A medley of crowd-pleasing classics. Iconic Japanese songs and recommended popular tracks.

LemonYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Lemon

The theme song for the TBS Friday drama “Unnatural,” which aired in March 2018, is one of Kenshi Yonezu’s signature works, depicting profound grief for someone lost and unwavering feelings that remain.

It reflects his personal experience of losing his grandfather during production, and carefully portrays a protagonist who faces death while living on with cherished memories of a loved one.

The bitterness and tartness of a lemon symbolize complex emotions that resonate deeply, and the song became a massive hit with over 900 million views on YouTube.

It’s a perfect track for times when you want to share sorrow or quietly heighten your emotions.

If you watched the drama, it will surely spark fond reminiscences in conversation.

Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro

Stand by Me Doraemon theme song: “Himawari no Yakusoku” (Promise of a Sunflower)

This is the song used as the theme for the film STAND BY ME Doraemon.

It’s about receiving a lot of “love” from “you,” being told that it’s “enough,” and not being able to give anything back—a one-sided chain of “kindness” that everyone has experienced.

It might be a song about Doraemon and Nobita, but it’s also one that resonates with many people.

broad daylightKing Gnu

King Gnu – Hakujitsu

Released in February 2019 as the theme song for the drama “Innocence: False Accusation Lawyer,” this track portrays the fragility of humans who, often without realizing it, end up hurting others, and the regret that follows irrevocable mistakes.

It conveys a desperate wish for everything to be buried like falling snow, while also expressing the resolve to take a step toward tomorrow.

The struggle to move forward while accepting a present that is continuous with the past is brought to life through the interplay between Satoru Iguchi’s commanding high tones and Daiki Tsuneta’s deep vocals.

Debuting at No.

9 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and surpassing 500 million total streams, this work is a powerful anthem that encourages those standing at a crossroads in life or trying to take a step forward while facing their past.

My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Zenzenzense (movie ver.) [Official Music Video]

Released in August 2016 as the theme song for Makoto Shinkai’s film “Your Name.,” this track captures the theme of a fated encounter that transcends time with a driving rock sound.

It unfolds a grand love story—vowing to find the other person even after countless reincarnations—propelled by fast-paced guitars and drums.

An especially memorable anecdote is that Yojiro Noda created the song after Shinkai asked him to “sing the very heart of the story with everything you’ve got,” and true to those words, its direct emotional expression is deeply moving.

Performed at the 67th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2016, the song skyrocketed RADWIMPS’s popularity.

It’s a classic perfect for getting everyone fired up at karaoke or belting out passionately with friends.

Until the world endsWANDS

SLAM DUNK – Until the World Ends

The 8th single chosen in 1994 as the ending theme for the landmark basketball manga SLAM DUNK became a million-seller and one of WANDS’s signature songs.

The lyrics, written by then-vocalist Sho Uesugi, depict loneliness and a sense of loss in the big city, infusing the personal pain of heartbreak with an urgent feeling that hints at the end of the world.

Composed by Tetsuro Oda, the driving melody merges perfectly with Uesugi’s soul-stirring vocals.

The song reached No.

1 on the Oricon weekly chart and stayed in the Top 10 for nine consecutive weeks.

For those who spent their youth with the anime, just hearing it may bring back a flood of memories.

It’s a classic that’s guaranteed to unite the room when everyone belts out the chorus at karaoke.

Spot the differenceSuda Masaki

Masaki Suda 'Machigai Sagashi' (Spot the Difference)

This work, in which Masaki Suda—active as an actor—sings a song by Kenshi Yonezu, was released as a digital single in May 2019.

Chosen as the theme song for the drama “Perfect World,” it garnered enormous attention, winning 32 awards.

It tells the story of a protagonist who once felt like a mistake, but finds the meaning of life through meeting someone precious—deeply resonating with those who struggle with self-denial.

A fated love so powerful that questions of right or wrong cease to matter is conveyed through Masaki Suda’s strong, straightforward vocals, stirring the heart with every listen.

It is one of his signature tracks, also included on the album “LOVE.”

moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro

Chihiro Onitsuka – Gekkou (Moonlight)

With its somewhat suspicious, eerie melody and Chihiro Onitsuka’s powerful yet trembling vocals, this song leaves an incredibly strong impression.

It was used in the drama “TRICK” and fit the show’s world perfectly.

Incidentally, the theme of this track is said to be “liberation from oppression.”