Top 1980s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

If the spring wind is blowingyoshida takurou/ yoshida keiko92rank/position

Takuro Yoshida · Keiko Yoshida (Keiko Shikaku): 1973: If the Spring Wind Were Blowing

A duet by Takuro Yoshida and Keiko Yoshida featured as the sixth track on the original album “Kusazoshi,” released in June 1973.

With guitar tones that feel like welcoming the arrival of spring, this 1970s folk song and its refreshingly pleasant duet melody evoke warm, sunlit days.

Let yourself be intoxicated by this piece, as if carried on a spring breeze.

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Youthful RegretMatsutōya Yumi93rank/position

Yumi Matsutoya – Regret of Youth (Into the Dancing Sun)

Many of you may already know this, but “regret” is what the word “regret” means.

Regrets from our youth—did even a great artist like Yuming experience feelings that tugged at the heartstrings? Many of the songs she creates have a stylish, up-tempo vibe, yet for some reason they put you in a sentimental mood.

It’s mysterious—pay attention to the lyrics, too.

They’re said to pierce straight into the hearts of women.

This song is a one-of-a-kind expression that only she could create.

Morning GloryTakeuchi Mariya94rank/position

(HD) Mariya Takeuchi – Morning Glory (Tatsuro Yamashita) {1982}

This is a track included on the fourth album “Miss M,” released in 1980.

The lyrics and composition were by Tatsuro Yamashita, who later included the song on his own album “FOR YOU.” The lyrics are stylish and fun, full of playful, tightly woven rhymes, and the song itself is a bright, pleasant-to-the-ear, positive city-pop number with a medium tempo.

The title “Morning Glory” refers to the morning glory flower.

SEPTEMBERTakeuchi Mariya95rank/position

Mariya Takeuchi – September [Live Version / 2000 @ Nippon Budokan]

One of Mariya Takeuchi’s early signature songs is “SEPTEMBER.” The low bass that anchors the rhythm, the horns that color the track, and its refreshingly nostalgic Showa-era melody are still beloved by many even in the Reiwa era.

With this song, Mariya Takeuchi won the New Artist Award at the 21st Japan Record Awards.

Takashi Matsumoto’s lyrics—“A love that heated up in summer faded away in autumn”—are also exquisite.

It’s a highly recommended track you’ll want to listen to when autumn comes.

Come back, my time.Takeuchi Mariya96rank/position

Mariya Takeuchi – Come Back, My Time (Turning Back the Time) [1978]

Despite her idol-like looks, Mariya Takeuchi is characterized by a distinctly deep voice for a woman, and as a songwriter she has undoubtedly left her mark on the history of Japanese pop music.

Lately, it seems she has been striving to revitalize her family’s famous long-established inn.

Seriously Only You (Let’s Get Married)Takeuchi Mariya97rank/position

Only You in Earnest (Let’s Get Married) – Mariya Takeuchi

It’s a classic that seems made for weddings, opening with an intro that quotes Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.” The proposal words, written entirely in English, resonate as a straightforward message of love.

Included on Mariya Takeuchi’s April 1984 album “VARIETY,” the song was produced by Tatsuro Yamashita.

It’s also well known that Ryuichi Sakamoto took part in the intro performance, and that it was used as the image song for Kagome’s “Libera” in 1984 and as a Nissan “Cefiro” commercial song starting in August 1994.

Brimming with a happy atmosphere, it would be perfect to play during the entrance at your reception or for the cake-cutting scene.

I want to go back to that dayArai Yumi (Matsutoya Yumi)98rank/position

Those Were The Days / Anohi Ni Kaeritai

Yumi Matsutoya, who is still active as a singer, had the maiden name Arai before marriage.

A pioneer among female artists in the New Music genre, her song “Ano Hi ni Kaeritai” was released under the name Yumi Arai in October 1975 and became a major hit, reaching No.

1 on the Oricon chart and selling over 600,000 copies.