[2026] Karaoke songs to sing on New Year’s Eve: classic and popular Japanese hits
As we enter the latter half of December and the year-end approaches, opportunities to go to karaoke increase with year-end and New Year parties during the holiday break.
If you’re thinking, “Since it’s the end of the year, I want to sing karaoke songs that are perfect for ringing in the New Year,” this article introduces recommended Japanese songs for year-end karaoke.
We’ve put together a selection that includes beloved classics from the Showa era, recent masterpieces that capture the New Year’s mood, and even the latest songs performed on the quintessential New Year’s Eve program, the Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
Be sure to check it out!
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[2026] Karaoke songs to sing on New Year’s Eve: Classic and popular Japanese hits (41–50)
To a new worldGasshou Kyoku
A refreshing choral piece packed with sweet-and-sour youth, hugely popular at choir competitions.
How about singing this song again at karaoke—the one you sang back in your teen years? The chorus even includes handclaps, and singing it is sure to lift your spirits and boost your motivation.
A New WorldUemura Kana
This song is included on the mini-album “Steps,” released in 2013.
It’s a refreshing medium-tempo ballad familiar from the Sakai Moving Center commercials.
The track is crafted as a positive song perfect for ringing in the New Year.
Sing it at karaoke, and you’ll likely welcome a wonderful new year with a refreshed mindset.
Horse and deerYonezu Kenshi
2019 was another year dominated by Kenshi Yonezu.
How about wrapping it up with “Uma to Shika”? The lyrics don’t mention winter, the year-end, or Christmas, yet when you sing it, the events of the year strangely come flooding back like a revolving lantern.
This song makes you feel the awe-inspiring talent of Kenshi Yonezu.
Singing “Uma to Shika” at the end of the year and reflecting on the past year is highly recommended.
Goodbye ElegySuda Masaki
Masaki Suda made his first appearance at NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2019.
To me, Masaki Suda is Philip from Kamen Rider W, so my impression was, “He’s really grown up.” At first I thought, “Here we go again, another actor singing,” but I remember being surprised by how cool he was and how good his singing was.
He’s an actor and artist we can expect great things from in both fields going forward.
Bura-bura BushiTakada Wataru
It’s a song packed with the unique charm of Wataru Takada’s breezy, deadpan singing.
There are times when you can’t help but feel like, “Another year has slipped by again,” right? Those melancholy feelings are sung with a lot of humor, so it might be the perfect track for anyone who wants to welcome the new year without any pressure (lol).