Recommended Japanese Female Artists and Popular Song Rankings for Women [2026]

foreverBENI1rank/position

BENI – Forever

If you want to celebrate those irreplaceable moments spent with your dearest friends, this song by BENI is highly recommended.

Riding a buoyant, Motown-inspired beat, it’s a happy tune that portrays strong bonds not only with lovers, but also with friends and family.

Released as a single in August 2015, it was later included on the album “Undress.” In the music video, BENI appears with Naomi Watanabe, a close friend in real life, and their smile-filled girls’ trip became a hot topic.

It has also been widely embraced by radio listeners, including being selected for “FM OSAKA E-Tracks.” Its warm message—like a vow of everlasting friendship—makes it perfect for the bride’s exit with companions during the reception or for a friends’ dance performance.

It’s a brilliantly bright classic that lifts your spirits the moment you listen.

beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko2rank/position

aiko - 'Kabutomushi' music video

Aiko’s signature song, “Kabutomushi.” I’m sure many people sing it at karaoke.

If you’re going to sing anyway, it’d be nice to score high with a song you’re good at.

First, to score 90 in karaoke scoring, pitch accuracy is crucial.

“Kabutomushi” has a ballad-like, relaxed tempo, so you can sing calmly and it’s easier to match the pitch bar.

Adding dynamics is also a good idea.

If you build the intensity step by step—A melody to B melody to chorus—it tends to boost the expressiveness score, so it’s recommended.

The chorus sits a bit on the higher side, so if you sing lightly as if resonating in your head, you can avoid straining and it should be easier to hit the notes.

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Kubota Mami

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StoryAI3rank/position

AI – Story

A memorable ballad featuring AI’s powerful yet gentle husky voice.

The moment the piano intro begins, you can imagine the entire venue being enveloped in a moving atmosphere.

It conveys a deep love and desire to support someone precious, and it’s a song that makes your heart swell every time you listen.

Released as a single in May 2005, it was a long-running hit that stayed on the charts for over 20 weeks.

It’s also well known for being used as the ending theme for the Japanese version of the film Big Hero 6.

This piece is popular for wedding performances and as BGM when the bride leaves the reception to change outfits.

Why not gift it to a friend who’s always been by your side, along with your heartfelt thanks?

planetariumOtsuka Ai4rank/position

Ai Otsuka / Planetarium

A heart-stirring ballad that projects the ache of love onto the stars in the night sky, this piece is marked by Ai Otsuka’s delicate vocals and lyrical piano.

Memories of a lover and the wistfulness of time gone by are woven into the beautiful imagery of starry skies and planetariums, resonating deeply with listeners.

Used as the theme song for the drama “Koi no Karasawagi” and included on the album “LOVE COOK,” it has continued to soothe many hearts since its release in September 2005.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to while gazing up at the stars on a solitary night—recommended for those looking to heal the pain of heartbreak or to immerse themselves in cherished memories with someone special.

threadNakajima Miyuki5rank/position

thread

It’s a classic song that likens the ties between people to a woven textile, portraying the warmth of living while supporting one another.

Its profound message—that the mystery of encounters and even painful experiences will someday transform into the power to embrace someone—gently resonates in the listener’s heart.

This song by Miyuki Nakajima is included on the celebrated album “EAST ASIA,” released in October 1992.

It later became widely known when it was used as the theme song for the 1998 TV drama “Seija no Koshin” (March of the Saints).

It has enjoyed enduring support, including a film released in 2020 that was inspired by the piece.

It’s especially recommended for Mother’s Day, when feelings of gratitude toward parents abound, to listen to together with older adults and savor its content.

Unrequited lovemiwa6rank/position

miwa 'Unrequited Love'

A ballad that portrays a heartrending love, seeping into the heart with its translucent vocals and the warm sound of the piano.

Included on the March 2012 album “guitarium,” it was selected as the ending theme for the music information program “saku saku” in February 2012.

The lyrics delicately express the feelings of a secret, unspoken crush and the bittersweet pain of being unable to get closer the more you care.

With a heartwarming melody that gently embraces the frustration of being unable to confess and the anxiety that everyone experiences when they fall in love, this song offers solace and support.

It’s a track we especially recommend to those who are keeping their feelings for someone special tucked away in their hearts.

Song of FlowersAimer7rank/position

Aimer “Hana no Uta” (Starring: Minami Hamabe / Theme song for the theatrical film Fate/stay night [Heaven’s Feel] I. presage flower)

This is Aimer’s 13th single overall, released on October 11, 2017.

By the way, it was released as a triple A-side together with “ONE” and “Rokutousei no Yoru Magic Blue ver.” It’s a dramatic number that lets you fully enjoy Aimer’s deeply resonant, captivating voice.

If you sing this at karaoke and can give the song the same kind of “depth” as the original, that might be a special privilege for low-voiced women.

The arrangement also makes lavish use of symphonic sounds, resulting in a very dramatic track.

If you end up mumbling, you’ll lose the song’s appeal, so try directing the sound toward your lower jaw inside your mouth, resonating firmly in the chest cavity, and mastering your chest voice as you sing.

I’m sure you’ll be able to deliver a rich, deep vocal!

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Kei Takahata

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