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.

Playlist

Classic songs about women. Recommended popular tracks.
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	C’est la vie ~ A Woman Busy with Love ~Toki Asako		Asako Toki’s dance number expresses the emotions of an urban woman.
2	VenusYURIYAN RETRIEVER		A powerful song that celebrates inner beauty
3	Aphrodite of the WindInagaki Junichi		A song that likened a love of days long past to a goddess
4	AphroditeTakahashi Mariko		Mari Takahashi’s classic hit, A Love Like Flames
5	prima donnaJenīhai		A progressive masterpiece depicting solitude and strength
6	Woman of the Kiso RoadHarada Yuuri		Parting from my beloved, and the feelings that remain deep
7	Nyōnin KōyaTagawa Toshi-mi		A signature song by Toshimi Tagawa that depicts heartbreak and resonates with the heart.
8	applausechiaki naomi		A contrast of loss and radiance, a bittersweet love song
9	I miss you so much and want to see you.Nishino Kana		Kana Nishino’s poignant love song that resonates with the heart
10	MEMEME ~Can’t Be a Girly Girl~derakkusu x derakkusu		Unrequited love with a brave face, an up-tempo boost of courage
11	Cute for lifetakane no nadeshiko		An electropop song of a maiden in love
12	Flower Oiran feat. Medusa, E.V.P & IFELANA		An energetic rap piece by four artists depicting women's empowerment and independence
13	Sorry for being cuteHoneyWorks feat. chūtan (CV: Hayami Saori)		A character song by HoneyWorks. A contrast between strong will and cuteness.
14	WomanSuperfly		A powerful message depicting women's inner strength
15	shameless; indecentchanmina		The title track of Chanmina’s “Harenchi” is a bewitching, languid masterpiece.
16	Osaka Love Storyyashiki takajin		Love that supports dreams is deep understanding and the overcoming of hardships.
17	atonementTeresa Ten		Teresa Teng’s classic song about heartbreak
18	mandarin duckItsuki Hiroshi		A woman's essence remains unchanged across time.
19	My loverGorin Mayumi		A moving masterpiece whose beautiful lyrics resonate with the heart.
20	snowflowerGodai Natsuko		A song in which a daughter sings of her love and respect for her mother
21	Woman of HakodateKitajima Saburō		Singing the bittersweet feelings of unrequited love against the backdrop of Hakodate’s scenery
22	O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsSakamoto Fuyumi		A passionate love song themed around cherry blossoms
23	The Camellia Sasanqua InnŌkawa Eisaku		A bittersweet love song like the flowers of the sasanqua camellia
24	I’m crazy about youUtada Hikaru		Hikaru Utada’s sensual love song
25	silver vine (Actinidia polygama)Yamamoto Aya		Love and doubt, an explosive adult love song
26	Dream-Chasing SakeAtsumi Jirō		The profound sorrow of heartbreak portrayed with a bright, upbeat tone
27	As I am in love…Akimoto Junko		A bittersweet and passionate love song for middle-aged and older people
28	femme fatale Amurasaki ima		A groundbreaking track with a Japanese flair is creating a buzz
29	KiratteratteSugawara Kei		A moving song that sings of the bitterness of love
30	22 years oldTanimura Shinji		A song that expresses the bittersweet feelings of love of a 22-year-old woman
31	Showa Woman BluesAoe Mina		Express the essence of love from a woman's perspective
32	Perch Dream LanternKouzai Kaori		A bittersweet love song of the night scene, a promise to meet again
33	I’m sorry…Takahashi Mariko		Mariko Takahashi’s poignant classic: a tale of lost love
34	Your eyes are 10,000 voltsArisu		A poetic song that expresses the beauty of love
35	I want to see you againYashiro Aki		Feelings for the man I broke up with and the complex emotions around them
36	Time of Flowers, Time of LoveMaekawa Kiyoshi		Expressing the joy of love and the feeling of wanting to see someone
37	Snow CountryYoshi Ikuzo		The poignant feelings of a woman seeking love
38	Memories SakeKobayashi Sachiko		Love is a dangerous yet alluring emotion.
39	I’m appearing under my former name.Kobayashi Akira		A nighttime encounter between a man and a woman and the feelings of a woman who waits
40	A solitary journey to MichinokuYamamoto Jōji		A masterpiece that captures the heart with heartrending lyrics and melody
41	A Woman’s MorningMikawa Ken’ichi		Provocative lyrics captivate women’s hearts.
42	Heart SakeFuji Ayako		A work that depicts romantic love between men and women and natural emotions
43	Osaka ShigureMiyako Harumi		The feelings of a woman who relies on men because of her vulnerability
44	I tried falling in love with you.chay		The mysterious feelings that well up from the power of love
45	The Room, the Dress Shirt, and MeHiramatsu Eri		The nostalgic charm of old songs
46	StoryAI		A ballad about AI. Its appeal lies in its positive focus on cherishing the present.
47	Someone Like YouAdele		A heart’s melody that sings of the pain of heartbreak and a wish
48	On nights when I’m too lonely to sleepAimer		Aimer’s famous song that sings of a heartrending love
49	Love SpiritsChatmonchy		A heart-touching song that sings of a woman's bittersweet feelings.
50	A gentle feelingChara		Chara’s signature song. It expresses a love story.
51	366 daysHY		A popular song about the pain of heartbreak and feelings that can’t be forgotten
52	Stop this nightJUJU		A heart-touching ballad by JUJU about unrequited love
53	Having someone you likeJY		A song that delicately expresses the troubles of love
54	Only HumanK		A moving anthem of unrequited love: His feelings
55	I long to see you now.MISIA		A poignant song by a woman thinking of someone dear
56	Her SundaySHISHAMO		The melancholy of a girl who devotes herself to a boyfriend who’s grown cold
57	A bouquet of flowers with loveSuperfly		A love song celebrating the joy of marriage from a woman’s perspective
58	CHE.R.RYYUI		Singing about the bittersweet ache and heart-fluttering feelings of unrequited love.
59	Moon Song[Alexandros]		A masterpiece by [Alexandros] that sings of the pain of heartbreak
60	fireworksaiko		A signature emotional ballad by aiko
61	I loved (it/you)erica		Moving forward from the pain of a broken heart with gratitude and courage
62	Libra ~The Strong-Acting Me × The Weak-Acting You~misono		A classic bittersweet unrequited-love ballad by misono
63	Unrequited lovemiwa		miwa purely expresses a woman's unrequited love
64	Good-bye, My LoveAn Ruisu		A heartbreak song, Ann Lewis's classic
65	Tear SongOka Midori		Midori Oka, a masterpiece that gently sings of women's loneliness
66	Cherry GirlKōda Kumi		A song that highlights Kumi Koda’s coquettish femininity
67	I love you, I love you, I love you.Kōda Kumi		Kumi Koda’s emotion-filled love song
68	Last LoveKato Miria		Miliyah Kato’s heartbreak song, singing of love and regret
69	Love is…Kato Miria		Miliyah Kato’s heartrending love song
70	Good -joshi-Sakaguchi Ami		An empowering anthem for women who stay positive after a heartbreak
71	cherry (sweet cherry; cherry fruit)Otsuka Ai		Introducing Ai Otsuka’s popular love songs
72	planetariumOtsuka Ai		Ai Otsuka’s classic song that depicts memories of first love
73	First loveOku Hanako		Okuni Hanako’s heartbreak song: a bittersweet love from an adult’s perspective
74	First LoveUtada Hikaru		Introduction to Hikaru Utada’s classic breakup songs
75	The summer you gave meieiri reo		Introduction to a song that portrays Leo Ieiri’s bittersweet feelings of love
76	Playback Part 2Yamaguchi Momoe		Feminine strength that admires Momoe’s singing voice
77	aloneMayo Okamoto		Mayo Okamoto’s classic song that sings of a woman’s heartrending feelings
78	Kiss me here.Shiina Ringo		Shiina Ringo’s signature song about passionate love
79	MHamasaki Ayumi		A signature song by Ayumi Hamasaki that sings of aching feelings for a loved one
80	I want to be a woman.Hamano Haruki		A powerful pop tune that sings of a woman’s determination to stay true to herself
81	SoupFujihara Sakura		Sakura Fujiwara’s love song that likens romantic feelings to soup
82	User ManualNishino Kana		A song that expresses a woman's heart through an instruction manual
83	LOVE tantrum phaseChou Tokimeki♡Sendenbu		A cute song about a phase of hating romance
84	I want to be your lover.Abe Mao		A poignant song that resonates with girls experiencing unrequited love
85	Glow-up!takane no nadeshiko		A positive new song about a girl in love bettering herself
86	More than lovers, less than love (TV Size)＝LOVE		=LOVE's new song is being adapted into an anime
87	fake girlJY		Drama theme song, a song that pursues cuteness
88	I want to be lovedYumcha		Yumcha’s unrequited love song goes viral on social media
89	Marigoldaimyon		AIMYON's popular song 'Marigold'
90	If you want to make me your girlfriendKoresawa		Expressing a woman's heart through Koresawa's love songs
91	I still believe ~sigh~Shizukusa Yumi		Yumi Shizukusa's heart-wrenching breakup song
92	Tell me more and more about you.Juliet		A song that portrays the heartrending feelings of a girl in love
93	around two o’clockaiko		Aiko’s love song: a story of infidelity and love
94	EverythingMISIA		Since it’s a classic of love songs, listen…
95	let go again feat.VERBAL（m-flo）Flower		A five-member female dance and vocal group, Fl…
96	Ms. Hanako on a high pedestalback number		It's a band popular with women, but this song is a bit...
97	If tomorrow comesJUJU with JAY’ED		A non-fiction work depicting a woman's battle with cancer
98	A flower blooming in joyACO		ACO, a quintessential example of a husky-voiced female vocalist...
99	for a long timeKiroro		On TV shows, many celebrities also go to karaoke and...
100	RainARIA		It has garnered immense support from younger audiences who favor ballads and R&B...
101	Can You Celebrate?Amuro Namie		Earning immense trust from women who are getting married or in relationships…
102	delicate lipsJenīhai		A classic song that depicts women's emotions. Expressing heartache with lip movements.
103	Premonition of PartingTeresa Ten		Singing about the anxieties of love and the conflicts in a woman's heart
104	Mellow-Mellow Cancel ♡x♡ Communityakuma no kissu		A heartrending song about struggling with a relationship with someone dear
105	Winter RivieraMori Shinichi		Parting is sad, but if it ends beautifully, it's wonderful.
106	Ruby RingTerao Akira		With Akira Terao’s classic song, in a voice full of transparency
107	North TavernHosokawa Takashi		Romantic dynamics and ideals of men and women in entertainment districts