I’ve learned of Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷由実) / Yumi Arai by real name from the anime The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu).
I don’t normally watch anime, but big studios like Gibli and directors like Hayao Miyazaki are the exception. A few songs from Yumi made to my playlist since then.
Thank you for expanding my universe! I’ll check out Ai Higuchi as well.
I don’t know exactly what it is, it’s not just the voice. 00:32 goes straight to the heart. Plus the childhood nostalgia, bitter-sweet feelings it’s capable of bringing, the whole atmosphere. And I’m a sucker for falsettos, ie 01:13 in The Girl Is A Time Traveler. Same reason I like Fishmans. Imperfection somehow makes it perfect.