Top Female Singer-Songwriters and Popular Songs of the 2000s [2026]
We present a ranking-style list packed with popular tracks, drawing from hit songs and hidden gems by female singer-songwriters of the 2000s.
Many massively popular songs that still frequently appear on TV music programs are ranked as well.
Find your new favorite track!
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- Love songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic and popular Japanese songs.
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- [Japanese Music] Masterpieces of 2000s Pop: A roundup of hit songs from 00s J-POP
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Top Female Singer-Songwriters of the 2000s: Popular Song Ranking [2026] (21–30)
Best FriendNishino Kana21rank/position
A heartfelt ballad by Kana Nishino that straightforwardly conveys feelings of friendship and gratitude.
Set to a gentle melody, it warmly expresses precious memories shared with a best friend and a bond of trust that never changes.
It resonates with the feelings for an irreplaceable person—someone you can sometimes encourage and sometimes be completely honest with.
Released in February 2010 and used as the campaign song for NTT Docomo’s “Ganbare Jukensei ’09–’10,” this piece is perfect for moments when you want to express thanks before parting from a close friend, or when you want to reaffirm the ties with dear companions.
It gently teaches the beauty of friendship and the importance of conveying gratitude, and is sure to become a memorable song.
A Bouquet for YouUtada Hikaru22rank/position
A digital-only single by Hikaru Utada featuring a strikingly transparent arrangement centered on piano and strings.
Chosen as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Toto Nee-chan,” the track is also included on the album “Fantôme,” released in September 2016.
The beautiful metaphor of entrusting inexpressible feelings to a bouquet is deeply moving.
With lyrics that are simple yet full of profound emotion and Utada’s gently resonant vocals, the song achieves exquisite harmony.
It’s a perfect choice when you want to express gratitude to someone special or to quietly calm your heart.
GibbsShiina Ringo23rank/position
A love song by Sheena Ringo in which possessiveness toward a lover and the fear of losing them pierce the heart painfully.
Released in January 2000, this work was a lead single from the acclaimed album Shōso Strip.
It debuted at No.
4 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and received the Excellence Award at the 42nd Japan Record Awards, among other high honors.
Though the protagonist wants to believe in eternity, their sensitivity leads them to see a future lie in the word “forever.” Many listeners may find themselves relating to the depth of love that equates their relationship with that of a legendary couple.
boyfriendaiko24rank/position
Isn’t this the song that screams “summer” for so many people? Among aiko’s works, it’s a number distinguished by its sun-bright, sparkling melody and lyrics that straightforwardly sing about being in love.
It weaves, in words so typical of aiko, the happiness of time spent together and the gratitude of “I’m truly glad I met you.” Released as a single in September 2000, the track reached No.
1 on the Oricon daily chart three times.
It’s perfect not only for summer memories, but also for those moments when you want to feel the tenderness for someone special—listen, and your heart is sure to race!
STARSNakajima Mika25rank/position
With her one-of-a-kind presence and expressive power, singer Mika Nakashima made a striking debut both as an actress and a vocalist.
Released in November 2001, this debut single was used as the theme song for the TV drama “A Love Song Scarred with Wounds.” Nakashima herself appeared in the show as the heroine, and her performances in the drama left a powerful impression on viewers at the time.
With lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto, the song’s world—blending a strong will to seize one’s dreams with a bittersweet poignancy—combined with her deep, husky voice to stir listeners’ hearts.
Selling over 460,000 copies in total and winning the Best New Artist Award at the 44th Japan Record Awards, it is a gem of a ballad that can be called the very origin of her career.
Tree of WadatsumiHajime Chitose26rank/position
This is the debut single by singer Chitose Hajime, who is also known as a uta-sha—a bearer of the traditional music of the Amami Islands.
With lyrics that tell the story of “a woman who, in loving someone so deeply, becomes a flower,” and an arrangement that strongly reflects the atmosphere of folk music, the song sent shockwaves through the J-pop scene at the time.
Released in February 2002, it reached No.
1 on the Oricon charts about two months after its debut.
The distinctive melodic inflections characteristic of Amami folk music and her mystical voice evoke the timeless melodies passed down in Japan since ancient times.
It is a truly one-of-a-kind masterpiece, perfect for immersing yourself in the grandeur of nature and the world of myth.
Love ForeverKatō Miriya × Shimizu Shōta27rank/position
Released in May 2009, this is a bittersweet R&B love song by Miliyah Kato and Shota Shimizu.
The lyrics unfold as a duet from both male and female perspectives, portraying the joy and sorrow of love at the same time.
The contrast between the happiness of meeting and the pain of parting is interwoven, with the imagery of memories continuing to shine like stars leaving a strong impression.
The song won Best Collaboration Video at the MTV VMAJ 2010.
It’s a perfect track for when you want to feel the poignancy of romance or look back on memories with someone special.
travelingUtada Hikaru28rank/position
One of the iconic songs by Hikaru Utada, the charismatic artist who sparked a new whirlwind in the music world in the 2000s, is “traveling.” Released in 2001, it became a massive hit.
Used in a commercial and heard in living rooms across the country, the impact of this song is immeasurable.
Teru’s SongTeshima Aoi29rank/position
A ballad with a quiet resonance that embodies the film’s world, its lyrics evoking loneliness and the will to live and reaching deep into the heart.
Known as an insert song for Studio Ghibli’s Tales from Earthsea, this debut single by Aoi Teshima was released in June 2006, with lyrics by Goro Miyazaki and music by Hiroko Taniyama.
It features few flashy developments or sudden leaps in pitch, and its nursery rhyme–like melody is distinctive, making it easy to follow calmly even for those concerned about vocal range.
In karaoke, the key is to cherish the lyrics and sing as if speaking to the listener.
Rather than forcing your voice, aim for a breathy, intimate delivery like Aoi Teshima’s to bring out the song’s atmosphere.
MHamasaki Ayumi30rank/position
One of the signature songs by Heisei-era songstress Ayumi Hamasaki, “M,” was released in 2000.
Dropping in December of that year and containing scenes that suggest winter’s approach, it has long been cherished as a winter ballad.
Those who have experienced a great love—whether in the past or right now—will likely feel something welling up inside.
This song even carries an almost divine aura.
The storyline that was later adapted into a drama and the lyrics that convey heartfelt emotion so vividly are thought-provoking, but above all, I believe the song’s true appeal lies in its universality: a ballad that gently stands by all who have been hurt.
