Big Hits, Including New Standard Favorites! Best Hits of Popular J-POP Songs
You probably hear J-pop all the time—theme songs from dramas and movies, tracks everyone’s talking about on the radio and music shows, karaoke staples, and more!
That said, there are so many famous J-pop songs out there.
So in this article, we’ll give you a comprehensive look at both newer hits and timeless J-pop classics.
From masterpieces of J-pop’s golden era to must-hear hits of the Reiwa era, we’ve selected a wide range—so you’ll likely run into a few “Oh, I know this one!” moments.
At the beginning of the page, you’ll also find many songs that are widely loved and often played or sung in various settings, so be sure to check them out!
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[New Standard and Massive Hits!] Best J-POP Popular Songs (61–70)
Marigoldaimyon
Aimyon has become an indispensable figure when talking about female singer-songwriters of the Reiwa era.
Her songs—featuring relatable lyrics, catchy melodies, and a warm yet modern sound sprinkled with a sense of nostalgia—are immensely popular.
This track, too, was a massive hit and has long been beloved as a J-pop standard.
Although she exudes a charismatic presence among young people, her music is also popular with older generations.
That may be because she reportedly loves Shogo Hamada, and you can feel that folk-rock approach in her work.
One Hundred Doorsainai rina & saegusa yuka
Rina Aiuchi and Saegusa had already been in contact and had collaborated at live shows before.
Naturally, the two members of this Detective Conan theme-song duo are singing an opening theme from the same anime.
This marked their first collaboration as a single release.
globeYonezu Kenshi
The theme song from The Boy and the Heron, said to be the final film by Studio Ghibli master Hayao Miyazaki, released in 2023.
Kenshi Yonezu wrote this song specifically for the movie.
In keeping with the film’s complete secrecy, the song Spinning Globe also seems to gain depth, as if the piece itself were shrouded in a veil of mystery.
The lyrics are protean, changing in interpretation depending on the listener—about a human life, or about loving someone.
It’s a song I hope will endure for decades, one I want to listen to again and again.
I was looking at the moon.Yonezu Kenshi
Since the historic blockbuster success of his 8th single “Lemon,” singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu has become a household name among a wide range of listeners.
His fifth digital-only single, “Tsuki o Miteita,” written as the theme song for FINAL FANTASY XVI—hailed worldwide as a top-tier RPG—features a dramatic arrangement that resonates deeply, mirroring the game’s weighty narrative.
Its vivid, picturesque lyrics draw you in even if you haven’t experienced the game itself.
It’s a grand number that conveys Yonezu’s love for the work.
CAN YOU CELEBRATE?Amuro Namie
When it comes to divas who dominated the latter half of the ’90s, Namie Amuro immediately comes to mind! Back then, she was a charismatic icon for young women—so much so that “Amuraa,” fans who copied her hairstyle and fashion, became a social phenomenon.
Until her retirement in 2018, she left behind numerous classic tracks in the J-pop scene, and among them, this song is arguably the most famous.
Although it was released in 1997, it continues to enjoy strong support today as a staple wedding song.
Wasted wishesAKB48
It’s an AKB48 single released on May 31, 2017, with Jurina Matsui and Sakura Miyawaki as the centers.
It ranked first on the Oricon weekly chart.
It was also broadcast on Minna no Uta from April to May.
PopNishino Kana
This is a song by the popular female artist Kana Nishino.
It became a hot topic after being featured as the commercial song for Otsuka Foods’ Vitamin Carbonated MATCH.
It’s a cheering song that lifts up women who work hard every day, so it’s especially recommended for women.