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 Music Hits | Unforgettable Once You Hear Them! A Collection of Timeless Masterpieces (141–150)
SAKURA DropsUtada Hikaru
This is Hikaru Utada’s 11th single, released in 2002.
It ranked 6th on Oricon’s annual sales chart for 2002.
The music video, distinctly Japanese yet original, is beautiful to watch.
The title “SAKURA Drops” is said to refer to fallen cherry blossoms, but it’s also a play on Sakuma Drops (a popular candy).
After the song’s release, sales of Sakuma Drops reportedly increased for a while.
I can’t stop my love for youAiuChi Rina
It’s one of her signature songs, which was also popular for a time as an arcade game track.
In conversation, she’s known for her sugary, lolita-style voice, but once she starts singing, her powerful vocals make you think she’s a different person.
That contrast makes her a particularly memorable vocalist.
HOMEShimizu Shota
Released in 2008, this song is Shota Shimizu’s debut single and one of his signature tracks.
Arriving with this ballad that expresses love for family, Shota Shimizu burst onto the scene as a major new talent who surprised Japan’s R&B world.
It ranked 50th on Oricon’s year-end chart for 2008.
2000s Japanese Hit Songs | Unforgettable once you hear them! A collection of superb masterpieces (151–160)
Becoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashi
This is a song marked by Masafumi Akikawa’s quietly consoling voice.
Many listeners may find themselves moved by the beautiful lyrics, which sense the presence of a departed loved one in nature.
Released in May 2006, it became a massive hit after being performed on that year’s NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It reached No.
1 on the Oricon charts and sold over a million copies.
With its classical vocal style that resonated across generations, the piece has continued to be sung in various settings—offering comfort to those who have lost someone dear and accompanying people at life’s milestones.
In conclusion
Hit J-pop songs born in the 2000s continue to be etched deeply in many people’s hearts across generations.
The power of music never fades, no matter how much time passes—perhaps you felt that too as you listened just now.
I hope this article leads you to new encounters with the wonderful tracks of the 2000s.