[Ode to Joy] A handpicked selection of happy songs and bright tunes that make your heart dance just by listening!
There are many moments in everyday life when we feel joy—like being united with someone you love, achieving a goal, or making up with someone you were fighting with.
In this article, we’ll introduce popular Japanese songs that sing about joy or make you feel joyful when you listen to them.
Each track is filled with warmth and happiness, so give them a listen when things aren’t going well or when you’re feeling down.
It’s also great to listen together with someone important to you or someone you like to strengthen your bond.
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Ode to Joy: Carefully Selected Happy and Upbeat Songs That Make Your Heart Dance Just by Listening! (51–60)
JOin us!!JO1
JO1’s “JOin us!!” is packed with poppy, energetic charm.
Released in December 2024, it was also featured as the TV commercial song for JRA’s “2024 Arima Kinen Promotion.” The track carries a message of “Forget your boring everyday life and let’s have fun together.” Its brisk rhythm and upbeat lyrics will lift your spirits.
It’s perfect for those moments when you want to forget the gloom of daily life or share joy with friends.
Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā
Anyway, it’s a catchy song.
The lyrics might be about a breakup, but the dancing in the music video and the whole vibe only look like they’re having fun! Just listening to it makes your body start moving—you’ll want to dance.
It might be the ultimate happy song…
celeryYamazaki Masayoshi
Masayoshi Yamazaki’s version has a different vibe from SMAP’s.
It’s addictive in a laid-back way without trying too hard to look cool.
He sings incredibly well—no surprise there.
I find myself listening to it over and over for some reason.
The music video is cute, too.
Ode to JoyKAT-TUN
Joyous Song is a 2007 single by KAT-TUN that was used as the theme song for the drama Tokkyu Tanaka 3 Go.
Messages like “I’ll always be on your side” and “I’m here with you, so it’s okay” are woven together with words of love.
When you’re feeling down or fed up with everything, listening to this track might move you to tears of happiness.
Its catchy, upbeat melody also gives you energy and courage.
Highly recommended if you’re looking for an uptempo song of joy!
Ode to Joy: A carefully selected list of feel-good, upbeat songs that make your heart dance just by listening! (61–70)
Roco LotionORANGE RANGE
Summer! Speaking of which, after TUBE, is it ORANGE RANGE?? Music videos packed with the ocean, summer vibes, and gorgeous girls get me totally hyped! If I see a cute girl, I’ll go talk to her! I don’t care if I get rejected! Just go wild! It’s a silly and cute song.
Sun of JoySHE’S
Joyful Sun is a song released in 2018 by SHE’S, a piano rock band from Osaka Prefecture.
It’s a track that lets you feel the joy of not being alone, and I believe it will certainly support those facing hardships or chasing their dreams on their own.
In discussing the song, Inoue, the member who wrote the lyrics and composed the music, also mentioned that making music made him feel he wasn’t alone.
Even if you’re by yourself now, there must have been someone who supported you.
Listening while remembering that makes your heart feel so warm.
Easy★RiderOkuda Tamio
From his Unicorn days, Tamio Okuda has always been “laid-back and cool.” He’s not flashy, yet he lifts you up.
He’s not eccentric, yet his songs are addictive—he’s the only one who can craft music like that, I believe.
Loved by both men and women, his songs are timeless masterpieces whenever you listen.