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 Standards and Massive Hits Too!] Best Hits of Popular J-POP Songs (71–80)
AutomaticUtada Hikaru
In 1998, Hikaru Utada made her debut with this song, and she was only 15 at the time! Having been exposed to music from a young age, she quickly became a massive breakout star thanks not only to her overwhelming vocal ability and expressive delivery that belied her age, but also to the high level of polish of her cool tracks.
Since then, she has been active as one of the leading artists at the center of the J-pop scene.
Her singing style, with its solid, groove-driven feel reminiscent of Western music, is exceptionally sophisticated and still sounds completely fresh today.
Falling in LoveKobayashi Akiko
Released in 1985 as Akiko Kosaka’s debut single, it was used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Friday Wives III: Falling in Love.” Since it has been covered by many artists, even those unfamiliar with Akiko Kosaka’s era may still know the song.
God of RomanceHirose Kōmi
Released in 1993 as Kohmi Hirose’s third single, it became a million seller.
Used in commercials for the ski equipment retailer Alpen, it turned into a winter staple song.
It’s an uplifting love-pop tune that makes you feel fun and positive.
Midsummer StraightKoumoto Hiroto
As the title suggests, it’s an up-tempo track with the appeal of straightforward music and lyrics.
In fact, this is his first solo single.
Showing a different side from The Blue Hearts and The High-Lows, he gave fans a fresh feeling.
TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya
Released as Fumiya Fujii’s second solo single, it became a massive hit selling over two million copies as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Asunaro Hakusho.” Showcasing a cool side of Fumiya Fujii distinct from his days with The Checkers, the song drew many new fans.
Just You and IAmuro Namie
This is a single by Namie Amuro released on May 31, 2017, written specifically as the ending theme for the Nippon TV drama “Haha ni Naru” (Becoming a Mother).
It ranked second on the RecoChoku chart for two consecutive weeks.
Crimson Lotus FlowerLiSA
About a year after its digital release, LiSA’s “Gurenge” became an exceptional long-running hit, even reaching No.
1 on the Billboard JAPAN charts for the 19th time.
As the theme song for the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, it exploded in popularity alongside the anime itself—many people must have heard it countless times or sung it at karaoke.
After making her mark in the anisong world, LiSA went on to perform at major festivals and broadened her appeal in the rock band scene, and with this song she finally established herself as a staple artist in the Japanese music scene.