[Latest/Trending] A roundup of popular Japanese songs among teens and people in their 20s

naporiVaundy

napori

Singer-songwriter Vaundy, who has garnered attention for his multifaceted talent spanning from songwriting and composing to visual production.

This track, included on his May 2020 album “strobo,” is also known as the song used in the commercial for Bourbon’s Alfort Mini Chocolate.

Its intimate vocals and minimal sound delicately capture the anxiety and emotional wavering that lurk within peaceful moments with a lover.

The worldview, which cherishes the fleeting “now” precisely because it is ephemeral, makes you want to sink into it alone late at night.

With total streams surpassing 300 million, this mellow pop tune became a long-running hit, resonating widely with its chill atmosphere.

rendezvousshaitoopu

rendezvous

Shytope is a three-piece rock band whose name comes from the “shy moles”—a group formed in a university music club that practiced in an underground studio.

Their popularity grew mainly through social media, and they made headlines for topping the Billboard JAPAN charts.

This song is a poignant breakup ballad that gazes back at a love that has passed.

Even while knowing it’s impossible, the protagonist dashes through the rain, longing to reunite with their lover—a scene likely to resonate with many teenagers.

The languidly sweet vocals and emotional soundscape make it perfect for nights when you want to sink into your feelings.

It’s a stylish, sentimental rock tune also included on their first full-length album, “Hors d’oeuvre.”

First Love Killernozomi

Noashi (noa) – First Love Killer [Official Music Video]

Singer-songwriter Noshi, who has gained popularity with her unconventional melodies and lyrics that particularly resonate with women.

Known for her genre-defying musical style, she releases songs with a different vibe from her previous work every time.

The piece she created in May 2024 could be described as a pop portrayal of the sweetness and bitterness of first love.

It’s a bittersweet story about being betrayed by someone you were infatuated with, ignoring warnings from friends and parents.

Still, we can’t help but empathize with the protagonist’s strength as she doesn’t give up and sets out to find her next love.

Even before its release, the song drew buzz on TikTok, with around 100,000 related videos posted.

It’s a cute yet slightly bitter cheer song, one that we especially want those troubled by love to hear.

KICKBACKYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – KICKBACK

Kenshi Yonezu, a singer-songwriter who also has a persona as a Vocaloid producer and continues to expand the musical possibilities of the J-pop scene.

The track released in November 2022, used as the opening theme for the TV anime Chainsaw Man, drew major attention for featuring Daiki Tsuneta of King Gnu on arrangement.

With its drum’n’bass-driven, intense beat and whirlwind progression, the sound feels like a roller coaster that sweeps listeners along, deeply linking with the work’s frenzied worldview.

The lyrics, infused with the protagonist’s somewhat nihilistic and self-destructive desire for happiness and good fortune, strike a powerful impulse into the listener’s heart.

It’s an aggressive, cool rock tune that blasts away the boredom of everyday life and lifts your mood to the max.

Is being cute not enough?CUTIE STREET

[Choreography Video -MV edition-] CUTIE STREET 'Is Being Cute Not Enough?"

CUTIE STREET’s debut single hits the very heart of KAWAII culture! This work comically portrays that girlish feeling of wanting your makeup to be perfect even when you’re about to be late, along with the bold confidence to declare that your cuteness is a talent.

While asking, “Is being cute not enough?” it delivers an ultra-positive message about turning your shortcomings into strengths—absolutely awesome.

Released in November 2024, the single debuted at No.

3 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

The catchy choreography is sure to get everyone copying and hyped! It’s like a magical cheer song that boosts your self-esteem whether you listen or dance.

OtonokeCreepy Nuts

Creepy Nuts – Otonoke [Official MV] [Dandadan Opening]

Centered on Gen Z, the TV anime Dandadan became a social phenomenon, and its opening theme can be described as a new frontier in hip-hop woven by R-Shitei and DJ Matsunaga.

Its title is a coined word meaning “sound apparition,” expressing how music itself slips into people’s hearts like something supernatural.

The lyrics are sprinkled with references to horror icons like Sadako and Kayako, as well as phrases that evoke other Jump works, sublimating the daring theme of fusing the occult with hip-hop.

The breakneck beat, relentless flow, and intricately calculated rhymes have the power to pull listeners straight into the story’s world.

Released in October 2024, the track topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and earned high praise both at home and abroad.

It’s an anime song recommended for those who want to immerse themselves in the anime’s worldview or experience a new form of hip-hop.

Heartbeat of the Starskohanaramu

Heartbeat of the Stars

The bittersweetness of youth and the wavering of first love are portrayed atop a clear, translucent melody.

It’s a track by Kohanaramu, slated for digital release in October 2025, and it’s been selected as the ending theme for the TV anime “Tomodachi no Imouto ga Ore ni Dake Uzai” (My Friend’s Little Sister Is Only Annoying to Me).

The lyrics capture feelings of being unable to be honest even when you’re close, and the emotions that tremble deep in your chest, closely reflecting the heart of someone in love.

The arrangement also carries a nostalgic touch that feels wonderfully comforting.

Give it a listen when you’re feeling timid about love.