[Women] Popular Japanese Karaoke Songs Ranking [2026]

wailing in griefKudō Shizuka92rank/position

Shizuka Kudo / Doukoku [Official Video]

Among Shizuka Kudo’s discography, which has produced numerous hit songs since her solo debut in the late 1980s, the best-selling is Dokoku, released in 1993.

It’s a masterpiece with lyrics by Miyuki Nakajima and music by Tsugutoshi Goto, and many women in their 40s today likely have this song in their karaoke repertoire.

The song is set in a relatively low key for a female vocal, making it a great choice for women with lower voices who struggle with high notes.

Kudo’s characteristic, sultry vibrato is applied naturally, yet the difficulty level is modest, with a very memorable and easy-to-sing melody line.

It’s also recommended for those aiming for high scores at karaoke.

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KOH-1

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to go see (someone) / to go meetaimyon93rank/position

aimyon – Going to See You [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Aimyon is a nationally popular singer-songwriter.

Her musical style, which mixes folk and pop, is striking, and she has released many hit songs to date.

Among her works, the one I especially recommend for women who are tone-deaf is AinI Iku Noni (“Even Though I’m Going to See You”).

This piece has a gentle, folk-like feel with no sudden jumps in pitch.

It also has few high notes, so even those who struggle with falsetto can sing it with confidence.

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Ryo

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Red Sweet PeaMatsuda Seiko94rank/position

Seiko Matsuda “Red Sweet Pea” (from Seikoland: Budokan Live ’83)

This masterpiece, which poignantly and beautifully portrays the spring season when cherry blossoms bloom, was released in January 1982 as a single by Seiko Matsuda.

With Takashi Matsumoto’s delicate word choices and an unforgettable melody penned by Yumi Matsutoya under her pseudonym Kureta Keiko, the song superbly captures the changing seasons and the freshness of young love.

The vibrant voice of a 19-year-old delivers subtle psychological nuances and the fleeting scenes of romance with exquisite finesse, resonating deeply with listeners.

In 2009, it was also used as the CM song for Fujifilm’s skincare brand “ASTALIFT,” drawing attention when its memorable melody played in commercials featuring Miyuki Nakajima.

Its sweet-and-sour melody, evoking nostalgic memories and the arrival of spring, is a track you’ll want to hear when cherry blossoms are in the air.

EverythingMISIA95rank/position

MISIA – Everything （Official HD Music Video）

This is MISIA’s seventh single overall, released in October 2000.

MISIA is known for her exceptional vocal ability, and her performance on this track is outstanding.

In that sense, it may be considered relatively difficult for karaoke.

However, because the melody features many long sustained notes and the tempo is slow, it’s very easy to add dynamics.

That makes it a song where you can aim for a high score in categories like “expression” in karaoke scoring.

It’s a slightly advanced pick, but listen closely to the original and give it a try.

It’s also an ideal track for practicing handling long tones, such as vibrato.

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Kei Takahata

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Mutual loveaiko96rank/position

aiko - “Mutual Love” music video

Aiko often has songs that span a wide range from low to high notes.

In the new song “Sōshi Sōai,” the key range looks wide at G#3–C#5, but the actual sung range is lower than you might expect.

The B4 range is used in the chorus and elsewhere, but for most women, that pitch should come out naturally without much effort.

Rather than a “cheerful!” vibe, it’s a song that strongly conveys “bittersweet emotion,” so it’s one you can sing with a calm tone.

When you actually try singing it, you may find many phrases where the pitch drops at the end of the melody lines, which can make intonation tricky for some.

It’s true that moving from low to high can be easier if you have momentum, but going from high to low is very difficult to land accurately.

Try singing lightly while sustaining your breath all the way to the end.

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Kubota Mami

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chantAdo97rank/position

"Spell" by Ado

It’s the official theme song for Universal Studios Japan’s Halloween event—the one that made the zombie dance famous! It’s an extremely challenging song packed with high-pitched shouts, low-voiced narration, and rap-style sections.

I learned it together with my students during lessons! The lyrics include some difficult words, so I recommend listening to the original track and making sure to learn it piece by piece.

The tempo is fast and you have to keep singing one line after another; if you strain too much, you’ll wreck your throat, but if you hold back too much, it loses impact.

If you use your breath properly and project a strong falsetto, you can sing it with a cool tone! Since it’s also a dance track, once you get comfortable, try swaying your body while you sing—locking into the rhythm can make it easier to produce sound and add accents.

This one definitely gets the crowd going, so even just having a rough idea of the song might be worth it!

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Kubota Mami

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Thank youikimonogakari98rank/position

Ikimonogakari 'Arigatou' Music Video

In 2010, it gained popularity across a wide range of generations as the theme song for the NHK morning drama Gegege no Nyobo.

Some women in their 30s may have used “Arigatou” for their weddings, graduation ceremonies, or family videos.

By the way, the melody at the beginning of the lyrics ascends like a Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So staircase, making it very easy to understand and pitch.

The subsequent high notes rise on na- syllables, so project firmly toward the distance without straining.

In any case, focus on expressiveness: open your throat, create a clear path for your breath, and you’ll find it feels great to sing!

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Kubota Mami

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