[Hit Songs of 2010] A Roundup of Nostalgic Japanese Tracks!
Do you remember which songs lit up Japan’s music scene in 2010? Timeless masterpieces and hits that still bring back the excitement of those days, even as the years pass.
In this article, we’ve gathered 2010 releases that became hit songs—from tracks featured in TV commercials and drama theme songs to popular tunes everyone sang at karaoke.
Just hearing them is sure to stir nostalgic memories for many! Please enjoy them along with music videos that capture the spirit of the times.
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[Hit Songs of 2010] A Roundup of Nostalgic Japanese Tracks! (31–40)
1! 2! 3! 4! Nice to meet you!SKE48
It’s a popular song by SKE48, a sister group of AKB48.
It’s a lively dance number.
Since it includes spoken lines, it’s guaranteed to get everyone hyped at karaoke.
Until now they were mostly seen as AKB’s sister group, but this track gave SKE48 a big boost of momentum.
This Is loveSMAP
SMAP’s 45th single, from the group that sadly disbanded in 2016.
It was the theme song for “SMAP×SMAP” at the time, right? I heard the song was actually provided by the music duo Love Psychedelico.
When you listen to it, you can kind of feel their vibe, can’t you? Their self-cover is also really good, so definitely give it a listen.
We’ll hug each other out of joy.YU-KI
This is a song where YUKI’s soaring voice blends beautifully with the wonderful lyrics.
It’s something we couldn’t do as a band.
More than the sound, it’s a track where I want you to focus on the words, the lyrics, and the voice.
It has a worldview that only YUKI can sing.
It’s a difficult song, yet one that naturally makes you want to hum along.
Last LoveKato Miria
This is singer-songwriter Miliyah Kato’s 17th single, a somewhat understated number that sings about the heartache of a breakup.
Speaking of Miliyah Kato, her appeal lies in lyrics that firmly capture girls’ hearts, and around 2010 she was really popular among high school girls, wasn’t she?
Troublemakerarashi
In the 2010 music charts, Arashi were especially popular among male idol groups.
Their song “Troublemaker” was used as the theme song for the TV drama “Tokujo Kabachi!!,” starring member Sho Sakurai.
It remains a highly popular song at their live shows even today.
[Hit Songs of 2010] A Roundup of Nostalgic Japanese Tracks! (41–50)
The Truly Scary Side of Love and RomanceKuwata Keisuke
This is a solo single by Keisuke Kuwata.
The opening piano is really cool.
The title has depth, but the lyrics themselves are straightforward and easy to understand.
Kuwata’s solo work has a distinctly different vibe from when he’s with Southern All Stars.
OkayInaba Hiroshi
This is a solo single by Inaba from B’z.
It has a different vibe from his work with B’z—another kind of cool track.
Inaba’s songs are tough to sing, but precisely because they’re difficult, if a man can sing them well, it scores high points.
The chorus is also easy to listen to.