[2025] Japanese Female Artists: Trending Singers & Idols

First loveHanako Oku

First Love by Hanako Oku

Singer-songwriter Hanako Oku, known for her trademark red glasses and translucent, pure vocals.

Even before her major-label debut, she wrote, composed, and sang numerous commercial jingles.

Her fourth single, “Garnet,” was selected as the theme song for an animated film and went on to become a long-selling hit, showcasing her versatility across fields.

She is also known for valuing closeness with her fans—continuing street performances since her indie days and still performing free live shows.

After resuming activities in 2022, she is an artist whose continued success is highly anticipated.

Until the sun risessarasa

Sarasa – Until the Sun Rises [Official Audio]

Sarasa offers a music experience like no other.

She’s a rising singer-songwriter who creates songs with a mysterious vibe that’s neither ballad nor pop.

In fact, her sound seems to be a unique distillation of blues elements.

It’s soothing and gentle, yet somehow warm—please give this intriguing feeling a try.

I should also add that she’s active in multiple fields, including working as a buyer for an apparel brand and as a writer.

Swaying feelingsZARD

Swaying Feelings (What a beautiful memory 2007)

A music unit formed around Izumi Sakai that produced numerous signature and hit songs.

Among the Being-affiliated artists who dominated the J-POP scene in the 1990s, they were especially known for their high popularity thanks to their female vocalist lineup.

Their distinctive yet unadorned singing voice, paired with catchy tunes, captivated a wide range of listeners.

Although the group effectively disbanded following Izumi Sakai’s sudden passing in 2007, their songs continue to be loved to this day.

Threads of the Sea of TreesCocco

Cocco – Thread of the Sea of Trees [Video Clip Short]

A female singer-songwriter from Okinawa who has continued to assert a singular presence with a remarkably wide musical range—from loud, hard-hitting sounds to catchy pop melodies.

In particular, the madness-tinged lyrical world of her early work likely shocked many listeners.

Beyond music, her activities as an actor and picture book author, as well as her efforts to clean up the seas of her Okinawan hometown, showcase the breadth of her influence—one of her many charms.

She remains a solitary, singular artist who continues to expand her expressive scope.

To usKaneko Ayano

Kaneko Ayano – To Us / Kaneko Ayano – To All of Us

Ayano Kaneko, who hails from Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture, is active as a singer-songwriter, actor, and model.

Her charm lies in her simple yet powerful singing voice.

In 2012, she released a self-produced record titled “Inzei Seikatsu” (Royalty Life), which led to her performing as the opening act for SCANDAL’s Tokyo concert.

In 2014, she released her first nationally distributed record, “Raise wa Idol” (In the Next Life, I’ll Be an Idol), and in 2018 she won the CD Shop Award for her album “Shukusai” (Celebration).

Be sure to listen to “Happii End o Kikasete Okure yo” (Let Me Hear Happy End), a song that represents Kaneko’s roots!

LONELY feat. LANAMiliyah Kato

Miliyah Kato feat. LANA “LONELY”

Miliyah Kato is a popular artist known for her genre-defying sound rooted in R&B and hip-hop.

She debuted in 2004 with “Never let go / Yozora,” and has produced numerous hits, including her first album Rose, which reached No.

2 on the Oricon chart.

Making her major debut as a first-year high school student, she has since showcased her many talents by launching a fashion brand and working as a novelist.

While her music was once characterized by heavy use of sampling, she put that style aside in 2008.

Her songwriting, which reflects her own experiences and emotions—such as the changes and growth she’s undergone in her thirties—is particularly compelling.

Listening to her music, you can feel a powerful, uplifting energy that stirs the heart.

medicineYuika

Medicine / “Yuika” [MV]

Yuika is a talented singer-songwriter whose transparent, luminous vocals captivate countless listeners.

She began her career primarily on social media, earning overwhelming support from younger audiences with melodies and a voice that speak straight to the heart.

In 2024, she made her major-label debut with Universal Music and has drawn attention for songs themed around youth and love that have gone viral online.

Though only 20, she is highly praised for her songwriting that expresses her emotions directly and for her clear, resolute vocal tone.

Her jacket art, created in collaboration with Kana, establishes a unique aesthetic, making her compelling both musically and visually.

She’s a recommended artist for those who resonate with sincere, down-to-earth lyrics and a soaring, expressive voice.