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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2000s Japanese Hit Songs | Unforgettable Once You Hear Them! A Collection of Gemlike Masterpieces (121–130)
RewriteASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
A masterpiece by a four-piece band that influenced rock groups active from the late 2000s into the 2010s.
It’s a refreshingly straightforward, undeniably “cool” track and a well-known classic that students often cover.
In the Morning of DeterminationAqua Timez
A song whose raw emotions and powerful message resonate deeply.
Released in July 2006 as a major-label debut single, it was also used as the theme song for the animated film “Brave Story.” The lyrics center on self-acceptance and a forward-looking way of life, conveying the strength to face life’s hardships and a positive, ever-challenging attitude.
This work prompts deep reflection on how to face oneself and how to walk through life.
With total CD sales exceeding 200,000 copies, it captured the hearts of many listeners.
It’s the perfect track for moments when you want to strengthen your resolve to live true to yourself or when you’re about to take a new step forward.
All or NothingB’z
This is a song whose passionate, powerful message resonates deeply.
Written by B’z as the theme song for the drama “Buzzer Beat: Gakeppuchi no Hero,” it conveys the importance of loving someone deeply—even if you can’t know everything about the one you love, cherishing even a part of them matters.
Koshi Inaba’s commanding vocals and Takahiro Matsumoto’s distinctive guitar sound blend perfectly, resulting in a medium-tempo rock track brimming with summer freshness.
Released in August 2009, the song topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, marking B’z’s 42nd consecutive No.
1—an extraordinary achievement.
It’s a track you’ll want to hear when you’re struggling in a relationship or feel like you’re losing sight of yourself.
A Perfect SkyBONNIE PINK
Despite being highly regarded as an artist, BONNIE PINK had few hit singles and wasn’t widely known by the general public.
This smash hit became her springboard into mainstream popularity.
It was featured in a Shiseido ANESSA commercial with the tagline “the ultimate summer song,” overflowing with a brilliant, sparkling vibe.
2000s Japanese Pop Hits | Unforgettable Once You Hear Them! A Treasury of Masterpieces (131–140)
karmaBUMP OF CHICKEN
One of their signature works, it was chosen as the theme song for Tales of the Abyss, a title acclaimed as a masterpiece within the Tales series.
With lyrics written to match the game’s world and a rich, powerful sound, it’s a gem of a track.
Lovers AgainEXILE
Released in 2007, this song is EXILE’s 22nd single.
It’s a poignant ballad about someone they loved, and it has become one of EXILE’s signature ballads and a hit song.
It ranked 17th on the 2007 Oricon Yearly Chart.
Around The WorldMONKEY MAJIK
This is a song that delivers a magical musical experience.
Its melody carries an air of Eastern mystique, and the lyrics—deftly interweaving English and Japanese—resonate deeply.
Singing of the courage to take a new step and the power to change the world, this piece gently gives listeners a push forward.
Released in May 2006, it became a major hit as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Saiyuki,” and it has long been cherished as one of MONKEY MAJIK’s signature tracks.
When you’re feeling down or standing before a new challenge, listening to it will surely give you courage.
So, why not set out on your own adventure to change the world?