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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Big hits among the new standards, too! Best hits of popular J-POP songs (21–30)
Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro
Released in 2014 as Motohiro Hata’s 17th single, it became a massive hit as the theme song for Toho’s 3D CG animated film “STAND BY ME Doraemon.” Hata’s gentle vocals make it a song that truly resonates.
Thanks in part to the film’s success, it has become a beloved classic for both children and adults.
Letter ~To You at Fifteen~Anjura Aki
Released in 2008 as Angela Aki’s eighth single, it became a major hit.
This song is an arrangement, for her own performance, of “Tegami,” which she originally wrote as the set piece for the middle school division of the 2008 NHK National School Music Competition.
It captures the feelings of adolescence very well.
Atelier of LightMr.Children
It’s their 36th single, released after a span of roughly two years and two months since the previous one.
The coupling tracks are plentiful, with as many as five songs—the most ever for Mr.
Children.
It also includes their first secret track in ten years.
The One and Only Flower in the WorldSMAP
A massive hit by SMAP, it was the last song the five members performed together.
Noriyuki Makihara wrote and composed it, and the choreography that everyone danced to was created by KABA-chan.
It was also used as the theme song for the drama ‘Boku no Ikiru Michi,’ starring member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi.
With its warm lyrics and melody sung by SMAP, the song moved many people.
As many times as you likeDREAMS COME TRUE
A classic that has now become one of Dreams Come True’s signature motivational songs.
Released in 2005, it had many tie-ins and was frequently played at the time, but after the Great East Japan Earthquake it became the most aired song on the radio and an unforgettable track that encouraged Japan.
The repeating chorus and Miwa Yoshida’s vocals bring me to tears time and again.
Horse and deerYonezu Kenshi
It was written specifically as the theme song for the Sunday drama “No Side Game,” released in November 2019.
While depicting a journey through adversity that links to the drama’s content, it is wrapped in Kenshi Yonezu’s characteristically mysterious worldview.
The “Traveling Large Jacket” exhibition of the cover art designed by Yonezu himself was also a great success.
Togetsu Bridge ~Thinking of You~Kuraki Mai
This is a song by popular female artist Mai Kuraki.
It also gained popularity for being used as the theme song for the film Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter.
The song drew attention as it earned a Guinness World Record for the ‘most theme songs performed by the same artist for an anime series.’