Who do you think to be the most influential japanese female solo acts from 1990-2014?

[Surreal17]

This is a topic that really interests me for a while and I decided to make a special thread for it. So, I'd like to know who are the most 10 influential (that added/brought something new to the music/fashion/image) japanese female solos?
Period of time - 1990 - 2014


My guesses are:

Chara (whisper voice vocal technique + experimental sound; influence for a lot of solo acts such as Shiina Ringo and Bonnie Pink; million seller in the 90's)
YUKI (leader vocalist of Judy & Mary - The band is known for their innovative punk, rock, and pop meldings of noisy but melodic music in the 1990s; million seller within the band)
Bonnie Pink (I do not know much about her but I heard she's a great musician of japan - not sure if she's considered influential or not)
Namie Amuro (fashion monster; million seller in 90's and 00's)
Hamasaki Ayumi (poignant & sincere lyrics with very often artistic changes + fashion monster + best selling japanese female solo)
Shiina Ringo (an ecletic/experimental image and sound; million seller in the 90's & 00's)
Utada Hikaru (brought to the mainstream attention the rnb style; most influential artist of the 00's named by japan times + best selling japanese album)


So, what's your choices and why?

edit: I'll return later with a more elaborate answer

[Andrenekoi]

Even if it was a band, at some point Izumi Sakai, the only member of Zard to be part of the band during all of its duration, was recognized as either by her name or the band's name. 10 million sellers including two 2x and two 3x. 8th best selling music act in Japan.

Matsutoya Yumi is around since the 70's, but she had 9 million sellers on the time span you picked, including 3 2x million sellers and a 3x million seller. I don't know if she counts. She is the 6th best selling act in Japan. Her comercial and popularity peak was during the 90's, including her best selling album and her (probably) signature track, Haru yo, koi.

And just because you put YUKI

KEIKO, the lead of GLOBE, one of biggest japanese bands of the 90's with the 7th best selling album of Japan and a total of 5 million sellers (one 5x, one 3x and two 2x).

Miwa Yoshida, vocalist of Dreams Come True, the 5th best selling music act in Japan, around since 1989. 10 million sellers during that time span, inclusing a 3x and two 2x.

I have the impression KEIKO is seen as a name of her own (like Gwen Stefani or something) while Miwa is an integral member of DCT to the public.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Utada Hikaru and Ayumi Hamasaki

[Marcelo]

Hamasaki Ayumi, Hikaru Utada and Amuro Namie, in that order. But if Yuming counts, I would put her before Namie.

[visionfactory]

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

Utada Hikaru and Ayumi Hamasaki

This and nobody else.

Namie Amuro in the 90s was just a sidework of TK
and sounded the same as Kahala, Suzuki, hitomi, globe, OLIVIA, etc.

Also it's important that though KEIKO influenced ayu at first,
then KEIKO herself took inspiration from the ayu boom

[DonkeyKongRemix]

I would say Matsutoya Yumi, Utada Hikaru, Ayumi Hamasaki, Shiina Ringo, and I actually think Mika Nakashima is pretty influential because I've seen her listed as a big inspiration for many Japanese artists. I've actually noticed quite a few visual kei bands who are inspired by Mika Nakashima.

I'm sure there are many others that I just don't know about.

(Edit: noticed that you said 1990-2914 just now, so I don't know if Matsutoya Yumi still counts? Even though she was such a huge influence for Ayu who was in the late 90s on through 2014)

[Surreal17]

You're right abot Mika, just that I forgot to mention her
Yeah, I think Yumi still counts, as Andrenekoi also said, she was at her peak in the 90s

[Mirrorcle Monster]

I think YUI has been super influential too, you just need to look at all of the artsists that have tried to replace her (miwa, Leo Ieiri are the two most succesful I think)

[Surreal17]

Originally Posted by Mirrorcle Monster

I think YUI has been super influential too, you just need to look at all of the artsists that have tried to replace her (miwa, Leo Ieiri are the two most succesful I think)

True, I was wondering if I should put YUI as well. When I first got into jpop in 2011, (she was my first artist) she was like everywhere. Her albums have solid sales, but her departure from solo statut in 2012 made her lose some popularity I think.

[Andrenekoi]

Ayu, Hikki, Namie, Yui, Shiina, Yumming...

Those are the ones I would pick. =)