[2000–2009] A roundup of theme songs from popular dramas!
In the 2000s, many TV dramas achieved exceptionally high ratings, with several surpassing 30%.
Many of these shows are still cherished as masterpieces, and for many people they remain vividly memorable even today.
Back then, it was common for theme songs from blockbuster dramas to appear on the music charts and become hits in their own right.
In this article, we’ve gathered theme songs from dramas that aired between 2000 and 2009—popular tracks still used in various settings today, along with a host of nostalgic hit songs.
Be sure to listen and relive those times.
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[2000–2009] A Roundup of Theme Songs from Popular Dramas! (21–30)
NO MORE CRYD-51
A hit school drama that epitomized the 2000s, Gokusen returned in 2005 with its second season.
The teacher Yankumi—Kumiko Yamaguchi, played by Yukie Nakama—is the heir to a yakuza family.
The show became popular for its formula in which she swoops in with overwhelming strength to rescue her students—played by heartthrobs like Kazuya Kamenashi and Jin Akanishi—whenever they’re in a tight spot.
The insert song for this second season was NO MORE CRY by the Okinawa-born duo D-51.
With lyrics evoking the bonds between classmates and teacher and vocals that soar with refreshing clarity, the track was a comfortable, uplifting listen and a big enough hit to land them a spot on that year’s NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It remains one of their signature songs.
EXITEXILE
“EXIT” is the theme song of the TV drama The Queen’s Classroom, starring Yuki Amami.
The track is EXILE’s 18th single, released in 2005.
Airing from July 2005, the drama was extremely popular—its final episode’s last scene even hit a peak rating of 31.2%.
Because the drama’s content was quite heavy, this song was apparently chosen for the ending out of consideration so viewers wouldn’t be left feeling weighed down after watching.
It brings back memories of that joyful dance scene on the school playground at the end, doesn’t it?
[2000–2009] A Roundup of Popular Drama Theme Songs! (31–40)
ORIONNakajima Mika
Based on Keigo Higashino’s mystery novel, the live-action drama “Ryusei no Kizuna” aired on the TBS network in 2008, starring Kazunari Ninomiya.
It’s a suspense drama in which three siblings, whose parents were brutally murdered when they were young, hunt down the real culprit to take revenge, making it a work you can enjoy while deducing the perpetrator.
Mika Nakashima’s “ORION,” used as an insert song, features heartrending lyrics and melody and became one of her signature tracks.
Erika Toda, who played the younger sister of the three siblings in the drama, also appears in the music video, so be sure to check that out too!
SwimmyEvery Little Thing
A song marked by its breezy guitar sound and clear, translucent vocals.
It remains memorable to many as the theme for the Kansai TV/Fuji TV drama “The Man Who Can’t Marry,” which portrays a bachelor architect played by Hiroshi Abe growing through his interactions with others.
Its message—that individual existences come together to form great strength—draws from the works of picture-book author Leo Lionni, and it blends seamlessly with the drama’s worldview.
Released as a single in August 2006, it was re-cut from tracks on the album “Crispy Park” and reached No.
16 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
In 2019, a new version was produced for the sequel drama “Still, The Man Who Can’t Marry,” and the song continues to be loved across generations.
EverythingMISIA
The drama Yamato Nadeshiko, starring Nanako Matsushima, was a huge hit.
It became one of her signature works, comically depicting the love story of a woman who dreams of marrying into wealth and a man she mistakenly believes to be rich but who actually lives an ordinary life.
The theme song was MISIA’s seventh single, Everything, released in 2000.
Along with the drama’s massive success, the theme song was also a big hit, instantly making MISIA’s name widely known.
As a theme song that added vivid emotion to the story of discovering true love, it gave many listeners goosebumps.
Sora-buneTOKIO
Starring Tomoya Nagase, My Boss My Hero is a popular school drama that aired in 2006 in NTV’s Saturday drama slot.
It tells the story of a yakuza, played by Nagase, who grows through his experiences in school life.
The heroine is played by Yui Aragaki—known as Gakky—and the show is also known as her breakout work.
The theme song is TOKIO’s “Sorafune” (“Ship in the Sky”), a number written by Miyuki Nakajima.
Nagase’s powerful vocals pair perfectly with Nakajima’s characteristically strong, message-driven lyrics, resulting in an incredibly cool track.
trutharashi
The A-side track from Arashi’s single “truth/Kaze no Mukō e,” notable for its dark, mysterious atmosphere.
Released in August 2008, the song was used as the theme for the TBS drama Maō, starring Satoshi Ohno.
Its tense melody and string-heavy arrangement brilliantly capture the drama’s themes of revenge and sorrow.
It topped the Oricon year-end chart, marking Arashi’s first-ever year-end No.
1—a remarkable achievement.
It’s the perfect song to sink into after watching a suspense drama or film.