Classic songs about women. Recommended popular tracks.
Although J-pop and rock are commonplace in Japan’s music scene today, there was a time when enka and kayōkyoku were at the center.
Here is a list of masterpieces from that era in Japan, all themed around “women.” Some sing of tragic love, others of adultery—different situations, yet the abundance of love songs reminds us that, in every era, love is essential for women.
- Masterpieces that sing about women. Recommended popular songs.
- Masterpieces about girls: recommended popular songs
- A number I’d recommend to the yutori generation—one I’d like women to sing
- Women’s Enka: A collection of classic enka songs expressing women’s emotions
- Popular Japanese songs among women in their 50s: recommended classics and staple tracks
- Songs women like. Famous and popular Japanese songs.
- Nostalgic Showa-era heartbreak songs. Soothe your heart with timeless classics that can move women in their 60s to tears.
- Recommended breakup songs for women in their 50s: classic and popular Japanese tracks
- [For Women] A roundup of enka songs that can score high in karaoke
- [For Women] Masterpiece Enka Songs with a High Degree of Difficulty
- Recommended heartbreak songs for women in their 40s: classic and popular Japanese hits
- [Must read] Songs with great lyrics. Moving songs you’ll want to listen to while reading the lyrics
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
Masterpieces about women: Recommended popular songs (21–30)
O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsSakamoto Fuyumi
This is a song about unrequited love, told from a woman’s perspective.
Rather than simply expressing what she likes, it directly conveys a blazing, overflowing passion for the man she’s fallen for.
Although “cherry blossoms” are the theme, the song’s image color might be better described as red than cherry blossom pink.
Instead of enka, it features a chic, rock-like melody, and the contrast with the beauty of the Japanese lyrics makes it feel fresh.
The Camellia Sasanqua InnŌkawa Eisaku
Eisaku Okawa’s song released in 1982 is a classic kayōkyoku number that portrays a heartrending love.
With a beautiful voice, it expresses the anguish of a man who has fallen in love with another man’s wife.
It sold over 1.8 million copies in total and ranked in Oricon’s top 10 in 1983.
Marked by a decadent mood centered on the theme of an illicit affair, the forbidden love—likened to the crimson-blooming sasanqua—deeply resonates with listeners.
Okawa’s emotionally rich vocals exquisitely bring the song’s world to life.
Anyone who has experienced unrequited love or heartbreak will surely relate to this track.
I’m crazy about youUtada Hikaru
This is a song by Hikaru Utada wrapped in a sweet, sensual atmosphere.
It vividly portrays the aching pull of drowning in love and the intoxicating power of passion that unravels reason.
The emotions shine with a sensual, dangerous glow, like a city shrouded in the darkness of night.
Released in November 2021 and written as the theme for TBS’s Friday drama “Saiai,” the track is also included on the album “BAD Mode.” While grounded in club music, its elegant production weaves a beautiful, memorable melody.
It’s perfect as background music for a quiet night drive or intimate moments with someone special.
With its refined, adult allure and delicate emotional expression, it’s an exquisite track that truly resonates.
silver vine (Actinidia polygama)Yamamoto Aya
It portrays a woman’s emotions, where attachment and suspicion toward a loved one intertwine.
Released on December 25, 2024, this track is included on the EP “U TA CARTE.” It’s a song that showcases Sayaka Yamamoto’s musical growth and versatile expressiveness.
Her vocals, combining power and sultriness, enhance the song’s worldview.
The rock ’n’ roll–tinged arrangement is cool, too.
A high-intensity love song with a mature vibe that’s absolutely electrifying.
Dream-Chasing SakeAtsumi Jirō
When you hear “a woman abandoned by her lover,” it sounds tragic, but because the melody is bright, it doesn’t feel dark at all.
If anything, that brightness may actually heighten the woman’s sadness.
To put it bluntly, if everyone harbors a desire for self-destruction, this song might be exactly that.
As I am in love…Akimoto Junko
It’s a song that portrays romance among middle-aged and older adults.
Perhaps precisely because they’re at that stage of life, there are things they usually keep suppressed.
Maybe that’s why, or because they’re breaking free from it, the song feels incredibly rich and unbelievably sensual.
I think this might be the ultimate form of love.
I imagine many listeners have dreamed of experiencing this kind of mature romance at the end of their lives.
femme fatale Amurasaki ima
This song is packed with an exceptional Japanese flair.
Created by Murasaki Kon, it features lyrics that reimagine traditional ideals of beauty through a modern lens.
Musically, it skillfully fuses styles from different eras, spanning from Edo-period culture to K-pop.
Released digitally in April 2024, it quickly became a hot topic on social media.
On TikTok, it garnered around 20,000 posts and was used by many influencers.
This piece prompts reflection on what defines beauty.
It’s a must-listen for anyone who enjoys pop music infused with Japanese elements.