Society Researcher looks into high-pitched vocal patterns of Japanese women

First-time visitors to Japan are often surprised or even startled by the high-pitched voices (some) Japanese women use in formal situations or on the phone.

Yamazaki Hiroko, a graduate of Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo, furthered her studies in phonetics and psychology. As the representative director of a research institute, Yamazaki leads a team dedicated to exploring the intricate relationship between the voice, brain, and education. She took a closer look at female vocal patterns, which are among the highest-pitched globally:


High-pitched vocal patterns are observed in various contexts, including movies and news broadcasts, and are significantly different from the vocal tones of Western women. Experts argue that this distinctive high-pitched voice among Japanese women is not merely a personal choice but a reflection of societal expectations.

Yamazaki suggests it is a "product of society." She explains that while a typical adult woman of 160 centimetres should have a natural pitch of around 220-260 Hertz, many Japanese women speak at a much higher pitch of 300-350 Hertz or even higher, essentially falsetto. She asserts that societal expectations, particularly from men, have encouraged women to elevate their voices. High-pitched voices are often associated with small size, immaturity, and dependence. In Japan, women have been subconsciously conditioned to project an image of weakness and cuteness.

India, for instance, has a significant gender gap, much like Japan. Indian women are also often noted for their high-pitched voices. To illustrate her point in her university lectures, Yamazaki often has her students listen to news anchors from other countries. It never fails to strike students how deep the voices of women from, for example, Nordic countries, can be. Female news anchors in countries with smaller gender gaps tend to have lower-pitched voices. Yamazaki noted that even in Japan, there was a brief period when women's vocal tones noticeably lowered. It was during the country's asset-inflated economy of the late 1980s when the term "career women" gained popularity. But even then, the voice tone was noted for being significantly higher-pitched compared to women in Western nations.

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Yamazaki believes that a person's voice reveals their physical and emotional state, values, and life experiences. She even claims to be able to detect lies through vocal cues. Her research indicates that over 80% of Japanese people are dissatisfied with their voices. Yamazaki explains that using a false voice can be detrimental, as it can deceive others and oneself.