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 Timeless Gems (111–120)
Matsuken Samba IIMatsudaira Ken
When people first saw the shogun from “Abarenbo Shogun” dancing, many were probably shocked by how flashy and comical it was.
The song was born in 1994 and initially performed at dinner shows, but it became widely known after its major release on July 7, 2004.
With Shigeki Majima’s distinctive choreography and Ken Matsudaira’s dynamic performance—singing and dancing in period-drama makeup and costume—it drew attention and became a hit.
Ken Matsudaira is also very popular among older audiences.
Even generations who don’t usually listen to pop music are sure to get pumped up with this track.
Fish HeavenShibaya Hiromi
A song by Hiromi Shibaya, produced as part of the Fisheries Agency’s fish consumption promotion project.
It was released in 1991 and issued on CD in March 2002.
Messages like “It makes you smarter” and “It’s good for your body” are playfully conveyed using wordplay with the names of various fish, such as halfbeak, sea bass, and salmon.
From April to July 2002, it enjoyed extraordinary popularity, being broadcast nonstop 24 hours a day on cable radio.
Highlighting the nutritional value of fish and their positive effects on health, this bright, pop tune makes listeners of all ages—from children to adults—want to eat more fish.
chicken riceHamada Masatoshi / Makihara Noriyuki
This single was released in 2004 as a result of a collaboration planned on the TV show “HEY! HEY! HEY!” between Masatoshi Hamada of Downtown and Noriyuki Makihara.
The lyrics were written by Hitoshi Matsumoto of Downtown, and it’s a touching Christmas song based on his own experiences.
It reached No.
2 on the Oricon weekly chart.
Your nameKumaki Anri
Her 14th single as a singer-songwriter from Nagano Prefecture.
She participated in a singer audition on the TV program “Aa! Bara-iro no Chinsei!!,” won the grand prize, and that victory opened the door to her debut.
SakurazakaFukuyama Masaharu
A bittersweet love song that captures feelings for a former lover.
It was also used as the theme song for a TBS variety show and was released in April 2000.
Based on Masaharu Fukuyama’s real-life experience, the song set the all-time record for the highest first-week sales by a male solo artist.
Its cumulative sales reached 2.299 million copies, and it ranked second on Oricon’s 2000 annual singles chart.
Waiting for spring to arrive, yet the dream remains just a dream… Those wistful emotions are gently wrapped in Fukuyama’s sweet vocals and the sound of his guitar.
A perfect track for healing the pain of a breakup or reflecting on memories with someone special.