Top 1980s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
We’ll introduce a ranking of popular songs by female singer-songwriters from the 1980s, including classic and hit tracks.
These songs were hits during Japan’s economic peak, the era known as the bubble.
Many are still frequently used as TV background music, so chances are you’ve heard most of them.
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Top 1980s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026] (11–20)
Time of the AngelsOkamura Takako11rank/position
This is Takako Okamoto’s 12th single, released in 1989.
She debuted with “Matsuwa” at Popcon as part of the duo Amin.
After Amin disbanded, she has been active as a singer-songwriter.
“Tenshi-tachi no Toki” is a Christmas song.
It’s an impressive love song with rhythmic, dramatic melodies and lyrics that express the desire to cherish the time spent with your smiling self.
The refrain is very effective, making it a highly polished track.
era; age; time; periodNakajima Miyuki12rank/position
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.
You can do it!Nakajima Miyuki13rank/position
This is a song you’ll want to listen to when taking that first step into a new chapter, like starting school.
The powerful message woven by Miyuki Nakajima gives you the courage to face adversity.
Featured on her 1983 album “Premonition,” the track was later used in a 1994 Sumitomo Life commercial.
More recently, it appeared in TV commercials for Calorie Mate, becoming a beloved anthem of encouragement across generations.
It’s especially recommended for those facing difficulties or feeling anxious about a new environment.
Miyuki Nakajima’s warm voice is sure to give you a gentle push forward.
A Lonely Christmas SongOzaki Ami14rank/position
When discussing Japanese Christmas songs, one cannot overlook “Hitoribocchi no Christmas Song,” released in 1983 and created by Ami Ozaki.
Handling the lyrics, composition, and arrangement herself, Ozaki crafted a piece whose deeply resonant melody and distinctive world-building captivated listeners and colored the Japanese music scene of the 1980s.
Her delicate expressiveness and moving melodies offer a comforting experience—whether you spend Christmas alone or with others—and will appeal to first-time listeners across generations.
You’re Kiwi, Papaya, and Mango.Nakahara Meiko15rank/position
Meiko Nakahara captivates listeners with her passionate singing.
In 1984, she wrote “Kimitachi Kiwi Papaya Mango Dane” as a tie-in song for Kanebo.
Initially, Nakahara was given only the title, and from there she expanded the imagery.
Set to a Latin-style sound, the song compares a beautiful woman to fruit.
The way the title phrase is woven into the song creates a distinctive rhythm that becomes addictively catchy.
I bear a grudge.Nakajima Miyuki16rank/position
This song, sung by Miyuki Nakajima, portrays the deep resentment and sorrow of a woman after a broken heart.
It was included on the album “Is It OK If I’m Alive?” released in 1980.
The weighty melody and Nakajima’s powerful vocals resonate deeply.
This work doesn’t only express the harsh sadness of heartbreak; it also sings of the immense resentment within it, like a voiceless scream.
It’s a song I especially want people to hear if they carry the pain of heartbreak that borders on anger.
On Halloween night, it might be worthwhile to listen to this song and confront the “resentment” within yourself…
I want to go back to that dayMatsutōya Yumi17rank/position
This is the sixth single released during the Arai Yumi era by Yumi Matsutoya—known affectionately as Yuming, the queen of pop.
The song was widely tied up with media, serving as the theme for the TBS drama “Family Secrets” and appearing in various commercials.
It has also been covered by many famous artists.
Her signature gentle vocals are truly soothing, and the lyrics, which look back on youth, are heart-wrenching.
A classic masterpiece recommended for anyone who wants to bask in their memories.
Graduationsawada shouko18rank/position
“Sotsugyo” (Graduation), a song by singer-songwriter Shoko Sawada that expresses the bittersweet feeling of moving on after graduation.
Released in 1983, it became Sawada’s most successful single.
Her vocals are calm and understated, not overtly conveying the loneliness of graduation, but if you listen closely to the lyrics, you can feel the inner conflict about graduating and the heartfelt wish for that day not to come.
It sounds as if she’s putting on a brave face, yet you can sense that she’s actually very lonely and frustrated by something she can’t change.
For those who face their graduation ceremony while hiding the same kind of sadness, this song will likely resonate especially deeply.
That’s sad, isn’t it?Watanabe Misato19rank/position
Here is a song released in 1987 by Misato Watanabe, who scored a huge hit with “My Revolution” in 1986.
Like “My Revolution,” this track was composed and arranged by Tetsuya Komuro, letting you enjoy Komuro’s musical world with its dramatic key changes.
It can be considered one of the early signature songs of the Komuro sound.
The lyrics were written by Watanabe herself.
The words depict winter scenes, evoking a feeling where cold and sorrow seem to arrive intertwined.
Plastic LoveTakeuchi Mariya20rank/position
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.