1970s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

youKozaka Akiko1rank/position

Akiko Kosaka “Anata (You)” 1973

Akiko Kosaka’s debut single, released in December 1973, originated from lyrics a second-year high school student wrote in just about 20 minutes during class, paired with a melody composed at home.

It is a wistful, imagined love story that begins with the conditional phrase, “If I were to build a house.” While carefully depicting European-style scenes—crimson roses, white pansies, a fireplace, and a small door—the song quietly reflects on the memory of a love that never came true.

Hiroshi Miyagawa’s arrangement, featuring strings and an elegant piano accompaniment, adds a prayer-like warmth.

One month after its release, the song reached No.

1 on the Oricon weekly chart and held the top spot for seven consecutive weeks, becoming a major hit with total shipments exceeding two million copies.

With its drama-like development worthy of a TV theme and a gentle, singable melody, this masterpiece resonates with everyone who dreams of a peaceful life with someone dear.

Friday ChinatownYasuha2rank/position

Fly-day Chinatown / Yasuha Official Lyric Video

This is an exotic, foreign-flavored song set in Chinatown.

Known as a classic from the Showa era, it’s now very popular on Instagram Reels.

The lyrics charmingly portray a lively midnight Chinatown, bursting neon signs, and brief, serendipitous encounters with foreigners.

It was Yasuha’s debut work, released in September 1981.

Rediscovered amid the city pop revival, it also became available via digital distribution in May 2022.

The track is included on the album “TRANSIT,” and a reissued analog record was released in June of the same year.

It’s a perfect pick when you want to feel a touch of the exotic or enjoy the Showa vibe.

It’s also highly popular on Instagram Reels.

Plastic LoveTakeuchi Mariya3rank/position

Mariya Takeuchi – Plastic Love (Official Music Video)

This song portrays the feelings of a woman wounded by a sweet romance.

The image of the protagonist distracting her loneliness by dancing the nights away at the disco is striking.

It was included on Mariya Takeuchi’s sixth album, VARIETY, and released in 1984.

Produced and featuring guitar by Tatsuro Yamashita, it stands as one of the defining tracks of 1980s Japanese city pop.

It gained renewed attention overseas in the late 2010s, and a new music video was created in 2019, showing how it continues to be loved across generations.

It’s a perfect track for nighttime drives or as background music when you’re troubled by love.

Use it in an Instagram Reel to evoke a nostalgic vibe.

era; age; time; periodNakajima Miyuki4rank/position

era; age; time; period

Released in December 1975, this song—Miyuki Nakajima’s second single—garnered high acclaim from the very start of her career, including winning the Grand Prix at the Yamaha Popular Song Contest.

Its lyrics, themed around hope and courage in the face of sorrow and hardship, have resonated deeply with many listeners.

In 2007, it was selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs,” and in 2010 it was used as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s 50th anniversary drama “Our Family’s History,” remaining a beloved piece across generations.

It’s a highly recommended song for anyone looking to overcome difficult times or seeking emotional support.

foreignerKUBOTA Saki5rank/position

Saki Kubota "Ihōjin" Animated Music Video

From an intro that exudes an exotic atmosphere, Saki Kubota’s debut single draws you in before you know it.

The lyrics, suffused with loneliness and a sense of loss, are sure to resonate with anyone who has experienced the pain of heartbreak.

Released in October 1979, the song was also featured in a Sanyo Electric commercial and sparked a huge response, reaching No.

1 on the Oricon chart in December.

It’s a track that fully showcases her talent as a singer-songwriter, perfect for times when you want to heal the wounds of a broken heart or take a hard look at yourself.

My loverGorin Mayumi6rank/position

Mayumi Itsuwa “My Lover” / Mayumi Itsuwa “My Only Love”

This is Mayumi Itsuwa’s signature song, cherished by many as one of the defining ballads of the Showa era.

Released in August 1980, it achieved the remarkable feat of reaching number one on the Oricon weekly chart.

Beloved in countries such as South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, this work is a poignant love song centered on lost love and parting.

Itsuwa’s clear, pure vocals and the lyrically vivid imagery leave a lasting impression.

The lyrics skillfully portray expressions that evoke the changing seasons and the inability to accept a breakup with a lover.

It’s a highly recommended track for anyone who has lost someone important or seeks to heal the pain of a broken heart.

You’re Kiwi, Papaya, and Mango, aren’t you?Nakahara Meiko7rank/position

Ai Furihata 'You Guys Are Kiwi, Papaya, and Mango, Right?' Music Video

For those who spent their youth around the time this song became a hit, it’s surely a deeply nostalgic track that could be called a true monument of Showa-era pop.

When I first heard the title “Kimitachi Kiwi Papaya Mango dane,” I remember thinking, “What kind of song title is that??” Apparently, the name was specified by an advertising agency.

The lyrics were written by the singer herself, Meiko Nakahara, together with the songwriting master Yukinojo Mori.

The embedded video is a cover version included on Ai Furihata’s first cover mini-album, “Memories of Romance in Summer.” It sounds fun to compare it with the original, doesn’t it?