RAG Musicartist
Lovely artist

[2026] Popular male artists. Recommended Japanese (J-pop) singers

In Japan’s music scene, countless hit songs are released every day! Among them are long-established stars who have been on the front lines for decades, as well as many internet-born musicians who have been gaining attention in recent years.

In this article, we’ll narrow the focus to male artists and introduce a comprehensive list of recommended acts.

By the end, you’ll have a solid grasp of the most popular male artists in the Japanese music scene.

Now, let’s jump right in and check out the recommended artists.

Playlist

[2026] Popular male artists. Recommended Japanese (J-pop) singers
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastAcaciaBUMP OF CHICKEN
AcaciaBUMP OF CHICKENplay_arrow
Since their 1999 debut, they have been a fixture in the Japanese rock scene...
2eastYouth SicknessFuji Kaze
Youth SicknessFuji Kazeplay_arrow
Released “Nanin w” in November 2019…
3eastcanaryYonezu Kenshi
canaryYonezu Kenshiplay_arrow
It’s now attracting the most attention and is no longer just J-pop...
4eastWasted NightsONE OK ROCK
Wasted NightsONE OK ROCKplay_arrow
The rock band ONE, formed in 2005…
5eastfoxtail grassRADWIMPS
foxtail grassRADWIMPSplay_arrow
Racing straight through the heart of the Japanese rock scene, the present and...
6eastTomorrow never knowsMr.Children
Tomorrow never knowsMr.Childrenplay_arrow
Mr. Childre, formed in 1989…
7eastLet’s dance at homeHoshino Gen
Let's dance at homeHoshino Genplay_arrow
Not only as a singer-songwriter, but also...
8eastflower fortune-tellingVaundy
flower fortune-tellingVaundyplay_arrow
While currently attending an art university, I’m working as an artist…
9eastUniverseOfisharu Higedan Dism
UniverseOfisharu Higedan Dismplay_arrow
Nowadays in the Japanese music scene, there are extremely many…
10eaststar performerKing Gnu
star performerKing Gnuplay_arrow
Now, they’re attracting attention for their overwhelming sense of musicality…
11eastThat gentle girlsupittsu
That gentle girlsupittsuplay_arrow
Although they’re a rock band, they’re featured in music textbooks…
12eastKaikai KitanEVE
Kaikai KitanEVEplay_arrow
Representative songs such as “Kaikai Kitan” and “Ao no Waltz”…
13eastLet’s become a familyFukuyama Masaharu
Let's become a familyFukuyama Masaharuplay_arrow
A man who has energized the J-POP scene for many years...
14eastrainbowSuda Masaki
rainbowSuda Masakiplay_arrow
Suga, one of the leading actors of the 2020s, ...
15eastWalk the wastelandASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Walk the wastelandASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATIONplay_arrow
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERA…
16eastPromise of SunflowersHata Motohiro
Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiroplay_arrow
He has established solid popularity in the J-POP scene and...
17eastI’ll call your name.SUPER BEAVER
I'll call your name.SUPER BEAVERplay_arrow
They made their major debut in 2009, but within two years…
18eastphantom thiefback number
phantom thiefback numberplay_arrow
Since their major debut in 2011, many...
19eastMIRROR MIRRORHirai Dai
MIRROR MIRRORHirai Daiplay_arrow
Surf culture seen in Southern California...
20eastHeat haze of Augustmakaroni enpitsu
Heat haze of Augustmakaroni enpitsuplay_arrow
Formed in 2012 mainly by fellow students from a music university...
21eastTrace OrionUNISON SQUARE GARDEN
Trace OrionUNISON SQUARE GARDENplay_arrow
Each member is also involved with other bands...
22eastSTAY TUNESuchmos
STAY TUNESuchmosplay_arrow
It strongly reflects influences from Black music...
23eastGa Hō DōMrs. GREEN APPLE
Ga Hō DōMrs. GREEN APPLEplay_arrow
A band that’s especially hot among the younger generation, M…
24eastLike tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi
Like tonight's moonElefanto Kashimashiplay_arrow
The music magazine ROCKIN’ON JAPAN…
25eastsingle bedSha ran Q
single bedSha ran Qplay_arrow
The era spanning from the 1990s to the 2000s…
26eastMiracleGReeeeN
MiracleGReeeeNplay_arrow
Fuku, who balances being both a dentist and an artist…
27eastClap your handsNICO Touches the Walls
Clap your handsNICO Touches the Wallsplay_arrow
Having worked on numerous anime theme songs and commercial jingles…
28eastcherry blossomMoriyama Naotaro
cherry blossomMoriyama Naotaroplay_arrow
Born to female singer Ryoko Moriyama as her mother, and th...
29eastI miss you.UVERworld
I miss you.UVERworldplay_arrow
A leading Japanese lo… who is supported even by people of the same sex
30eastRYUSEISandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
RYUSEISandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibuplay_arrow
This song’s choreography has a move called the Running Man, and…
31eastpowder snowRemioromen
powder snowRemioromenplay_arrow
It went on hiatus in 2012, and is currently mem—
32easttearsSEKAI NO OWARI
tearsSEKAI NO OWARIplay_arrow
It can only be described as pure fantasy...
33eastInsaneORANGE RANGE
InsaneORANGE RANGEplay_arrow
Maybe because of the influence of the hit song, they’re acting kind of flashy and frivolous…
34eastSamurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)SPYAIR
Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)SPYAIRplay_arrow
Up-tempo rhythms and crystal-clear high notes bo…
35eastceleryYamazaki Masayoshi
celeryYamazaki Masayoshiplay_arrow
At live shows, (they play) acoustic guitar and piano...
36eastRainy BlueTokunaga Hideaki
Rainy BlueTokunaga Hideakiplay_arrow
“Believe in Dreams” and “The Broken Radio”…
37eastLove so sweetarashi
Love so sweetarashiplay_arrow
It also became the theme song for the drama Hana Yori Dango 2...
38eastScarecrowthe pillows
Scarecrowthe pillowsplay_arrow
Piro, who consistently pursues alternative activities...
39eastA Little Love SongMONGOL800
A Little Love SongMONGOL800play_arrow
…that saw a resurgence in popularity thanks to the drama “Operation Love” (Proposal Daisakusen)…
40eastMoon Song[Alexandros]
Moon Song[Alexandros]play_arrow
A rock band that enjoys immense popularity among young people […]
41eastFrom Me to Youflumpool
From Me to Youflumpoolplay_arrow
The film “Kimi ni Todoke,” based on the smash-hit manga, …
42eastMelancholy, resplendentkuriipuhaipe
Melancholy, resplendentkuriipuhaipeplay_arrow
A distinctive, endlessly resonant high tone vo...
43eastGolden Time LoverSukima Suichi
Golden Time LoverSukima Suichiplay_arrow
Wordplay-like lyrics with a relentless buildup in the chorus...
44eastI LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka
I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutakaplay_arrow
Released in 1991, Mr./Ms. Ozaki’s 11th...
45eastWARUNORIDURDN
WARUNORIDURDNplay_arrow
Vocalist Baku and the track maker…
46eastCa Va?Bikkeburanka
Ca Va?Bikkeburankaplay_arrow
Just hearing the artist's name, for a moment you wonder which country they're from...
47eastTogether forever…GLAY
Together forever…GLAYplay_arrow
This song was released in 1995 by GLA…
48eastSummer Colorsyuzu
Summer Colorsyuzuplay_arrow
A song that feels like it’s packaged pure freshness as-is...
49eastRecipe for HappinessHirai Dai
Recipe for HappinessHirai Daiplay_arrow
Hirai Dai is popular for music that evokes the ocean.
50eastAfternoon ParadeSuga Shikao
Afternoon ParadeSuga Shikaoplay_arrow
In rock terms, The Beatles and The Ventures, …
51eastWe, stronger.DISH//
We, stronger.DISH//play_arrow
Takumi Kitamura, who is also very active as an actor, ...
52eastLove Song feat. EveKitanitatsuya
Love Song feat. EveKitanitatsuyaplay_arrow
Tatsuya Kitani is a versatile musician.
53eastBackwardsMiura Daichi
BackwardsMiura Daichiplay_arrow
The American known as the King of Pop...
54eastTokyoTetsukaze Tōkyō
TokyoTetsukaze Tōkyōplay_arrow
Introduction to the musical activities of the Sendai rock band Tetsukaze Tokyo
55eastMoonshadow FarewellIto Kashitaro
Moonshadow FarewellIto Kashitaroplay_arrow
A singer-songwriter popular for their clear, transparent singing voice
56eastwishYoshida Ukyō
wishYoshida Ukyōplay_arrow
I was moved by Marcy’s clear, translucent singing voice.
57eastGOD_iNumber_i
GOD_iNumber_iplay_arrow
Number_i is sharing new J-POP music with the world.
58eastIt’s because I listened to Bach’s melody at night.Sakanakushon
It’s because I listened to Bach’s melody at night.Sakanakushonplay_arrow
A catchy, dance music–evoking…
59eastApolloPorunogurafiti
ApolloPorunogurafitiplay_arrow
Akihi’s vocals, soaring in the high range, overwhelm listeners...
60eastPOP STARHirai Ken
POP STARHirai Kenplay_arrow
A clear, soaring high-tone voice and no one...
61eastA sky from some dayA Natsume
A sky from some dayA Natsumeplay_arrow
A soothing artist of the rooftop
62eastEnjoymei-chan
Enjoymei-chanplay_arrow
Mei-chan, a versatile singer and composer
63eastshutterYuuri
shutterYuuriplay_arrow
In 2019, while I was performing a street live show...
64eastChooChooTRAINEXILE
ChooChooTRAINEXILEplay_arrow
A signature song by EXILE, and with this song EXILE…
65eastMissingKubota Toshinobu
MissingKubota Toshinobuplay_arrow
The 1986 album “SHAKE I…”
66eastOne Night CarnivalKishidan
One Night CarnivalKishidanplay_arrow
Many people probably won’t get it just from hearing the title alone...
67eastFukuwarai (a traditional Japanese “lucky laugh” face-making game)Takahashi Yuu
Fukuwarai (a traditional Japanese “lucky laugh” face-making game)Takahashi Yuuplay_arrow
Bright, lively vocals and songs with strong, meaningful messages…
68eastBrand New DayDXTEEN
Brand New DayDXTEENplay_arrow
DXTEEN is a six-member Japanese boy group.
69eastGlass BoyKinKi Kids
Glass BoyKinKi Kidsplay_arrow
This song is KinKi Kids’ debut single...
70eastgardenFuji Kaze
gardenFuji Kazeplay_arrow
Singer-songwriter from Okayama Prefecture, Fujii...
71eastWho What Who WhatRin to shite Shigure
Who What Who WhatRin to shite Shigureplay_arrow
Performance ability so high—like a razor-sharp blade...
72eastLiberty&Gravitykururi
Liberty&Gravitykururiplay_arrow
Without being satisfied with where you are now, always seeking something new...
73eastI like you.Shimizu Shota
I like you.Shimizu Shotaplay_arrow
One of the most skilled vocalists in Japan’s music scene, …
74eastNIGHT DANCERimase
NIGHT DANCERimaseplay_arrow
The rise of imase and his musical appeal
75eastSMILE ~Like a Clear, Sunlit Sky~Kuwata Keisuke
SMILE ~Like a Clear, Sunlit Sky~Kuwata Keisukeplay_arrow
In the J-pop scene, in any era...
76eastBunny GirlAKASAKI
Bunny GirlAKASAKIplay_arrow
High school singer AKASAKI from Aichi
77eastRun, SAKAMOTOVaundy
Run, SAKAMOTOVaundyplay_arrow
Vaundy’s unique music and multifaceted talent
78eastL’oNŌishi Masayoshi
L’oNŌishi Masayoshiplay_arrow
A talented singer-songwriter active in anime music
79eastBOW AND ARROWYonezu Kenshi
BOW AND ARROWYonezu Kenshiplay_arrow
Kenshi Yonezu captivates with diverse musicality.
80eastUN-APEXTK
UN-APEXTKplay_arrow
A musician who captivates with an original sound
81eastBloody LiarTanabe Shunichi
Bloody LiarTanabe Shunichiplay_arrow
BLUE ENCOUNT that shakes the heart with scorching rock
82easthundreds of millions of light-yearsFujii Reo
hundreds of millions of light-yearsFujii Reoplay_arrow
Reo Fujii captivates the music world with his unique singing
83eastOtonokeCreepy Nuts
OtonokeCreepy Nutsplay_arrow
Creepy Nuts are leading the music scene
84eastRock This Partytimelesz
Rock This Partytimeleszplay_arrow
13-year group evolves as timelesz
85eastFrom here onkepura
From here onkepuraplay_arrow
Kepla is a rock band full of youthful vibes.
86eastA world without youto shiki
A world without youto shikiplay_arrow
Toshiki, popular on social media, draws attention with songs that evoke empathy.
87eastHOTLIMITT.M.Revolution
HOTLIMITT.M.Revolutionplay_arrow
When I listen to this song, I think of Takanori Nishikawa’s sexy...
88eastGo for it!!Urufuruzu
Go for it!!Urufuruzuplay_arrow
Anyway, it’s so catchy that it could end up feeling like a one-hit-wonder vibe…
89eastI don’t have an umbrella.Inoue Yosui
I don't have an umbrella.Inoue Yosuiplay_arrow
More than youth suicides, the umbrella to go see you...
90eastEasy★RiderOkuda Tamio
Easy★RiderOkuda Tamioplay_arrow
Mainly influenced by Western rock music from the ’60s to ’70s…
91eastI can’t say it.Gō Hiromi
I can’t say it.Gō Hiromiplay_arrow
Released in 1994, this song is by Hiromi Go and...
92eastGREENAPPLE4na
GREENAPPLE4naplay_arrow
Singer-songwriter originating from the internet
93eastLIGHTNINGMAZZEL
LIGHTNINGMAZZELplay_arrow
MAZZEL is an eight-member group selected through an audition program.
94eastwhale calfTele
whale calfTeleplay_arrow
Tele has been attracting attention with a one-of-a-kind style...
95eastgrand opening performanceKobayashi watashi
grand opening performanceKobayashi watashiplay_arrow
A distinctive singer-songwriter active on YouTube
96eastDuckykankan
Duckykankanplay_arrow
Mr./Ms. Kankan, a mysterious singer, is popular.
97eastdoppelgängerR shitei
doppelgängerR shiteiplay_arrow
R-Shitei, the rapper from Creepy Nuts
98eastkaiju (giant monster)Yamaguchi Ichiro
kaiju (giant monster)Yamaguchi Ichiroplay_arrow
Ichiro Yamaguchi of Sakanaction, with diverse musicality
99eastday by dayYoshida Yamada
day by dayYoshida Yamadaplay_arrow
A signature song by Yoshida Yamada. A heartwarming piece that gently portrays the life of an elderly couple.
100eastScent of you&TEAM
Scent of you&TEAMplay_arrow
Even the fact that their debut song suddenly became a big hit…
101eastLife scoreNovelbright
Life scoreNovelbrightplay_arrow
Posted a clip of my own street performance on social media, a—
102eastNot fleetingSUPER BEAVER
Not fleetingSUPER BEAVERplay_arrow
SUPER BEAVER is supported by many fans for their strong expressive power.
103eastmismatchedTHE SUPER FRUIT
mismatchedTHE SUPER FRUITplay_arrow
As a seven-member male idol group, 202...
104eastDon’t die!kocchi no kento
Don't die!kocchi no kentoplay_arrow
Kento Sugo, who performs music under the name “Kento.”
105eastRiding in a Time Machineneguse.
Riding in a Time Machineneguse.play_arrow
A four-piece band from Nagoya formed in August 2020...
106eastAnthem of CounterattackRyukku to soine gohan
Anthem of CounterattackRyukku to soine gohanplay_arrow
The success of backpack and sleeping-together rice
107eastBallad of a SingerSaitō Kazuyoshi
Ballad of a SingerSaitō Kazuyoshiplay_arrow
A slender body and a mop of frizzy hair...
108eastAt all times.Makihara Noriyuki
At all times.Makihara Noriyukiplay_arrow
Gaining popularity across generations with its gentle singing voice and melody...
109eastEffeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā
Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbāplay_arrow
It’s a song that has now become a karaoke staple…