Hit Japanese songs of 2004: recommended classics and popular tracks
Mr.
Children, Kishidan, Ken Hirai, Ayaka Hirahara, Hikaru Utada, Tokyo Jihen…
From the many classic and popular songs that colored the J-POP hit charts of 2004 (Heisei 16), our studio staff has selected recommended hits.
A playlist that still doesn’t fade with time—one that represents the Heisei era.
- Hit J-pop songs of 2005. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- [Hit Songs of 2010] A Roundup of Nostalgic Japanese Tracks!
- Hit Japanese songs of 2006. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- [Heisei Songs] Classic hits from the Heisei era that are popular on Instagram Reels
- Hit J-Pop songs of 2014: recommended classics and popular tracks
- Hit J-Pop songs of 2008: recommended masterpieces and popular tracks
- Cool songs of the Heisei era. Hit tracks that energized the times.
- 2000s Japanese Hits | Unforgettable Once You Hear Them! Exquisite Masterpieces
- Heisei-era masterpieces. Hit songs that represent the Heisei period.
- [Japanese Music] Masterpieces of 2000s Pop: A roundup of hit songs from 00s J-POP
- 2003 J-Pop hit songs special: the golden age of music when diversity blossomed
- An energizing song that was a hit in the 2000s—a classic that gives you strength.
- All big hits! A roundup of classic J‑Pop songs that were popular in 2000
Male artists (1–10)
GALAXYRIP SLYME
RIP SLYME’s 9th single “GALAXY” is one of their hit songs, debuting at No.
5 on the Oricon chart.
In the music video, they use hand plays to depict animals, and each member appears as a finger puppet or hand puppet, making it visually entertaining as well.
True to the title “GALAXY,” the lyrics evoke space, mentioning things like the Milky Way and meteorites.
Male Artists (11–20)
Heart Throbsnobobyknows̟+
This was nobodyknows+’s 3rd single and served as the second-season ending theme for the TV Tokyo anime SD Gundam Force.
Perhaps due to the tie-in, the first pressing limited edition came with a plastic model kit.
It debuted at No.
10, rose to a peak of No.
5, and ranked 37th for the year.
It was the group’s biggest hit, and at the time, many people probably shouted the raspy “Enjoy!” line at karaoke.
Everything becomes my strength!kuzu
This is the third single by Kuzu, the duo of Hiroyuki Miyasako and Tomomitsu Yamaguchi that was formed on the then-popular variety show “One-Night R&R.” It became a hit, partly because it was used as a cheer song for the World Judo Championships, and it earned them their first and only No.
1 on the Oricon chart.
It’s an encouraging song that conveys a powerful message: take all your painful and sad experiences and turn them into your own strength.
Bridge of Gloryyuzu
It became the official theme song for NHK’s Athens Olympic broadcasts.
It’s so famous and popular that it’s almost surprising it never reached No.
1 on the Oricon chart.
Perhaps due to the commentary during the men’s team gymnastics event, it is often mistakenly referred to as “Eikō e no Kakehashi” or “Eikō no Kakehashi.”
BUMP to youKetsumeishi
This is Ketsumeishi’s 10th single.
It’s said to have been created with the film Saturday Night Fever in mind, resulting in a relaxed, danceable track with a disco sound.
It also drew attention for having the choreography in the music video handled by Papaya Suzuki.
You are the star.Sazan Ōrusutāzu
Southern All Stars’ 49th single features multiple tie-ins, including several commercial jingles, the entrance march for the National High School Baseball Championship, and even the theme song for the Athens Olympics—several of them large-scale.
It’s a refreshing track packed with summer-related keywords that embody the band’s signature style, and its very first word, “Inamuragasaki,” evokes a sense of hometown love.
Days of Love and DesireSazan Ōrusutāzu
This is Southern All Stars’ 50th single, an upbeat disco-style track.
It reached No.
1 on both the weekly and monthly Oricon charts, which is remarkable, as it marked their fifth consecutive No.
1 since the 2003 re-release of “Katteni Sinbad.” The song was tied in as the theme for the Fuji TV drama “Ōoku: The First Chapter,” lightening the show’s deeply rooted dark aspects a bit while highlighting its powerful elements.
Before our feelings overlap…Hirai Ken
This is Ken Hirai’s 22nd single and his third song to reach number one on the Oricon Singles Chart.
It was used in a Toyota “Corolla Fielder” commercial, and eleven months after its release, it was also chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Tsumiki Kuzushi Shinsō: Ano Kazoku, Sono Ato no Higeki” (The True Story of the Collapse of the Building Blocks: That Family, The Tragedy That Followed).
Close your eyesHirai Ken
Ken Hirai’s 20th single, which was chosen as the theme song for the Toho-distributed film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World.” It reached No.
1 on Oricon’s year-end chart that year and led to his appearance on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
The song has also been covered by many musicians both in Japan and abroad.
Matsuken Samba IIMatsudaira Ken
It’s an extremely famous song for being cheerful and upbeat.
Matsudaira Ken, who often played roles with a dignified, majestic presence, dances in flashy, glittering costumes—you can’t help but laugh.
At first, the track was only available from theater performances, but its popularity gradually grew to the point where he even appeared on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.