2012 Hit Song Rankings! A roundup of nostalgic classics all at once
In this article, we’ll be showcasing a roundup of Japanese hit songs from 2012 (Heisei 24)! How old were you back then? Maybe you were enjoying your student life, just starting out as a working adult and learning the ropes, or perhaps you got married and welcomed a child.
These are all songs that will likely bring back memories the moment you hear them, so please read through to the end! It’s also a playlist you can use as a reference when choosing songs for karaoke!
- [2013 Japanese Hit Songs] Masterpieces that Colored the Ama-chan Boom, Group Popularity, and the Band Scene
- Hit songs that colored 2011! Timeless tracks that bring back those days
- Hit J-Pop songs of 2007: the appeal of hit tracks that exude a positive vibe
- A Must-See for the Heisei Generation: Nostalgic Songs That Were Popular in the Heisei Era
- Hit J-Pop songs of 2014: recommended classics and popular tracks
- Songs that were popular last year. A collection of iconic tracks that symbolize 2022.
- [Hit Songs of 2010] A Roundup of Nostalgic Japanese Tracks!
- Best Hit Songs That Were Popular in 2022 [Top Pick]
- AKB48’s classic and hit songs: Relive your youth! A comprehensive introduction to their popular tracks
- Hit J-Pop songs of 2015. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- [Recommended for your 20s] Songs that get the crowd going at karaoke | From the latest hits to timeless classics
- Recommended karaoke songs for women in their 20s — Heisei/Reiwa hits and the latest tracks
- [20s] Popular Japanese Music and J-POP Rankings [By Generation]
2012 Hit Song Rankings! A Roundup of Nostalgic Classics (11–20)
OrangeGRe4N BOYZ
A song that captures the moment when feelings for someone you like overflow on the way home dyed by the sunset.
Released in April 2012 under the name GReeeeN as their 16th single by GRe4N BOYZ, it was used in a Shiseido “SEA BREEZE” commercial.
The lyrics describe how simply walking side by side makes your heart race, and the more you think about it, the harder it becomes to hold back the urge to confess—sung over a refreshing, fast-paced band sound.
It’s a recommended track for anyone who wants to relive the delicate feelings of a school-days crush.
The BeginningONE OK ROCK
Released in 2012 as their seventh single, this song was written specifically as the theme for the film Rurouni Kenshin.
Originally composed on piano, the melody was arranged for a full band, resulting in a fast-paced rock tune brimming with drive.
The lyrics carry a powerful message: no matter how many times you fall, it isn’t over as long as you keep getting back up.
It’s a track that fires you up—perfect for those moments when you’re taking on a challenge or facing difficulties and need a push forward.
Like the shining moonSuperfly
Released in August 2012, this single is a ballad that was used as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “Summer Rescue: The Clinic on the Sky.” Through the relationship between the sun and the moon, it expresses how the light received from a loved one makes oneself shine, and the desire to become the light that illuminates that person in return.
It conveys gratitude to the one who opened a once-lonely heart, and a resolve to live for that person.
Shiho Ochi’s soulful vocals deliver these themes with powerful emotion.
Why not give it a listen when you’re at a turning point in life?
The wind is blowing.ikimonogakari
An epic anthem dedicated to everyone living in a time of change.
Released in July 2012 as Ikimono-gakari’s 24th single, it was selected as the theme song for NHK’s coverage of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Created in the year following the Great East Japan Earthquake, it carries a message of hope and solidarity.
If you watched the Olympic broadcasts, this song is likely etched deeply in your heart.
It’s a powerful yet warm track that gives you courage.
confessionHirai Ken
This is a song by Ken Hirai that explores themes of deep despair and unrequited love.
Released in May 2012 as his 35th single, it poignantly depicts, from a woman’s perspective, the anguish and sorrow of yearning for love that remains out of reach.
Chosen as the theme song for the TV Asahi drama “The W’s Tragedy,” it reached No.
5 on the Oricon weekly chart.
It’s a piece we hope will resonate with anyone who has suffered through a love that could not be fulfilled.
ChankapanaNEWS
“Chankapana” was NEWS’s first release as a four-member group, titled with a coined word meaning “beloved person.” It’s a track where an exotic mood merges with a funky pop sound.
The lyrics depict a passionate love sparked at first sight, revealing the story of an adult romance marked by fiery, fleeting moments.
It’s a song you can’t help but groove to.
Midsummer Sounds Good!AKB48
This is an AKB48 song that could be called the most popular track of 2012.
With its idol-like cuteness and summer theme, the song showcases their charm to the fullest.
It topped the Oricon annual singles chart.
HEATKimu Hyonjun
Kim Hyun-joong’s second single “HEAT” is a rock number with lyrics by Koshi Inaba and music by Takahiro Matsumoto of B’z.
It sings of the wish to make “a fleeting moment of summer last forever,” and the burning desire to charge through the present while holding on to feelings of love.
The powerful sound and Kim Hyun-joong’s energetic vocals are irresistible.
Immortal ScrumKAT-TUN
KAT-TUN’s “Fumetsu no Scrum” was released as the theme song for the drama Dragon Seinen-dan, starring Akihiro Yasuda.
It’s a song filled with a passionate message—“Grab your dreams with your teammates!”—and features a melody that carries a sense of nostalgia.
It expresses bonds that go beyond friendship and a strong determination to change a reality that can’t be overcome alone by doing it together with your companions.
Listening to it will put you in a positive mood.
ANDROIDTōhōshinki
ANDROID is an up-tempo, powerful dance number that was chosen as the commercial song for the medicated toothpaste MEDICAL SHINE.
Created under the concept of “Let’s work hard now so we don’t end up with a sterile future ruled by androids,” it carries a strong message about breaking through the walls of anxiety and worry within yourself and moving forward.
It’s a beat-driven track that lifts your spirits.