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.
Playlist
| female artist | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1 | Happy DaysOtsuka Ai |  play_arrow | Singer-songwriter Ai Otsuka's... |
| 2 | SunriseBENNIE K |  play_arrow | A duo consisting of a singer and a rapper, ... |
| 3 | For love.Ueto Aya |  play_arrow | This is Aya Ueto’s seventh single. Of course, she’s an actress… |
| 4 | happiness!!!Kimura Kaera |  play_arrow | Kaela Kimura, who is also active as a model, sa... |
| 5 | dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo |  play_arrow | A song that is famous alongside Hitoto Yo's 'Morainaki'... |
| 6 | Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi |  play_arrow | A classic song by Yumi Matsutoya that depicts anticipation for spring and nostalgia |
| 7 | Give me a gentle kiss.DREAMS COME TRUE |  play_arrow | DREAMS COME TRUE's 31st… |
| 8 | See you tomorrow / At the start of the day… / A scene of happinessEvery Little Thing |  play_arrow | The second of Every Little Thing… |
| 9 | CRAVIN’JUJU |  play_arrow | By now, JUJ has firmly established its popularity... |
| 10 | Hana-kaze (flower wind)aiko |  play_arrow | Tied up as the image song for a baseball broadcast… |
| 11 | Bridge to TomorrowKuraki Mai |  play_arrow | As Mai Kuraki’s only single in 2004… |
| 12 | When Someone’s Wish Comes TrueUtada Hikaru |  play_arrow | Utada Hikaru’s 13th single, compared to the previous release… |
| 13 | JupiterHirahara Ayaka |  play_arrow | Gustav Holst’s classical piece “Jupiter”... |
| 14 | Ultramarine DaysToukyou Jihen |  play_arrow | It's the title track of Tokyo Jihen's debut single... |
| 15 | distress (at sea/in the mountains); being lost; stranded; a disaster situationToukyou Jihen |  play_arrow | The debut song as Tokyo Jihen led by Ringo Sheena... |
| 16 | Things that have formShibasaki Kou |  play_arrow | This is the drama version of 'Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World'... |
| 17 | Apple SongShiina Ringo |  play_arrow | Ringo Sheena’s 9th single, “Minna no Uta…” |
| 18 | INSPIREHamasaki Ayumi |  play_arrow | A song by Ayumi Hamasaki that encourages listeners with a sharp, tight backing track and passionate lyrics. |
| 19 | ReasonTamaki Nami |  play_arrow | This is Nami Tamaki’s sixth single. The anime “Mo—” |
| 20 | Hello GoodbyeYU-KI |  play_arrow | Released as YUKI’s eighth single… |
| 21 | kaleidoscopeAikawa Nanase | This is Nanase Aikawa’s 26th single. Kaleidoscope, … | |
| male artist | |||
| 22 | SignMr.Children |  play_arrow | As the theme song for the TBS drama “Orange Days”… |
| 23 | Messenger from Sunday↑THE HIGH-LOWS↓ |  play_arrow | In terms of popularity, you could say it’s a signature song of The High-Lows… |
| 24 | Stargazersupittsu |  play_arrow | It marked their first single release in about one year and five months... |
| 25 | SisterPorunogurafiti |  play_arrow | After Porno Graffitti’s bassist Tama left… |
| 26 | READY STRADY GOL’Arc〜en〜Ciel |  play_arrow | L’Arc〜en〜Ciel’s 22nd sing… |
| 27 | ArueBUMP OF CHICKEN |  play_arrow | The seventh album by BUMP OF CHICKEN... |
| 28 | GO !!!FLOW |  play_arrow | FLOW’s first anime tie-in song. For the anime “N…” |
| 29 | Roco LotionORANGE RANGE |  play_arrow | ORANGE, which ranked first for the week and sixth for the year... |
| 30 | FlowerORANGE RANGE |  play_arrow | The theme song of the film “Be with You.” O… |
| 31 | GALAXYRIP SLYME |  play_arrow | RIP SLYME’s 9th single “GA… |
| 32 | Heart Throbsnobobyknows̟+ |  play_arrow | nobodyknows+'s 3rd single… |
| 33 | Everything becomes my strength!kuzu |  play_arrow | The popular variety show at the time, 'One Night R...' |
| 34 | Bridge of Gloryyuzu |  play_arrow | Official te… of NHK’s “Athens Olympic Broadcast” |
| 35 | BUMP to youKetsumeishi |  play_arrow | This is Ketsumeishi’s 10th single. The film “… |
| 36 | You are the star.Sazan Ōrusutāzu |  play_arrow | Multiple commercial jingles, the entrance march for high school baseball, and so on… |
| 37 | Days of Love and DesireSazan Ōrusutāzu |  play_arrow | It's Southern All Stars' 50th single... |
| 38 | Before our feelings overlap…Hirai Ken |  play_arrow | Ken Hirai’s 22nd single and his third overall … |
| 39 | Close your eyesHirai Ken |  play_arrow | Toho-distributed film 'Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World'... |
| 40 | Matsuken Samba IIMatsudaira Ken |  play_arrow | Anyway, it's just too cheerful and bright as a song... |
| 41 | To all living thingsMoriyama Naotaro |  play_arrow | Mr. Naotaro Moriyama, who has a somewhat mysterious worldview... |
| 42 | Marriage Fighting-Spirit March “Best Buddies”Kishidan |  play_arrow | This is Kishidan’s sixth single. As for the title… |
| 43 | cherry blossomKawaguchi Kyogo |  play_arrow | Won the Wired Music Award at the 36th Japan Cable Radio Awards… |
| 44 | Rainbow ~Another Summer~Fukuyama Masaharu |  play_arrow | Following “Rainbow,” the program “WATER…” was broadcast again. |
| 45 | WonderlandInaba Hiroshi |  play_arrow | Inaba himself took up the subject of “hikikomori” in a certain… |
| 46 | Song of JoyMONGOL800 |  play_arrow | In its second week of release, for the first time in the history of indie singles... |
| 47 | RewriteASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION |  play_arrow | Fullmetal Alchemist Season 4 opening theme. A famous rock and cool song. |
| 48 | Blue JeanGLAY |  play_arrow | GLAY’s 31st single. A refreshing track that sings about summer romance. |
| 49 | The One and Only Flower in the WorldSMAP |  play_arrow | A signature SMAP release from 2003… |
| 50 | ignited – イグナイテッド –T.M.Revolution |  play_arrow | Anime “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DES… |
| 51 | Blue BenchSasuke |  play_arrow | Sasuke’s standard edition released in 2004 is a… |