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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- [2026 Hit Songs] Iconic Heisei-Era Classics and Nostalgic Japanese Music
- Hit J-Pop songs of 2008: recommended masterpieces and popular tracks
- Love songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic and popular Japanese songs.
2000s Japanese Hit Songs | Unforgettable After One Listen! A Collection of Gem-Like Masterpieces (51–60)
The One and Only Flower in the WorldSMAP
It’s SMAP’s 35th single, released in 2003.
It proudly topped the Oricon year-end rankings that year.
Due to the recent breakup controversy, more people have started buying the song again.
From its 2003 release up to the present day, it has continued to sell as a monster hit.
SaudadePorunogurafiti
This is Porno Graffitti’s fourth single, released in 2000.
With this song, Porno Graffitti topped the Oricon chart at number one upon debut for the first time.
It also surpassed a million copies in sales and remains one of their signature songs, enjoying unwavering popularity at karaoke.
cherry (sweet cherry; cherry fruit)Otsuka Ai
Released in 2004, this song that sparked Ai Otsuka’s rise to fame ranked 12th on that year’s Oricon chart.
While Ai Otsuka became known for her poppy, energetic, and distinctive image, after this hit she went on to showcase various sides of herself, including ballads and her debut as an actress.
LOVE Tear-ColoredMatsuura Aya
This song is Aya Matsuura’s third single, released in 2001.
It reached number three on the weekly Oricon chart.
With this song, she made her first appearance at that year’s NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, performing as the opening act.
The way she sang while rhythmically shaking her shoulders to the music was very charming.
SEASONSHamasaki Ayumi
This song is Ayumi Hamasaki’s 16th single, released in 2000.
It topped the Oricon weekly charts for two consecutive weeks and won both the Excellent Work Award and the Lyrics Award at the Japan Record Awards that year.
Ayumi Hamasaki has produced many hit songs, but when it comes to ballads, isn’t this song her signature piece?