Gen Z listeners, take note! Great songs that color the J-pop scene
The definition of a good song differs from person to person, doesn’t it?
Songs about someone special, ones that give you a push, or those that depict strong determination—all of these could be considered good songs, but it likely depends on the listener’s feelings and situation.
So this time, we’ve focused on Gen Z listeners and compiled a list under the keyword “good songs.”
They’re all great tracks, so we hope not only Gen Z but listeners of all ages will enjoy them.
- An iconic song by a female artist that Gen Z can get hyped about with their peers
- Recommended for Gen Z! Classic love songs sung by female artists
- Tear ducts guaranteed to burst! Heart-wrenching masterpiece songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
- Tear-jerking masterpieces sung by male artists that I’d recommend to Gen Z
- Get fired up for the hot season! Summer songs recommended for Gen Z
- Nothing but famous and hit songs! K-pop tracks recommended for Gen Z
- Hype songs sung by male artists that are recommended for Gen Z
- Revival hits driven by social media! Classic Showa-era songs popular with Gen Z
- Definitely when you want a boost of power! Energetic songs recommended for Gen Z
- Karaoke songs sung by female artists recommended for Gen Z
- Only masterpieces that color the season of meetings and farewells! Spring songs recommended for Gen Z.
- [Women Artists Only] Breakup Songs Recommended for Gen Z
- Packed with everything from friendship to romance! Youth anthems recommended for Gen Z
Gen Z listeners, take note! “Good songs” coloring the J-POP scene (21–30)
rainbowSuda Masaki
The theme song for the film STAND BY ME Doraemon 2, sung by Masaki Suda, who is active in many areas of the entertainment industry.
Released in November 2020, the track became a major hit, surpassing 100 million streams.
Its warm, everyday-life-affirming lyrics and Suda’s straightforward vocals resonate deeply with listeners.
Singing about gratitude and bonds with loved ones, the song is also popular as a wedding tune.
It’s a great listen when you want to share a happy feeling with someone.
Tomorrow will surely be a good day.Takahashi Yuu
Takahashi Yu’s single, woven with a positive message, stands out for its refreshing arrangement featuring acoustic guitar.
Released in June 2015, the track was used as the commercial song for Daihatsu’s “Cast Activa.” Its lyrics, which depict various everyday events and emotions, remind us of the importance of moving forward positively and overcoming any hardship.
With a catchy melody that makes you want to hum along, it’s a gem of a pop tune.
It’s also a great recommendation for Gen Z listeners, as it supports those who feel afraid of failure and struggle to take the next step.
Gen Z listeners, take note! “Great Songs” Coloring the J-POP Scene (31–40)
We againSG
Singer-songwriter SG, a Japanese-Korean artist who gained popularity through TikTok and YouTube, released this song in April 2021.
Embraced as a “Reiwa-era graduation song,” it captured the hearts of younger listeners and surpassed 150 million streams.
The lyrics, which blend the loneliness of parting with the hope of reunion, resonate with people at life’s turning points, such as graduation or changing jobs.
In November 2024, a concert band arrangement was featured in Calorie Mate’s exam-season support commercial, and a collaborative production with the Blossoming Tokuei High School Wind Ensemble also drew attention.
Its simple “don-don-pa” rhythm makes it easy to sing and popular at school events.
It’s a perfect song for those facing farewells with someone important, as well as middle and high school students about to graduate.
I Sing a Love Song to You Across a Hundred Years. feat. aixeNatsunose
Composer Natsunose, known for creating songs that evoke nostalgic scenes, has gained widespread popularity.
Released in December 2025 as a collaboration with Yozora Fuyuno’s novel “A Song of Love to You Across a Hundred Years,” this piece recreates in reality the song written by the story’s protagonist.
Featuring vocalist aixe, the track blends her crystal-clear voice with the heartrending narrative in a delicate harmony.
The lyrics, which express feelings that transcend time, may grip your heart even more deeply when listened to after reading the novel.
It’s an emotional song that invites you to fully immerse yourself in its world.
The calling voiceVaundy
Written by singer-songwriter Vaundy as the theme song for NHK General’s “Vaundy 18-sai Matsuri,” this piece was released digitally in December 2025.
It was created on the premise of being sung together with “1,000 18-year-olds gathered from across the country.” It brilliantly fuses introspective personal emotions and a forward-looking stance toward the future with the anthemic exhilaration of voices raised in unison.
It’s a track brimming with overwhelming energy that powerfully pushes the backs of those who are earnestly taking on a challenge.
UnveilLuna fīto. Nenne
A streaming single by Luna featuring Nenne.
It was written as the image song for Chisaki, a character who appears in the game Wuthering Waves.
The title carries the meaning of “removing the veil,” delicately portraying the character’s hidden inner self and emotions that can’t be shown on the surface.
Luna’s signature sense of speed and crystalline pop sound intertwine with Nenne’s emotive vocals, resulting in a track that resonates deep in the heart.
We recommend it not only to players of Wuthering Waves, but also to anyone looking for emotional music.
SoranjiMrs. GREEN APPLE
Is there any other song that sings of the preciousness of life with such tenderness and strength? Released in November 2022 as Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s first single in about three and a half years, this piece was written as the theme song for the film “From Siberia With Love,” starring Kazunari Ninomiya and Keiko Kitagawa.
In step with a story that upholds love for family against the harsh backdrop of a Siberian labor camp, the lyrics—like reciting by heart one’s feelings for a beloved—etch themselves into the soul.
Its grand arrangement featuring strings wraps unspoken everyday emotions and hope for tomorrow into a sweeping ballad.
It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone choosing to believe in the future, no matter how difficult the days may be.