[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.
- Upbeat, bright songs: a collection of tracks that lift your mood when you listen
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the ’70s to 2000s that are perfect for livening up karaoke
- This is a sure hit! Hype songs men will want to sing as the first track at karaoke
- Karaoke songs everyone can sing: Japanese tracks that are easy to enjoy with a group.
- [I want to sing out loud] Songs that feel great to belt and are fun for karaoke
- [For Men] This song is perfect for hyping up the crowd at karaoke!
- [For Men] Want to Hype Up the Karaoke? A Roundup of Recommended High-Energy J-Pop/Rock
- Get the Laughs! Funny Karaoke Songs That Hype Up the Crowd
- [2026 Edition] Songs You Can Scream at Karaoke: Recommended Japanese Tracks for Blowing Off Steam
- Hype to the max! Party songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- Cool songs that will go over well at karaoke
- [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 Upbeat Japanese Songs (21–30)
frecklesJUDY AND MARY
It’s one of JUDY AND MARY’s signature songs and also served as the theme for the anime Rurouni Kenshin -Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story-.
It’s really memorable for its JUDY AND MARY-esque brightness, crisp guitar sound, and YUKI’s lively vocals.
The tempo isn’t ridiculously fast; it’s a comfortably upbeat pace that’s easy to sing along to.
It’s definitely a song I’d recommend trying at karaoke, especially when you’re with people who listened to it in real time back in the day!
cherry (sweet cherry; cherry fruit)Otsuka Ai
One of the go-to karaoke songs is Ai Otsuka’s “Sakuranbo.” With its high-energy vibe right from the intro, it’s perfect for instantly amping up the crowd.
The catchy lyrics—likening a romantic relationship to cherries—are another reason it’s become a beloved classic.
Of course, singing it well matters, but this is a song you should first let loose and belt out to your heart’s content.
By the way, it’s been trending on social media in recent years, so even people who didn’t grow up with it are sure to get excited.
[Karaoke] Guaranteed to Get the Crowd Going! A Collection of Upbeat Japanese Songs (31–40)
Silent majorityKeyakizaka46
With Yurina Hirate, who had served as center, departing and key members graduating one after another, Keyakizaka46 drew a line under their activities as of October 2020.
This song is their debut single, and it’s a track that showcased women’s strength and coolness.
While it isn’t the classic cute, pop style typical of idol songs, it still retains the singable quality you’d expect from the genre.
Recognized as the song that put them on the map, it’s a crowd-pleaser that really gets people going—so be sure to try singing it at karaoke!
No doubtOfisharu Higedan Dism
This song is Official HIGE DANDism’s major-label debut single.
It was chosen as the theme song for the TV drama “The Confidence Man JP,” which, along with its film adaptation, became a huge hit.
With its up-tempo beat, it feels like a track everyone can sing together during the instrumental breaks and really get pumped up! The funky vibe of the melody creates a fun atmosphere that makes your body move naturally, whether you’re singing or listening.
The song’s theme is lies used to deceive people, matching the drama’s storyline.
The lyrics, written with uniquely chosen words, are another element that makes it fun to sing.
SHAMROCKUVERworld
An upbeat UVERworld track that livens up any karaoke session.
It was chosen as the theme song for the drama “Dandori ~Dance☆Drill~” starring Nana Eikura.
While UVERworld often has a cool image, this pop and refreshing number is accessible to both singers and listeners alike.
That said, it still retains UVERworld’s signature style—pay attention to the rap-like sections and TAKUYA∞’s raspy vocal parts! One of UVERworld’s charms is how their songs show many different facets within a single track, so it might feel challenging at karaoke, but this is a song you can just have fun singing and forget all that!
BlessingYOASOBI
YOASOBI’s “The Blessing” delivers a driving, exhilarating melody that can energize any karaoke session.
Released in 2022, the song was created based on Ichirō Ōkouchi’s novel “Cradle’s Planet” and was featured as the opening theme for the anime Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury.
Its lyrics depict a firm resolve to follow a life path of one’s own choosing, rather than walking a track laid out by others.
The melody, evoking the protagonist’s hope-filled future, brightens the atmosphere and lifts the mood wherever it’s played.
LOVE MachineMōningu Musume.
When it comes to upbeat songs that fire up a karaoke crowd, you just can’t leave this one out! A massive hit from the ’90s that also became the group’s first million-seller.
This is the song everyone in Japan can sing and dance to, and it dramatically accelerated the Morning Musume boom.
The best-of album released in 2013 includes an EDM arrangement of this track sung by the lineup at the time, and it continues to be loved across generations.
Above all, this is a song that gets way more exciting when sung together with a group rather than solo!