Male Singer-Songwriters of the 2000s: Popular Song Ranking [2026]
Around this time of year, acoustic-style singer-songwriters start to draw attention again.
It may also have been around this period that the image of singer-songwriters as refreshing began to take hold.
Here’s a ranking of popular songs by male singer-songwriters from the 2000s.
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Male Singer-Songwriters of the 2000s: Popular Song Ranking [2026] (81–90)
rainbowFukuyama Masaharu85rank/position
It’s a rock tune that portrays the passion of youth and the pursuit of dreams.
Included on Masaharu Fukuyama’s single “Niji/Himawari/Sore ga Subete sa,” released in August 2003, it fired up living rooms across Japan as the theme song for the drama WATER BOYS.
It enjoyed five consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the Oricon charts and has long been loved as a summer-defining hit.
Carrying the message of spreading out a map and moving toward the future, it’s a perfect fit for graduation season.
Rainbow ~Another Summer~Fukuyama Masaharu86rank/position
Following “Niji,” the same song—retitled “Niji: Another Summer” and arranged differently from the single version—was used again as the theme song for the re-broadcast of WATER BOYS 2.
Multiple alternate arrangements and instrumental versions of “Niji” are included.
On the Oricon charts, while it didn’t surpass the original “Niji,” it reached No.
4 on the weekly chart and No.
81 on the year-end chart.
White lilies on my birthdayFukuyama Masaharu87rank/position
Masaharu Fukuyama’s 30th single, released in April 2013, is a gem of a ballad that portrays the bond between parent and child.
Written as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “Tonbi,” it serves as a counterpart to his previous single “Kazoku ni Narou yo,” which depicted a parent’s love for a child; this song expresses gratitude from a grown child to their parents.
Voices of family that once felt bothersome, a hometown once left behind—over the years, one comes to recognize the depth of parental love and the meaning embedded in one’s own name.
The words “Thank you for giving birth to me,” spoken without embarrassment on the special day of one’s birthday, strike a deep chord.
The timbre of the South American folk instrument, the zampoña, adds a warm richness to the track.
Debuting at No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Chart, this song is highly recommended for those living apart from their parents or for anyone who wishes to express sincere gratitude.
GirlHata Motohiro88rank/position
The artist who took first place in the annual J-Pop rankings on cable radio was Motohiro Hata.
Since he didn’t make the top 50 in the sales rankings, you could say this is popularity unique to cable radio, but I think rankings other than sales are also important points of reference.
scale (as of a fish or reptile)Hata Motohiro89rank/position
When it comes to early masterpieces by Motohiro Hata, a singer-songwriter with immense popularity, many people probably think of this song.
Released in June 2007 as his second single, it was also used as the image song for the Nippon TV documentary “Tejise — 1461 Days of Memories.” The lyrics, which compare a fish’s natural defense to the shell around one’s own heart and portray the resolve to cast aside hesitation and honestly express one’s feelings, are deeply moving.
From the delicate arpeggios of the intro to the powerful strumming in the chorus, the track is brimming with the allure of the acoustic guitar, making it perfect for a solo voice-and-guitar performance.
If you sing it with emotion, it’s sure to resonate deeply with listeners.
Once Again… feat. BENIDōji-T90rank/position
At the beginning of our relationship, we appreciated even the little things and cherished each other.
But as time passed, being together felt like a given, and I ended up hurting them more and more until we broke up.
This is a song of regret, wishing that if we could meet again, I would cherish them so much more.
Male Singer-Songwriters of the 2000s: Popular Songs Ranking [2026] (91–100)
LemonYonezu Kenshi91rank/position
A signature song by Kenshi Yonezu whose sentimental lyrics and wistful melody resonate deeply.
The words, which honor deep love for someone lost and the beautiful memories they left behind, truly strike a chord.
Released in 2018 and written as the theme for TBS’s Friday drama “Unnatural,” the track became a cultural phenomenon, with its music video surpassing one million views about 13 hours after release.
It’s a moving piece that offers comfort to those grieving the loss of someone dear.