Love songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic and popular Japanese songs.
We’ve put together a collection of love songs that were hits in the 2000s.
When you think of hit songs from the 2000s, what tracks come to mind?
For those who spent their youth in that era, you might recall so many classics that it’s hard to choose just one.
This isn’t a list of every song that charted between 2000 and 2009, but we’re highlighting beloved love songs that almost everyone has heard at least once—timeless favorites that are still cherished as staples of romance today.
If you’re feeling nostalgic for those days, be sure to give them a listen!
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Love songs that were hits in the 2000s. Masterpieces and popular J-Pop songs (51–60)
Bud of LoveKōda Kumi
It’s a love song that was also the theme for the drama “Busu no Hitomi ni Koishiteru” (“In Love With a Plain Girl”).
It’s striking how it starts with the very Kumi Koda-esque line, “I’m crazy about you,” and that straightforwardness lets the song’s charm come through honestly and effortlessly.
Because it makes me want to see youNishino Kana
A poignant love song by Kana Nishino that skillfully portrays the emotional landscape of a woman who acts strong on the outside yet quietly holds on to her loneliness and longing to see someone.
The lyrics, written in relatable, everyday language about growing feelings for an ex-lover, resonated with many and immediately captured the hearts of young women upon release.
Released in June 2009, the song appeared as a lead single from her first album, “LOVE one.” It was also chosen as a POWER PLAY on NTV’s “Music Fighter,” becoming a signature track that brought Kana Nishino’s name to wider recognition.
It’s a song that offers comfort to those unable to recover from the pain of heartbreak or to sever lingering feelings for a former partner.
Lovin’ LifeFUNKY MONKEY BABYS
The fourth single by FUNKY MONKEY BABYS, a music unit that fuses hip-hop and pop.
Released in January 2007, the song became a long-running hit, breaking into the Top 10 in its sixth week and solidifying the group’s popularity.
The lyrics, which portray the small joys hidden in everyday life and the preciousness of time spent with loved ones, warmly fill listeners’ hearts.
Its catchy melody and smooth rap weave a positive atmosphere that feels like a true anthem for life.
The track is also included on the album “Funky Monkey Babys 2” and was used as Ryota Wakiya’s theme song for the Yomiuri Giants in 2007.
It’s a number that makes you cherish the simplicity of everyday life.
I’m Here feat. Thelma AoyamaSoulJa
This song, which sings of the bittersweet feelings of a long-distance relationship, surely tightened the chests of many who heard it in real time back then.
Amid the loneliness and frustration of not being able to meet, the pure, unwavering love for the other person comes through painfully clearly in SoulJa’s straightforward lyrics and Thelma Aoyama’s emotional vocals.
Released as a single in September 2007, it was also well known as the ending theme for TBS’s “COUNT DOWN TV.” CD sales exceeded 200,000 copies, and it’s included on SoulJa’s signature album “Spirits.” It’s the kind of classic that, when you listen to it on a night when you miss someone dear, fills you with a tight, nostalgic ache—and makes you want to duet it with a friend, pouring your feelings into every line.
Love songs that were hits in the 2000s. Japanese classics and popular tracks (61–70)
FLYING EASY LOVING CRAZYKubota Toshinobu feat. MISIA
It’s a truly dreamlike duet featuring two leading singers who drive Japan’s music scene.
Toshinobu Kubota’s breezy groove blends perfectly with MISIA’s endlessly soaring vocals! The exhilaration born from their back-and-forth vocals feels liberating just to listen to.
The song celebrates a grand, positive love, like lovers sprouting wings and freely dancing across the sky.
Released as a single in March 2008, it was later included on the album “Timeless Fly.” It was also used as the image song for Cirque du Soleil’s “DAIHATSU DRALION,” and its worldview really strikes a chord.
It’s the perfect track for when you want to forget your worries and feel refreshed.
dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo
A timeless ballad whose one-of-a-kind vocals by Yo Hitoto resonate like a deep prayer and seep into the heart.
It is said to have been written in the wake of the September 11 attacks, imbued with an earnest wish for peace.
Its universal theme—hoping that happiness will continue for a loved one and for those dear to them—gently envelops listeners’ hearts.
Released in February 2004 as her fifth single, it achieved an astonishing long-run hit, staying on the Oricon charts for 125 consecutive weeks.
It also served as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Tuesday Suspense Theater” and for the film of the same name.
Many people may find themselves resonating with the heartfelt wish for someone precious to be happy.
GibbsShiina Ringo
A love song by Sheena Ringo in which possessiveness toward a lover and the fear of losing them pierce the heart painfully.
Released in January 2000, this work was a lead single from the acclaimed album Shōso Strip.
It debuted at No.
4 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and received the Excellence Award at the 42nd Japan Record Awards, among other high honors.
Though the protagonist wants to believe in eternity, their sensitivity leads them to see a future lie in the word “forever.” Many listeners may find themselves relating to the depth of love that equates their relationship with that of a legendary couple.