[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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- A catchy tune that sounds familiar
[2000–2009] A roundup of popular drama theme songs! (41–50)
Can You Keep A Secret？Utada Hikaru
Should I just keep hiding my feelings of “I like you”…? Hikaru Utada’s “Can You Keep A Secret?”, which captures the bittersweet emotions of unrequited love, was released in 2001 and was also used as the theme song for the smash-hit drama “HERO” starring Takuya Kimura.
You love them so much that you want to become their type, but it’s not that simple.
Even as you go back and forth, your mind stays constantly filled with that person—that’s what being in love is like, isn’t it?
sign; mark; symbol; omenMr.Children
Starring actress Mirai Shida, 14-year-old Mother is a shocking work that portrays underage pregnancy and childbirth.
It also became a hot topic for winning the Galaxy Award, given to outstanding programs that contribute to broadcasting culture, as well as the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association’s Grand Prize.
Not only Shida’s performance in the challenging role of a 14-year-old who becomes pregnant, but also Haruma Miura’s acting as the boyfriend who gets her pregnant drew attention.
The theme song, Mr.
Children’s Shirushi, debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon charts and became a massive hit.
Its distinctive chorus lyrics convey the joy and bittersweetness of loving one another, making it a classic that resonated deeply with many people!
Riding on the back of a silver dragonNakajima Miyuki
Dr.
Coto’s Clinic is a 2003 drama adaptation of Takatoshi Yamada’s manga about a doctor striving at a clinic on a remote island.
The lead role was played by Hidetaka Yoshioka, and it became his signature work following From the North Country.
The theme song was Miyuki Nakajima’s “Ride on the Back of the Silver Dragon,” which reached No.
4 on the Oricon singles chart.
According to Nakajima, the “silver dragon” refers to a surgical scalpel.
It’s a standout song with lyrics carrying the message “Rouse your spirit and take flight,” which really hits home.
I wonder if it will be sunny tomorrow.Kuwata Keisuke
Released in 2007, “Ashita Hareru Kana” is Keisuke Kuwata’s ninth single, and it reached No.
1 on the Oricon singles chart.
Its promotion—publishing fake news online for April Fools’ Day—also drew a lot of attention.
The drama that used “Ashita Hareru Kana” as its theme song, Proposal Daisakusen, stars Tomohisa Yamashita and Masami Nagasawa.
The final episode’s viewership exceeded 20%, and the drama continued to generate buzz after it ended, leading to remakes being produced and broadcast in South Korea and China.
RIDE ON TIMEYamashita Tatsuro
“RIDE ON TIME” is Tatsuro Yamashita’s sixth single, released in 1980.
It’s a cool track with the brisk, stylish sound that epitomizes Yamashita and what we now call city pop.
Twenty-three years after its release, in 2003, it was chosen as the theme song for the pilot-themed drama “GOOD LUCK!!,” remastered, and reissued as a single.
The drama, supported by a distinctive cast including Takuya Kimura, Shinichi Tsutsumi, and Kou Shibasaki, achieved an astounding 37.6% viewership rating for its final episode.
In conclusion
We introduced a roundup of theme songs from popular dramas of the 2000s. The moment you hear them, memorable scenes from the shows and memories from that time may come flooding back, leaving some of you feeling nostalgic. This could be a great chance to revisit Japanese hit songs from the 2000s.