2000s Japanese Hits | Unforgettable Once You Hear Them! Exquisite Masterpieces
What kind of music were you listening to back then? The 2000s can be called a turning point for J-POP.
Theme songs from TV shows and dramas, the background music of school life, the songs we sang at karaoke—many people only need to hear them and a page of youth, etched together with the music, comes vividly back.
In this article, we present hit songs that defined the 2000s.
Shall we look back once more at the music of that special era, where nostalgia and novelty intertwined?
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- Hit J-Pop songs of 2008: recommended masterpieces and popular tracks
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2000s Japanese Hit Songs | Unforgettable After Just One Listen! Exquisite Masterpieces (61–70)
I’ll be by your side.Aoyama Teruma ft. SoulJa
A single by Thelma Aoyama feat.
SoulJa, created as an answer song to hip-hop musician SoulJa’s single “Koko ni Iru yo feat.
Thelma Aoyama.” Released in January 2008, the song beautifully portrays the delicate emotions of a woman in a long-distance relationship—her loneliness from not being able to meet and the urge to run from her anxieties.
The arrangement layers Thelma Aoyama’s soulful vocals with SoulJa’s cool rap, making it a track you’ll want to sing with friends at karaoke.
It’s also known for being certified by Guinness World Records as the best-selling “Chaku-Uta Full” song in Japan at the time.
An emotional number that lets you fully relish Thelma Aoyama’s voice, now also a familiar presence on variety shows.
My Girlarashi
The song by Arashi released in November 2009 drew attention as the theme song for a TV drama starring Masaki Aiba.
It’s a pop tune that conveys warmth and gentleness, with striking string arrangements.
The lyrics express gratitude toward loved ones and the idea that hearts remain connected even when apart.
It topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, selling 432,000 copies in its first week.
Certified Double Platinum, it became one of Arashi’s signature songs.
The lyrics, which tie into the drama’s storyline, seem to have resonated with viewers in various ways.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to while thinking of someone special—be it a partner, family member, or anyone dear to you.
dizzinessOnitsuka Chihiro
Chihiro Onitsuka initially drew attention for the contrast between her ultra-orthodox visual style and the songs she sang—dark, brooding, and fragile.
Her music resonates not only with adult women but also with adolescent girls who are easily wounded, quietly earning popularity among teens.
A proofACIDMAN
A pioneering post-rock act emblematic of the 2000s.
They quickly rose to popularity with emotionally charged arrangements and literary lyrics.
The world their songs create resonates differently with each listener, and no matter your age, revisiting them evokes a fresh sense of wonder.
PerunaAkeboshi
He is a male singer-songwriter from Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.
While centered on J-pop, his music is compelling for its diverse facets that blend elements of folk music and contemporary electronica.
He has also launched a private label.
Listen to my heartBoA
Released in 2002, this song is BoA’s fourth single in Japan.
It was used in a commercial for au mobile phones, and it significantly boosted BoA’s recognition in Japan.
On the Oricon charts, it ranked 69th in the year-end sales ranking for that year.
It also won the Gold Award at the Japan Record Awards that year.
plastic girlCAPSULE
Yasutaka Nakata is a renowned producer known for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Perfume, and he handles everything from DJing to songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing.
He and vocalist Toshiko Koshijima formed a music unit characterized by electro-pop music brimming with techno vibes.