustrating drift of hearts without noticing, and the regret upon realizing there’s no going back.

Leo Ieiri’s clear, powerful vocals highlight the fleeting nature of summer and love.

It’s a beautiful, wistful summer song that makes you suddenly remember someone you loved, someone you may never see again.

Letter to TomorrowTeshima Aoi79rank/position

Aoi Teshima “Letter to Tomorrow (Drama Version)”

It was chosen as the theme song for the drama “Love That Makes You Cry,” moving the hearts of many.

It is sung by Aoi Teshima, also known for “Teru’s Song.” Originally included on her 2014 album “Ren’dez-vous,” it was rearranged for the drama and released as a single in February 2016.

The song is structured like a letter addressed to one’s future self, depicting the resolve to keep moving forward amid anxiety and inner conflict.

Listening to this piece may gently encourage those who have left their hometowns to pursue their goals, or those who feel like stopping partway through their dreams.

Aoi Teshima’s tender, penetrating voice seems to warmly embrace even feelings of loneliness.

Always With MeKimura Yumi80rank/position

Always With Me / Yumi Kimura

The theme song of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, which set a record by holding the top spot in Japanese box-office history for 20 years.

It is the debut single by female singer Yumi Kimura, known for her lyre-accompanied performances; her gentle voice and the lyre’s soft timbre make for a soothing number.

Its melody, which offers a sense of relief at the end of a story about a girl overcoming various hardships to return to everyday life, resonates deeply.

It’s a song that truly conveys the film’s happy ending.

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Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi81rank/position

Yumi Matsutoya – Come, Spring

A masterwork by Yumi Matsutoya that delicately portrays the longing for spring.

Released in October 1994 as the theme song for an NHK morning drama series, it became a major hit, reaching No.

1 on the Oricon weekly chart.

Its emotionally rich melody—woven from nostalgia for days gone by and anticipation of a new season—resonates deeply with listeners.

More than just a seasonal song, it embraces universal themes of renewal and hope, and has been featured in commercials for Suntory’s BOSS Rainbow Mountain Blend and All Nippon Airways.

Cherished by many as a heartwarming number that accompanies life’s milestones and new beginnings in spring, it continues to be beloved today.

Excessive WealthShiina Ringo82rank/position

Ringo Sheena – Excessive Wealth

I want you to pay attention to the lyrics that are so characteristic of Shiina Ringo.

While Shiina Ringo’s songs and voice have unique qualities, the biggest appeal is definitely the lyrics.

Among her songs, these lyrics are very easy to understand and straightforward.

It’s a song that encourages you when you’re feeling down.

Marunouchi SadisticShiina Ringo83rank/position

Marunouchi Sadistic

A signature song by Shiina Ringo, distinguished by its delicate vocals and bold lyrics.

It is included on her debut album “Muzai Moratorium,” released in February 1999.

The background—that it was created while she was on a homestay in the UK—is intriguing as well.

The multilayered lyrics, interweaving musical terms and place names, spin diverse narratives depending on the listener’s interpretation.

Evoking the image of a young person absorbed in music, this work can be seen as a song that gives a push to those chasing their dreams.

The Theory of HappinessShiina Ringo84rank/position

Sheena Ringo – The Theory of Happiness

This is the song that marked Ringo Sheena’s debut.

Set to a driving, exhilarating sound, it celebrates the ultimate form of unrequited love: “Just having you here makes me happy.” With a bold, uplifting declaration that the presence of the one you love is your very worth and the joy of living, its pure, straightforward emotion is deeply moving.

Released in May 1998 as her landmark debut single, it was also used as a theme song for a TBS program.

It’s a track that makes the world seem to shine simply because you’re in love.