2003 J-Pop hit songs special: the golden age of music when diversity blossomed
The year 2003 was a memorable one in Japan’s music scene, marked by the emergence of numerous timeless hits.
SMAP’s “The Only Flower in the World” became a social phenomenon, achieving massive success and being hummed by people of all ages.
Naotaro Moriyama’s “Sakura” and Mika Nakashima’s “Yuki no Hana,” among other enduring masterpieces, kept the charts lively throughout the year.
It was also notable for the rise of bands delivering youth anthems and for hits that remain beloved choices at karaoke to this day.
In this article, we’ll focus on the hit songs of 2003.
- Hit Japanese songs of 2004: recommended classics and popular tracks
- Girls’ rock: female vocal bands that were active in the 2000s
- Hit J-Pop songs of 2008: recommended masterpieces and popular tracks
- Hit J-Pop songs of 2015. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- Male Singer-Songwriters of the 2000s: Popular Song Ranking [2026]
- 2000s Japanese Hits | Unforgettable Once You Hear Them! Exquisite Masterpieces
- 2000s: A Collection of Hit Karaoke Classics
- Masterpieces that colored the spring of the Heisei era, including popular cherry blossom songs.
- Hit J-Pop songs of 2007: the appeal of hit tracks that exude a positive vibe
- Heisei-era masterpieces. Hit songs that represent the Heisei period.
- An energizing song that was a hit in the 2000s—a classic that gives you strength.
- Winter songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic winter anthems that never lose their shine.
- [2013 Japanese Hit Songs] Masterpieces that Colored the Ama-chan Boom, Group Popularity, and the Band Scene
2003 J-Pop Hit Songs Special: The Golden Era of Music When Diversity Flourished (21–30)
IT’S SHOWTIMEB’z
B’z’s 34th single, which topped the Oricon weekly and monthly charts and ranked 12th for the year.
It’s a characteristically fiery B’z track that was used as a tie-in for three sports-related TV programs.
The song is built solely from guitarist Matsumoto’s “commonly used minor-key chords,” and it reflects his playful spirit—he’s said that “the fun of music lies in the limitless possibilities within a limited scale.”
morrowDragon Ash
Released after a break of more than a year since the smash-hit previous single “FANTASISTA,” this work isn’t an upbeat, high-energy track but rather a downer-style song built on two chords.
Kenji Furuya, the vocalist, reportedly said in a magazine interview, “If I could take one Dragon Ash song with me into my next life, I’d take this one.”
Feature: 2003 Japanese Hit Songs. The golden age of music when diversity blossomed (31–40)
Choo Choo TRAINEXILE
Now a familiar upbeat tune loved across generations, this is one of EXILE’s signature songs and a famous cover of the original by ZOO.
Thanks to the success of this track, they rose to the level of performing on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen (NHK’s year-end music special).
BEAUTIFUL DREAMER / STREET LIFEGLAY
A track with strings in the background.
It’s refreshing, upbeat, and easy to groove to.
The pop feel pairs perfectly with vocalist TERU’s powerful high-tone voice, and I imagine many GLAY fans love this song.
BLUE BE-BOPRIP SLYME
This is the song that earned their first No.
1 on the Oricon singles chart.
While it has a calm vibe, it doesn’t lose its catchy groove.
In the music video, the members sing wearing samue (traditional work garments), and there are elements rumored to be responses to criticism, making it a track that’s not only great to listen to but also rich with visuals to watch.
Be My LoveSPEED
This is a song released during SPEED’s second reunion.
It also served as the theme song for the “Save the Children: Let’s Start Together” project, for which the four members acted as messengers, and it’s a song about the love between children and their parents.
foreignerTAK MATSUMOTO featuring ZARD
This is a collaborative single by Takahiro Matsumoto of B’z and Izumi Sakai of ZARD, covering Saki Kubota’s 1979 song “Ihōjin” (“Foreign Person/Stranger”).
It became a hit, selling over 100,000 copies.
This work was ZARD’s final collaborative single.