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?
- Japanese Music of the 2000s: Revival Included! A J-POP Hit Song Special
- 2000s: A Collection of Hit Karaoke Classics
- Iconic songs by Japanese rock bands from the 2000s [J-Rock]
- All big hits! A roundup of classic J‑Pop songs that were popular in 2000
- [Japanese Music] Masterpieces of 2000s Pop: A roundup of hit songs from 00s J-POP
- A revival hit driven by social media! Heisei-era masterpieces that are resonating with Gen Z today
- Hit songs that colored 2011! Timeless tracks that bring back those days
- Japanese dance hits from the 2000s. Songs that make you want to dance on TikTok.
- Hit J-Pop songs of 2007: the appeal of hit tracks that exude a positive vibe
- Hit J-pop songs of 2005. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- [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 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?
World’s endMr.Children
The lead track included on the album released in 2005.
Despite being just over five minutes long, it conveys an epic sense of scale through both its lyrics and arrangement.
It’s such a masterpiece that guitarist-vocalist Mr.
Sakurai has cited it as the work he’s most confident in on the album.
Astrosexym-flo loves CHEMISTRY
This is a collaboration track by m-flo and CHEMISTRY at the peak of their popularity.
Their two voices ride a near-futuristic sound, treated with distinctive effects to spark a new kind of chemistry unlike anything before.
VERBAL’s flow is top-notch as well.
RADWIMPSoshakashama
This song, included on RADWIMPS’ fifth album, is characterized by its intro riff and flowing lyrics, which captured the hearts of middle and high school students at the time.
While fluid, the lyrics also invite deep philosophical reflection, broadening our perspectives on how we think about song lyrics.
AliensKirinji
One of their signature songs.
According to a certain music program, Mr.
Horigome, who wrote and composed it, said about the inspiration for the song, “I wanted to create something that would suit the non-cultural places that make up most of Japan.” Critic and commentator Tetsuya Miyazaki is a huge fan of theirs.