[2025] Japanese Female Artists: Trending Singers & Idols

To all my ex-girlfriendsKoresawa

Koresawa - To All My Ex-Girlfriends [Lyric Video]

Singer-songwriter Koresawa, known for her adorable bear costume, leaves a memorable impression.

Her signature song “Tabako,” which became the catalyst for her big breakthrough, is likely something everyone reading this has heard at least once.

That song, of course—and really all of her tracks—shine because the lyrics are so relatable.

So while she’s an artist I especially recommend to women, there are songs that men can also relate to, be moved by, or feel a pang of sadness from.

I recommend listening closely while reading the lyrics!

heavy smokeNishina

Nishina – Heavy Smoke [Official Video]

A female singer-songwriter who not only performs solo with guitar-and-vocal sets, but is also active as a member of the band Asanayu Funa.

She was part of the 4th cohort of “the LESSON,” a training program for new artists hosted by Sony Music.

Her wide-ranging activities include joining the acoustic session unit Prasonica and serving as the vocalist on songs for Enon Kawatani’s solo project “Biteki Keikaku,” all of which speak to her exceptional talent.

With a voice that feels familiar and comforting amid fragility and wistfulness, she is an artist poised for a major breakthrough.

missing youAi Tomioka

Ai Tomioka – missing you (Music Video)

Singer-songwriter Ai Tomioka, who rose to prominence through social media, began her career in 2021 and truly embodies the streaming generation’s diva.

Her clear, gentle voice has a warm quality that seems to envelop listeners’ hearts.

She actively posts videos of original songs and covers performed in a guitar-and-vocal style, and she also gives energetic street performances.

It’s striking how widely she ranges across genres, including J-pop.

She’s also proactive about crossing borders, such as by doing street performances in Seoul, South Korea.

With growing popularity in both Japan and Korea, she’s a next-generation voice to watch.

Are you serious? (Prod. Chaki Zulu)Awich

Awich – Are you serious? (Prod. Chaki Zulu) / The Queen of Villains: Ruthless Queen

Awich is a female rapper from Okinawa.

At 13, she heard 2Pac’s music, became captivated by hip-hop, and began pursuing music in earnest.

She debuted in 2006 with the EP “Inner Research,” and released her first album, “Asia Wish Child,” in 2007.

Since her major-label debut in 2020, she has drawn significant attention and become a prominent figure in the music scene.

While cherishing her Okinawan roots, she creates a wide range of songs—from love tracks to socially conscious messages.

Her talent is recognized not only in Japan but around the world.

Known as the queen of hip-hop, Awich delivers words that are honest and unadorned, transcending the boundaries of rap.

If you want to be moved by powerful lyrics and passionate performances, you should definitely give her music a listen.

A city you can dance inNo Murasaki

Noashi (Noa) – A City You Can Dance In [Official Music Video]

While marked by a striking sense of clarity, her songs also carry a subtle, rising emotional undercurrent that leaves a cool, lasting impression.

Noshii began full-scale music production in 2022.

Centered on TikTok, she garnered over 800,000 plays with her original track “Haihai,” and in 2024 drew major attention with the viral hit “Zenhōkō Bishōjo.” A self-produced artist who handles everything from lyrics, composition, arrangement, vocals, video, to artwork, her music is characterized by an evident homage to Ringo Sheena.

Blending a wide range of genres—J-POP, jazz, Vocaloid, and more—her songs evoke a sense of nostalgia not only for younger listeners but also for a slightly older generation.

Spring ThiefYorushika

Yorushika – Spring Thief (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Yorushika is a two-piece rock band formed by composer n-buna, who was active as a Vocaloid producer, with suis as the vocalist.

n-buna mainly handles composition and guitar.

Although they made their major debut in 2019, they had already drawn significant attention before that and released outstanding songs.

They release music at a brisk pace, and every track is excellent, making them a band you never get tired of following.

They operate under the concept of letting the work take precedence over the creators themselves, so they do not show their faces or make media appearances—this, too, is part of their identity.

I'm crazy about youHikaru Utada

Hikaru Utada “Kimi ni Muchū”

Hikaru Utada was born into a musical family and raised in New York.

With her 1998 debut single “Automatic/time will tell,” she sparked an R&B boom in the Japanese music scene.

Her arrival helped popularize a vocal style that set Japanese lyrics to a 16-beat groove.

The following year, her first album “First Love” set a domestic record with about 7.

65 million copies sold and won the Japan Gold Disc Award, demonstrating her immense influence.

While R&B forms the core of her sound, she incorporates elements like electronica, resulting in a diverse musicality.

Yet across all her songs, there’s an underlying rhythm that invites a pleasant sway of the body.

Experience that feeling where words and beat become one.