Best/Loved Songs with Great Lyrics by Female Singer-Songwriters: Ranking [2026]

lightly; nimbly; flutteringlyŌhara Sakurako15rank/position

Sakurako Ohara – Hirari (Music Video YouTube ver.)

Sakurako Ohara’s “Hirari” evokes cherry blossoms blooming with a gentle smile.

Released in 2017, the song was chosen as the theme for the film “Let’s Go, JETS! From Small Town Girls to U.S.

Champions?!”.

Even as spring arrives and we go our separate ways, we’ll never forget the memories we shared and the cherry blossoms we saw together.

Whenever something happens, we’ll recall those happy times and keep pushing forward.

The lyrics portray turning that kind of friendship into strength to live boldly into the future.

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SAKI

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First LoveUtada Hikaru16rank/position

Hikaru Utada – First Love

A signature song by Hikaru Utada, an artist universally recognized for overwhelming musical sensibility and a distinctive sonic world, acclaimed not only in Japan but also overseas.

It’s a ballad that reminisces about a first love that has ended, making it a recommended karaoke choice for women in their 20s who’ve experienced heartbreak.

Love is…Kato Miria17rank/position

MILIYAH Kato “Love is…”

The grand ballad inspired by the classical masterpiece Canon delivers a straightforward message—no matter what happens, we’ll stay together—that truly resonates.

Even when loneliness and anxiety make it hard to see ahead, there is someone who will never give up on you and keep supporting you.

It sings of the strength and preciousness of such love and bonds.

Released in June 2007 as Miliyah Kato’s tenth single, the song also served as the ending theme for the anime Toward the Terra.

Its inclusion in the best-of album M BEST II shows how it has continued to be loved over time.

A pledge of eternal love, this work is the ultimate love song—one that makes you want to stay with the person you cherish forever.

cherry blossoms drifting awayUtada Hikaru18rank/position

Hikaru Utada – Sakura Nagashi (Short Ver.)

When it comes to the film series of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Hikaru Utada is a strong association for many, and the song “Sakura Nagashi” was also the theme for Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo.

This track, her first single after returning from hiatus, is also well known for having been written with the Great East Japan Earthquake in mind.

The memories of cherry blossoms we saw together are vivid, yet that person is no longer here.

The sorrow and helplessness are rendered even more poignant by the piano melody and strings, which make the feelings resonate deeply in the chest.

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utatane

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Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi19rank/position

Spring, Come – Yumi Matsutoya (Full)

“Haru yo, Koi” (“Come, Spring”) portrays a heartfelt longing for the arrival of spring.

It was released in 1994 by the beloved singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya, cherished by listeners across generations.

Widely regarded as a classic spring song, its melody, imbued with a distinctly Japanese atmosphere, soothes the soul.

The lyrics are striking, evoking scenes that range from reminiscing about nostalgic memories to hoping for a reunion with someone dear.

Accompanied by a piano-centered, beautiful melody, this masterpiece unfolds a nostalgic landscape before your eyes.

Why not listen to this spring song, filled with phrases that let you feel the beauty of the Japanese language?

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mutō

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Graduation PhotoArai Yumi20rank/position

Graduation Photograph / Sotsugyou Shashin

A timeless classic that fills you with a tender, bittersweet feeling as spring arrives.

Included on the album COBALT HOUR released in June 1975, this piece first appeared that February as a song provided to Hi-Fi Set, and was later self-covered by Yumi Arai—who would become Yumi Matsutoya—in her own voice.

The changing self, and the gentle gaze captured in an unchanging photograph—the contrast is deeply moving.

In 2007, it was featured in a commercial for Kirin Lager Beer, showing how it continues to be loved across generations.

It’s a song like a charm for the heart, one that helps you reaffirm your unwavering feelings for someone dear.

Thank you…KOKIA21rank/position

KOKIA – Thank you…

A hugely popular song by KOKIA, an artist beloved by music fans for her overwhelmingly high-tone voice and crystal-clear vibrato that captivates everyone.

It’s a heartbreak number that expresses feelings for a lover you’ve been separated from, and it’s a recommended karaoke song for women in their 20s who are feeling down.