[Karaoke] Guaranteed to get the crowd going! A collection of up-tempo Japanese songs
There are plenty of chances to go to karaoke with school friends or coworkers, right?
What often trips people up at times like that is, of course, picking songs.
A lot of people probably feel like, “If I’m going to sing, I want a crowd-pleaser, but I don’t know what to choose.”
There are all kinds of hype songs, but in this article we’ll focus on up-tempo tracks and recommend lots of great picks!
They’re all guaranteed crowd-pleasers for karaoke, so if you’re ever stuck choosing, definitely use this as a reference.
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- [For Women] Easy-to-Sing and Crowd-Pleasing Karaoke Songs
- Recommended for high school students! Fun, crowd-pleasing songs for karaoke
[Karaoke] Guaranteed to Get the Crowd Going! A Collection of Up-Tempo Japanese Songs (61–70)
Turning Uparashi
This song was released with great anticipation on November 3, 2019, marking the 20th anniversary of their debut.
It includes a lot of English, so it might be a bit challenging to memorize.
However, just as the music video features dancing throughout, it’s an extremely upbeat and fun track.
If you go to karaoke with someone who likes Arashi, it’s guaranteed to get everyone excited.
SeventeenYOASOBI
Set to a fast-paced, exhilarating melody, this song depicts a 17-year-old girl’s journey of self-discovery and growth.
Crafted by YOASOBI from a novel by Naoki Prize–winning author Miyuki Miyabe, it’s a richly narrative track released in March 2023.
It skillfully contrasts the protagonist with her counterpart in a parallel world and conveys her yearning to find where she truly belongs.
The song is also included on the EP “Hajimete no – EP” and the album “THE BOOK 3.” Perfect for those who want to fire up a karaoke session or are searching for their true selves.
Banzai VenusSKE48
SKE48 is an idol group based in Aichi Prefecture.
Their fifth single is “Banzai Venus.” It’s a cheer song for women who have a hard time confessing their feelings.
With its pop melody and powerful vocals, it’s an energizing track.
When you sing it at karaoke, try performing it brightly and powerfully like the original.
There are chorus parts and shout-along phrases, so having your friends join in will definitely liven things up.
Happy surprisenaniwa danshi
If you want to make your karaoke session super lively and exciting, I recommend Naniwa Danshi’s “Happy Surprise”! Released in 2022, this song is all about planning a surprise for someone you like.
It’s perfect to sing as a surprise for the birthday of someone special—whether it’s your crush, your partner, or a friend! With its sparkling, happy vibe, it’s sure to fill the room with warmth.
Why not gift your special someone a song, complete with the cute choreography?
A Cruel Angel’s ThesisTakahashi Yoko
What explanation could it possibly need at this point? That’s how well-known this song is.
Created as the opening theme for Neon Genesis Evangelion, it transcends the realm of anime songs and is loved by many.
Although it was released in 1995, it still remains near the top of karaoke rankings and can be said to be a song sung by people in all sorts of situations.
NINE LIVESchōtokkyū
This is a dance number by Choutokkyuu released on September 24, 2025.
The song’s theme is the proverb “A cat has nine lives,” and it features lots of cat-related words.
Choutokkyuu often has songs with high vocals, but NINE LIVES isn’t one that keeps pushing into ultra-high notes, so once you lock into the rhythm, it should be pretty singable! Since it’s a twin-vocal track, there may be spots where singing solo is tricky timing-wise, but the song’s vibe is super cool, so definitely use it to hype up the karaoke room! In general, you can get a strong, steady tone if you resonate in both your head and chest; try placing a hand on your chest to feel that chest resonance as you sing.
By the way, TAKASHI, Choutokkyuu’s vocalist, raises his eyebrows quite a lot when he sings.
It also makes it easier to hit the right pitches, so give it a try!
FlenjerOtsuka Ai
Released in 2006 as Ai Otsuka’s 11th single.
It was featured in a commercial for Toshiba’s “au CDMA 1X WIN MUSIC-HDD W41T.” “Frienger” is a coined word that refers to wonderful friends.
The song itself is a happy tune you can listen to with an easygoing, upbeat smile, and it’s a relaxed, fun song to sing.