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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1980s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Song Rankings [2026] (31–40)
The Beginning of TimeOhnuki Taeko36rank/position
From Sugar Babe to the present day, Taeko Onuki—an extraordinary artist who has consistently presented a singular worldview with her distinctive voice—seems to have fully shaped that character mainly in the 1980s.
This track is included on her first solo album, and you can still sense a certain freshness in it.
Friday ChinatownYasuha37rank/position
I still see her on TV a lot even now, but to be frank, she’s the only one who inherited her father’s talent for performing in front of people.
I can’t believe she was able to produce such an amazing song right from her debut…
Is she not doing music anymore?
Not For SaleTanimura Yumi38rank/position
This person is also a long-running singer-songwriter who has continued their musical activities for many years.
I always thought their natural, down-to-earth way of speaking on the radio was distinctive, but it turns out that in the ’80s they were decked out in full-on bubble-era fashion.
It reminds me of the saying, “Every person has a history.”
Sun, God, BoyNoda Mikiko39rank/position
Why the lyrics were written with Greek mythology as a motif remains a mystery.
Still, it has been crafted into a delightfully laid-back idol pop song, showcasing the superb taste of Moonriders’ craftsman Keiichi Suzuki.
Speaking of which, Mikiko Noda is said to hold a wine sommelier qualification as well.
April Fools in DecemberEPO40rank/position
It’s a bittersweet ballad where the festive sparkle of a winter city at Christmastime overlaps with the sorrow of a love’s end—an irony that cuts deep.
The song by EPO was released as a single in November 1985 and included on the album “PUMP! PUMP!” With lyrics and composition by EPO herself and arrangement by Hiroshi Sato, its sophisticated sound blends AOR balladry with city pop.
The lyrics are striking for how they overlay the pain of heartbreak—realizing the person you believed was your only one was not—onto a title that deliberately invokes a “day of lies.” A self-cover version was released in 1993, and a completely re-arranged re-recording in 1999, keeping the song loved for many years.
It’s a track that quietly stays by your side when you feel a little distant from the dazzling Christmas scene.
80s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Song Rankings [2026] (41–50)
DOWN TOWNEPO41rank/position
EPO’s debut single, which was also used as the theme song for Waratte Iitomo’s spin-off Oretachi Hyōkin-zoku.
It’s a well-known Sugar Babe song, but when sung in her voice it really gives off an ’80s vibe.
She had many other signature tracks as well and was gifted with enough songwriting talent to even provide songs for others.
If you’re coming alone, don’t come in winter.fuki no tō42rank/position
This is Fuki no Tō’s classic winter song.
It portrays the bittersweet feelings of a protagonist facing a lonely winter, with delicate scenic imagery.
Released in November 1982, it was introduced as the lead single from the album “Sketch.” Written and composed by Yasuyo Yamaki, it features a gently flowing folk rhythm and a cold yet soul-penetrating melody.
The image of a winter night where heartbreak and chill overlap—recalling memories of a former lover in the white steam rising from a ramen stall—is especially striking.
It’s a recommended track for those who want to feel an ’80s winter night or sink into a reflective, nostalgic mood.