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 Exquisite Masterpieces (1–10)
A Little Love SongMONGOL800
It’s one of MONGOL800’s signature songs—one that can sound like it’s singing of pure love for someone dear, or like it’s conveying the happiness found in everyday life.
Set to a driving, exhilarating sound, the warm message that “the person you cherish is right by your side” quietly sinks into your heart.
The classic album MESSAGE, which includes this track, was released in September 2001 and became a historic indie hit, selling over 2.8 million copies.
It also drew attention for being used as the basis for a film.
It’s the perfect song for those moments when you want to reaffirm the irreplaceable time you share with someone special.
swallowtail butterflyPorunogurafiti
A massive hit by Porno Graffitti that colored the J-pop scene of the 2000s.
With Latin-flavored melodies and beautiful lyrics, it portrays a love that will never be rewarded.
Released as their 6th single in June 2001, all three members also appeared in the tie-in commercial.
The chorus from the interlude to the final refrain is said to feature recordings of the voices of 3,000 concertgoers.
It’s a popular track that continues to rank in karaoke charts.
With its handclaps and singalong-friendly chorus, it’s perfect for parties with friends or student gatherings!
On the hill where the moon is visible tonightB’z
A beloved ballad by B’z that became a social phenomenon as the theme song for the drama “Beautiful Life: Futaride Ita Hibi,” starring Takuya Kimura and Takako Tokiwa.
The intro, opening with a wistful mandolin, instantly draws you into the world of the song.
This piece portrays pure love that believes we’re connected under the same sky, even when separated by physical distance.
Released in February 2000, it became a million-seller.
It’s a gem of a rock ballad you’ll want to listen to on quiet nights when you think of someone dear, immersing yourself in the bittersweet feelings of those days.
2000s Japanese Hit Songs | Unforgettable Once You Hear Them! A Collection of Gem-like Masterpieces (11–20)
astronomical observationBUMP OF CHICKEN
Released in March 2001 and featured as an insert song in the drama Astronomical Observation, this is one of the quintessential tracks by BUMP OF CHICKEN.
Later included on the album THE LIVING DEAD, the song portrays a theme of projecting oneself onto the stars shining in the night sky while searching for a future with no clear answers.
Hearing lyrics like “stopping before a railroad crossing and pondering which path to take” may stir up the poignant conflicts of youth that almost everyone has experienced.
Even knowing they can’t reach them, the protagonist stretching out a hand toward the stars will surely shine a strong light on your heart as you chase your dreams amid uncertainty.
A flower that blooms only hereKobukuro
This is Kobukuro’s 11th single, selected as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “Ruri no Shima.” Released in May 2005, it reached No.
2 on the Oricon charts.
The members actually visited the Okinawan island where the drama is set, and created this work inspired by its atmosphere.
Even in a place that seems to have nothing, irreplaceable value is in bloom—this compassionate message is deeply moving.
Hearing the duo’s warm vocals may prompt many listeners to picture their hometown scenery and the smiles of their loved ones.
TSUNAMISazan Ōrusutāzu
An achingly sorrowful love ballad that likens an uncontrollable swell of feelings to a powerful force of nature you can’t resist.
The pain and joy born of love—and that helpless, inescapable ache—portrayed by Keisuke Kuwata pierce straight through the heart.
Released in January 2000 as a TV program’s theme song, the track became a massive hit, selling about 2.936 million copies and winning the 42nd Japan Record Award.
It tightens your chest with thoughts of someone you can’t forget, no matter how hard you try.
Many listeners may find themselves empathizing with those feelings that have nowhere to go.
dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo
A timeless ballad whose one-of-a-kind vocals by Yo Hitoto resonate like a deep prayer and seep into the heart.
It is said to have been written in the wake of the September 11 attacks, imbued with an earnest wish for peace.
Its universal theme—hoping that happiness will continue for a loved one and for those dear to them—gently envelops listeners’ hearts.
Released in February 2004 as her fifth single, it achieved an astonishing long-run hit, staying on the Oricon charts for 125 consecutive weeks.
It also served as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Tuesday Suspense Theater” and for the film of the same name.
Many people may find themselves resonating with the heartfelt wish for someone precious to be happy.