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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!

Playlist

2012 Hit Song Rankings! A roundup of nostalgic classics all at once
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastfireworksSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
fireworksSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibuplay_arrow
A ballad that sings of the sorrow of summer
2eastweNishino Kana
weNishino Kanaplay_arrow
A friendship song for a female friend
3eastGIVE ME FIVE !AKB48
GIVE ME FIVE !AKB48play_arrow
A landmark song in which AKB48 took on the challenge of being a band
4eastVirginityNMB48
VirginityNMB48play_arrow
A love song that portrays growth and romance
5eastEven kisses are left-handedSKE48
Even kisses are left-handedSKE48play_arrow
SKE48's new love song
6eastTo the Lightmiwa
To the Lightmiwaplay_arrow
One of miwa’s signature songs that incorporates electronic acoustics
7eastApply false eyelasheskyarī pamyu pamyu
Apply false eyelasheskyarī pamyu pamyuplay_arrow
The fun of transforming yourself with false eyelashes
8eastCome here, ShampooNogizaka 46
Come here, ShampooNogizaka 46play_arrow
A pop song that captures the thrill of youth
9eastFace Downarashi
Face Downarashiplay_arrow
A mysterious song used as a drama’s theme
10eastcherry blossomHikawa Kiyoshi
cherry blossomHikawa Kiyoshiplay_arrow
Depicting thoughts for the departed upon moonlit cherry blossoms
11eastOrangeGRe4N BOYZ
OrangeGRe4N BOYZplay_arrow
GReeeeN’s love songs, refreshing band sound
12eastThe BeginningONE OK ROCK
The BeginningONE OK ROCKplay_arrow
Rock songs that are theme songs of Rurouni Kenshin
13eastLike the shining moonSuperfly
Like the shining moonSuperflyplay_arrow
A ballad that sings of gratitude and resolve to a loved one
14eastThe wind is blowing.ikimonogakari
The wind is blowing.ikimonogakariplay_arrow
Ikimono-gakari's Olympic theme song
15eastconfessionHirai Ken
confessionHirai Kenplay_arrow
A song by Ken Hirai that depicts unrequited love
16eastChankapanaNEWS
ChankapanaNEWSplay_arrow
The first love-themed pop song by NEWS as a four-member group
17eastMidsummer Sounds Good!AKB48
Midsummer Sounds Good!AKB48play_arrow
AKB48's summer-themed song is trending
18eastHEATKimu Hyonjun
HEATKimu Hyonjunplay_arrow
Kim Hyun-joong Hot Love Rock
19eastImmortal ScrumKAT-TUN
Immortal ScrumKAT-TUNplay_arrow
Grabbing dreams with my friends to KAT-TUN’s theme song
20eastANDROIDTōhōshinki
ANDROIDTōhōshinkiplay_arrow
A forward message to prevent android domination
21eastMomentSMAP
MomentSMAPplay_arrow
SMAP’s aging leads to sluggish sales, but they announce a new single
22eastALL NIGHT LONGEXILE
ALL NIGHT LONGEXILEplay_arrow
A fiery dance number that overcomes frustration and moves forward
23eastThank youJUJU
Thank youJUJUplay_arrow
JUJU’s ballad serving as a movie theme song
24eastOperaSUPER JUNIOR
OperaSUPER JUNIORplay_arrow
Korean idols are close to EXILE.
25eastSynchronized FlutterWatanabe Mayu
Synchronized FlutterWatanabe Mayuplay_arrow
Popular songs by central figures of AKB
26eastIt was love.Kanjani∞
It was love.Kanjani∞play_arrow
The song sold 320,000 copies, boosting its popularity.
27eastGood luckBUMP OF CHICKEN
Good luckBUMP OF CHICKENplay_arrow
Young people back rock bands; even as a minority, they still secure sales.
28eastPrayer ~ Orbit of Tears / End of the day / piecesMr.Children
Prayer ~ Orbit of Tears / End of the day / piecesMr.Childrenplay_arrow
Mr. Children lag in single sales
29eastEREitorenjā
EREitorenjāplay_arrow
Eight Ranger movie theme song
30eastRun! BicycleNogizaka 46
Run! BicycleNogizaka 46play_arrow
A company with foresight in idol management
31eastLove, TexasYamashita Tomohisa
Love, TexasYamashita Tomohisaplay_arrow
Tomohisa Yamashita is active as a solo artist, and there are high hopes for his future.
32eastWild at Heartarashi
Wild at Heartarashiplay_arrow
Wild at Heart
33eastWANNA BEEEE!!!/Shake It UpKis-my-ft2
WANNA BEEEE!!!/Shake It UpKis-my-ft2
Die-hard idol fans determine sales
34eastI live, I will keep on living.Fukuyama Masaharu
I live, I will keep on living.Fukuyama Masaharuplay_arrow
Masaharu Fukuyama is struggling during the heyday of idols.
35eastBeautiful2PM
Beautiful2PMplay_arrow
Korean idols are characterized by their dancing and physiques.
36eastGO FOR IT, BABY -Mountain Range of Memories-B’z
GO FOR IT, BABY -Mountain Range of Memories-B'zplay_arrow
Climb over the mountain of memories and move forward
37east24karats TRIBE OF GOLDEXILE TRIBE
24karats TRIBE OF GOLDEXILE TRIBEplay_arrow
The group became even more popular than EXILE.
38eastSpeed Up/Girls PowerKARA
Speed Up/Girls PowerKARAplay_arrow
Korean idol groups are gaining popularity in Japan.
39eastNagiichiNMB48
NagiichiNMB48play_arrow
AKB-related groups are monopolizing the market.
40eastWatermelon BABYNot yet
Watermelon BABYNot yetplay_arrow
Business strategy of AKB48's derivative teams
41eastShineieiri reo
Shineieiri reoplay_arrow
A masterpiece from a young woman's perspective
42eastSUPER DELICATEHey! Say! JUMP
SUPER DELICATEHey! Say! JUMPplay_arrow
Johnny's has a wide age range.
43eastBelieveShenelu
BelieveSheneluplay_arrow
A female-vocal love ballad that topped the annual USEN rankings is hugely popular.
44eastUnrequited Love, FinallySKE48
Unrequited Love, FinallySKE48play_arrow
SKE48 ranks third in sales
45eastYou are me.Maeda Atsuko
You are me.Maeda Atsukoplay_arrow
Atsuko Maeda is the immovable center of AKB48.