Hit J-Pop songs from 2002. Recommended classics and popular tracks.
Dragon Ash, Chitose Hajime, Ketsumeishi, Hikaru Utada, Porno Graffitti, MISIA, Kishidan…
From among the many classic songs that lit up the J-POP charts in 2002, our studio staff have selected their recommended hits.
It’s a moving playlist that still hasn’t lost its luster.
- 2003 J-Pop hit songs special: the golden age of music when diversity blossomed
- Love songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic and popular Japanese songs.
- Iconic songs by Japanese rock bands from the 2000s [J-Rock]
- [2026 Hit Songs] Iconic Heisei-Era Classics and Nostalgic Japanese Music
- Top Female Singer-Songwriters and Popular Songs of the 2000s [2026]
- Emotional songs you’ll want to listen to in summer: classic tracks by rock bands and singer-songwriters.
- Heisei-era masterpieces revisited through the hit songs of 2001
- Hit J-pop songs of 2005. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- 2012 Hit Song Rankings! A roundup of nostalgic classics all at once
- Hit J-Pop songs of 2007: the appeal of hit tracks that exude a positive vibe
- Summer Songs That Hit in the 2000s | A Look Back at Nostalgic Summer Tunes!
- 2000s Japanese Hits | Unforgettable Once You Hear Them! Exquisite Masterpieces
- All big hits! A roundup of classic J‑Pop songs that were popular in 2000
Female Artists (11–20)
Aiin ExercisesBaka tonosama to Minimoni hime.
A miraculous unit formed by the idol group Mini Moni.
and the comedian Ken Shimura.
Back then, kids would often keep repeating “Aiin” at school.
The word “Aiin” naturally appears countless times in the lyrics as well, and in the music video the idols repeatedly jut out their chins to do the “Aiin,” making it a very comical song.
I want a perfect Christmas!Pucchimoni
A single by the second-generation lineup, and also Pucchi Moni’s final single.
It’s a catchy Christmas song that clearly feels like something Tsunku would make.
In the music video, the three appear in pajamas—a delightful treat for fans at the time.
That’s right! We’re ALIVEMōningu Musume.
This is Morning Musume’s 14th single, which was also used as the theme song for the Salt Lake City Olympics.
As befits a sports theme song, it carries a powerful, forward-driving feel, and in the interlude it even incorporates elements of the Russian song “Kalinka,” making it a truly global track.
PurenessUeto Aya
Aya Ueto’s debut single as an artist.
Despite having no tie-in at the time, it achieved the remarkable feat of reaching the top five on the Oricon chart.
Unlike her image as an actress, she wore a rock-style outfit—jeans and a T-shirt—and I think this song established a new image for her.
Tree of WadatsumiHajime Chitose
This is a track with a distinctive singing voice that employs Amami’s traditional vocal technique, guin, paired with a grand arrangement that feels wonderful.
Wadatsumi is the sea deity that appears in Japanese mythology, and this arrangement is so vast that it befits the name of a god.
This song also became the catalyst that made Chitose Hajime widely known across Japan as a singer from Amami.
Tears Flowing EndlesslyNatsukawa Rimi
Tears for You, well known as a farewell or graduation song, takes its title from the Okinawan phrase “namida sousou,” which means “tears falling and spilling over.” The lyrics were reportedly written by Ryoko Moriyama in memory of her late older brother.
It’s a song that evokes Okinawa’s blue sea and carries a certain warmth.
Female artist (21–30)
SAKURA DropsUtada Hikaru
Hikaru Utada’s 11th single, which topped the weekly and monthly charts and ranked 6th for the year.
It was also used as the theme song for the TBS drama “First Love.” The catchy clarity of the chorus and the main theme in the interlude makes it stick in your ears, while the A and B sections, which drastically change the mood, defy expectations and add depth to the song.
The title plays on “drop” meaning cherry blossoms falling and on Sakuma Drops candy, cleverly twisting a familiar word into a great title.