We've compiled a list of some of the most well-known Japanese singers whose music also happens to be educational, and we've included links to some of their best songs for you to listen to. Warm-up your vocal cords by singing along with these nine well-known Japanese artists!
1. Utada Hikaru
Hikaru Utada is a Japanese-American singer-songwriter and producer who goes by the mononym Utada. Utada was born in the United States to Japanese parents Teruzane Utada and enka singer Keiko Fuji. She began writing songs and lyrics at a young age and frequently travelled to Tokyo because of her father's business. A recording contract with Toshiba-EMI was eventually signed.
2. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
Kiriko Takemura is a Japanese tarento, singer, and model who goes by the stage name Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Her public image is linked to Japan's kawaii and decora culture, which is centred in Tokyo's Harajuku district. Yasutaka Nakata of the electronic music duo Capsule produced Kyary's music.
3. Hatsune Miku
Hatsune Miku (also known as Miku Hatsune) is a Vocaloid software voicebank created by Crypton Future Media, and its official moe anthropomorphism is a 16-year-old girl with long, turquoise twin tails.
4. AKB48
AKB48 is a Japanese idol girl group named after the Akihabara district of Tokyo, which houses the group's theatre. Yasushi Akimoto, the producer of AKB48, intended to develop a girl group with its theatre and perform daily so that fans could see them live.
5. Bump Of Chicken
Bump of Chicken is a Chiba, Japan-based alternative rock band. Motoo Fujiwara, Hiroaki Masukawa, Yoshifumi Naoi, and Hideo Masu make up the members of the band. They've released 23 singles and nine albums since their formation in 1994.
6. Arashi
Arashi is a five-member Japanese boy band formed under the Johnny & Associates talent agency. Satoshi Ohno, Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya, and Jun Matsumoto are the members. Arashi was created in Honolulu, Hawaii, on September 15, 1999, and released its debut CD on November 3, 1999.
7. Koda Kumi
Kumiko Kda, better known by her stage name Koda Kumi, is a Japanese singer best recognised for her urban and R&B songs. After making her debut in December 2000 with the single "Take Back," Koda rose to prominence in March 2003 when the tracks from her seventh single, "Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba," were used as themes in the video game Final Fantasy X-2.
8. Ai Otsuka
Ai Otsuka is an Osaka-based singer-songwriter from Suminoe-ku. She is a prominent Avex Trax singer who is most known for her 2003 song "Sakuranbo," which spent 103 weeks in the Top 200 Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
9. Nightmare
Nightmare is a Sendai-based visual kei rock band. Yomi, Sakito, Hitsugi, Niya, and Ruka have been members of the group since their inception on January 1, 2000.
10. Suzuka Nakamoto
Suzuka Nakamoto is a Japanese musician, singer, and model who goes by the stage names Suzuka and Su-metal. She is well known for being a member of the Babymetal cutesy metal band.
