[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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- A collection of nostalgic hits from the ’70s to 2000s that are perfect for livening up karaoke
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- 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
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- [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 (31–40)
Good luck!Utakata Pātīzu
It has a somewhat anime-like vibe, with a refreshing, easy-to-listen phrase that sticks in your head! The tempo is relatively fast, so it might be best to start by memorizing the melody.
When it’s time to sing, as long as you ride the groove properly, you’ll be set! The melody is quite straightforward, so you should get used to the song quickly.
There’s call-and-response in the A section, so if you look at the lyrics from the beginning, you should be able to learn it without getting confused.
Also, for the high notes in the chorus, rather than belting, sing lightly to match the song’s feel—aim to relax while keeping the rhythm with your body.
Since it’s an idol-style song, lifting your facial muscles into a smile will help you relax on its own.
After that, try singing without forcing it, imagining your voice lightly placed forward, around the area in front of your eyebrows!
Joyfulikimonogakari
Among Ikimono-gakari’s songs, this one is exceptionally high-energy and bright! It was also used in a Pocky commercial, so many people probably remember it.
The tempo is great and the lyrics flow nicely, making it really comfortable to sing! Plus, if everyone dances together to the chorus routine featured in the commercial and the music video, it’s guaranteed to get the crowd going.
It’s one of the quintessential uptempo, hype-raising tracks.
New Treasure IslandSakanakushon
This is a song that quickly gained popularity with its music video and sound that evoke the ’80s and ’90s.
It’s so popular that, no matter who you go to karaoke with, more people tend to know it than not.
Its upbeat tempo and rhythm make it incredibly easy to get into, making it perfect for a lively group sing-along.
Be sure to belt out this track—one of Sakanaction’s signature songs—to your heart’s content.
Sora-buneTOKIO
Released in 2006 as TOKIO’s 35th single, it debuted at number one on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and became a major hit.
Written and composed by Miyuki Nakajima, its powerful rock sound and characteristically Nakajima-style lyrics make it a crowd-pleaser at karaoke.
S’il vous plaît, PresidentPmaru-sama.
This is a song by P Maru-sama, a multi-entertainer who mainly works on video-sharing platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
On social media short videos, many creators showed off cute dances to this track, didn’t they? The song became a hot topic for being “highly addictive,” but its content is pretty surreal! Even if you became president, it’s a list of things you absolutely must not do.
If you sing it at karaoke with subtitles, you might newly realize just how abnormal the lyrics are and end up talking about the song all night, saying, “This track is kind of insane,” right?
[Karaoke] Guaranteed to Get the Crowd Going! A Collection of Upbeat J-Pop Songs (41–50)
Sugar Song and Bitter StepUNISON SQUARE GARDEN
Released in 2015, this song was written as the ending theme for the anime Blood Blockade Battlefront.
It’s also popular as a karaoke pick, and even though some time has passed since its release, people still sing it a lot! The sound has a fresh, breezy feel that evokes spring and summer, and the brisk, fast-paced melody is guaranteed to liven up the room when you sing it.
The key might be a bit high for men, but that could make it easier for women to sing.
Try singing it together as a couple or with friends and get the party going!
peace signYonezu Kenshi
Although it was released in 2017, Peace Sign has long been loved as a popular karaoke song.
It’s a track by singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu and was used as the opening theme for the anime My Hero Academia.
Above all, the song’s driving energy is really cool, and it feels amazing if you can power through it at karaoke! It might seem difficult, but this is Kenshi Yonezu we’re talking about—thanks to its catchy melody, it’s actually quite easy to learn! It’s a recommended song for both men and women.