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[2026] A compilation of Japanese songs/J-pop with cool guitar solos

In any era, when it comes to the star players of rock bands, most people would say the guitarist—that’s the common image, isn’t it?

Not only in guitar-centric bands like rock and metal, but across various styles such as pop as well, there are countless classic songs where the guitar solo leaves an impression just as strong as the vocals.

In this article, we’re focusing on those “guitar solos” and have put together a selection of Japanese hits that feature awesome, exhilarating solos.

While there’s been a recent trend claiming that guitar solos are unnecessary, the reality is that many songs still incorporate them.

To prove it, we’ve compiled a lineup packed with recent hits and hidden gems alike.

Playlist

[2026] A compilation of Japanese songs/J-pop with cool guitar solos
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastwhite noiseOfisharu Higedan Dism
white noiseOfisharu Higedan Dismplay_arrow
Official HIGE DANDism’s “White Noise” chosen as an anime theme song
2eastGuitar, Loneliness, and the Blue Planetkessoku bando
Guitar, Loneliness, and the Blue Planetkessoku bandoplay_arrow
A fiery rock song by Kessoku Band that feels like youth.
3eastflying boatKing Gnu
flying boatKing Gnuplay_arrow
King Gnu’s moving CM song “Hikotei”
4eastSilent JealousyX
Silent JealousyXplay_arrow
The beautiful guitar solo of the visual kei band X
5eastStratocaster SeasideSuspended 4th
Stratocaster SeasideSuspended 4thplay_arrow
A rock song with fast picking but no sweep picking
6eastDreams, Nightmares, and FantasyRyokushokushakai
Dreams, Nightmares, and FantasyRyokushokushakaiplay_arrow
The pop-rock appeal of Ryokuoushoku Shakai
7eastWarning!BAND-MAID
Warning!BAND-MAIDplay_arrow
A rock band in maid costumes is captivating.
8eastShekiraraChilli Beans.
ShekiraraChilli Beans.play_arrow
An exhilarating track from a rock band hailing from a music academy
9eastLOVE ROCKETSThe Birthday
LOVE ROCKETSThe Birthdayplay_arrow
A rock band known for anime theme songs, with dynamic tracks
10eastNew Treasure IslandSakanakushon
New Treasure IslandSakanakushonplay_arrow
Sakanaction’s “Shin Takarajima” is a movie theme song.
11eastI…atarayo
I...atarayoplay_arrow
A three-piece band that feeds on sorrow
12eastUltramarine DaysToukyou Jihen
Ultramarine DaysToukyou Jihenplay_arrow
Ringo Sheena of Tokyo Jihen, a melodious guitar solo
13eastI love youCody Rī (Ri)
I love youCody Rī (Ri)play_arrow
My college buddies' rock band, Cody・Lee
14eastWe areONE OK ROCK
We areONE OK ROCKplay_arrow
The solo of ONE OK ROCK’s classic song “We are”
15eastTo you in the desertHitsuji Bungaku
To you in the desertHitsuji Bungakuplay_arrow
The translucent, airy sound of Hitsujibungaku is captivating.
16eastSesameKroi
SesameKroiplay_arrow
The appeal of Kroi, a rock band creating new music
17eastGirl is GhostSCANDAL
Girl is GhostSCANDALplay_arrow
SCANDAL’s latest song: a tale of change and exhilaration
18eastYouth DiaryRyukku to soine gohan
Youth DiaryRyukku to soine gohanplay_arrow
Backpack Cuddling, Youth Rock Band
19eastJudgement DayLOVEBITES
Judgement DayLOVEBITESplay_arrow
The powerful music of the metal band LOVEBITES
20eastShibuya hariappa!BUCK∞TICK
Shibuya hariappa!BUCK∞TICKplay_arrow
The 44th single, infused with the new regime’s challenge
21eastI don’t like it.yangusukinii
I don’t like it.yangusukiniiplay_arrow
A moving song by a four-member band formed on social media
22eastThe End of the WorldTHEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT
The End of the WorldTHEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANTplay_arrow
An iconic rock song brimming with the appeal of punk rock
23eastTeenager ForeverKing Gnu
Teenager ForeverKing Gnuplay_arrow
King Gnu’s diverse music and outstanding song composition
24eastI won’t forget it.kessoku bando
I won't forget it.kessoku bandoplay_arrow
The essence of technically brilliant and moving music
25eastThe CastawayLOVEBITES
The CastawayLOVEBITESplay_arrow
An inspiring song by the metal band LOVEBITES
26eastSophieAve Mujica
SophieAve Mujicaplay_arrow
The profound musical world of a Gothic-style band
27eastSTORMLUNA SEA
STORMLUNA SEAplay_arrow
A signature song by LUNA SEA, with a sense of speed and catchiness.
28eastMahorobaningen ishi
Mahorobaningen ishiplay_arrow
Ningen Isu: A ray of hope through Japanese aesthetics and weighty grandeur
29eastlong-distance relationshipRADWIMPS
long-distance relationshipRADWIMPSplay_arrow
An original song that stands out for RADWIMPS' distinctive musicality
30eastDriver’s HighL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
Driver's HighL'Arc〜en〜Cielplay_arrow
L’…, released on August 11, 1999
31eastPresent PerfectBAND-MAID
Present PerfectBAND-MAIDplay_arrow
BAND-MAID’s blazing rock track and the will to move forward
32eastKiss U Dead Or AliveSeikima II
Kiss U Dead Or AliveSeikima IIplay_arrow
Seikima-II’s first new song in 37 years
33eastRe:Re:ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Re:Re:ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATIONplay_arrow
Impressive solo in ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION’s anime opening song
34eastFIGHTING FISTS, ANGRY SOULHi-STANDARD
FIGHTING FISTS, ANGRY SOULHi-STANDARD
A song that showcases Ken Yokoyama’s guitar technique
35eastConvergent RaysUnlucky Morpheus
Convergent RaysUnlucky Morpheusplay_arrow
The overwhelming sense of speed in symphonic metal
36eastReady to RockBAND-MAID
Ready to RockBAND-MAIDplay_arrow
BAND-MAID’s overwhelming songs highlight their brilliant guitar technique.
37eastrainbowELLEGARDEN
rainbowELLEGARDENplay_arrow
ELLEGARDEN’s guitarist Uchikata influenced Japan.
38eastTHE REASON WE FIGHTGALNERYUS
THE REASON WE FIGHTGALNERYUSplay_arrow
A new song by GALNERYUS, a piece of technique and passion
39eastBad CommunicationB’z
Bad CommunicationB'zplay_arrow
A classic B’z song with a captivating guitar solo.
40eastMetaphor feat. FeryquitousIchika Nito
Metaphor feat. FeryquitousIchika Nitoplay_arrow
Ichika Nito’s new song is dreamy and innovative.
41eastIn the blue-green eyesAve Mujica
In the blue-green eyesAve Mujicaplay_arrow
Mysterious, heavy metal with a dreamlike worldview
42eastNext Is The Best!Seikima II
Next Is The Best!Seikima IIplay_arrow
A powerful, heavy metal song by Seikima-II
43eastBeautiful CircusRin to shite Shigure
Beautiful CircusRin to shite Shigureplay_arrow
The distinctive musical style of Ling Tosite Sigure
44eastLonerNEK
LonerNEKplay_arrow
NEK!'s shocking technical track
45eastSmokinChar
SmokinCharplay_arrow
Char's bluesy music and captivating guitar
46eastwhipB’z
whipB'zplay_arrow
B’z hard rock, transcend-limits theme
47eastBLEEZEGLAY
BLEEZEGLAYplay_arrow
GLAY’s 20th anniversary commemorative single
48eastWith youTUBE
With youTUBEplay_arrow
A classic of summer: TUBE’s heart-touching song
49eastWhat’s My NameMIYAVI
What's My NameMIYAVIplay_arrow
MIYAVI’s distinctive guitar playing style is characteristic.
50eastPlace to tryTOTALFAT
Place to tryTOTALFATplay_arrow
A song with a captivating metal-style guitar solo
51eastHeavenRei
HeavenReiplay_arrow
Rei’s profound songs, versatile guitar work, and musicality
52eastStart Our JourneyHAGANE
Start Our JourneyHAGANEplay_arrow
HAGANE’s metal: overwhelming performance and emotional expression
53eastCrescendoASTERISM
CrescendoASTERISMplay_arrow
A virtuoso heavy metal band, anime theme song
54eastSoul DefenderLOVEBITES
Soul DefenderLOVEBITESplay_arrow
A supreme song that embodies the essence of power metal.
55eastOblivionSeikima II
OblivionSeikima IIplay_arrow
Seikima-II’s 40 years, the heavy ballad “Oblivion”
56eastUnchainedLOVEBITES
UnchainedLOVEBITESplay_arrow
A new metal song sings of freedom and liberation
57eastSide by Side (feat. Char)Hotei Tomoyasu
Side by Side (feat. Char)Hotei Tomoyasuplay_arrow
Recreating the guitar battle between Hotei and Char
58eastPrideNovel Core
PrideNovel Coreplay_arrow
A rock work that portrays the resolve to stay true to oneself
59eastRUSSIAN ROULETTEHotei Tomoyasu
RUSSIAN ROULETTEHotei Tomoyasuplay_arrow
Tomoyasu Hotei, Japan’s iconic guitar hero