Top Male Singer-Songwriter Hits of the 1980s: Ranking [2026]
In the 1980s, a decade that saw musical diversity in genres like folk songs and pop, singer-songwriters emerged across various styles and left behind numerous classic hits.
Here, we present a ranking of popular songs by male singer-songwriters from the 1980s.
Playlist
| Top Male Singer-Songwriter Hits of the 1980s: Ranking [2026] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1 | Ruby RingTerao Akira |  play_arrow | Released in February 1981, Akira Terao’s so... |
| 2 | MissingKubota Toshinobu |  play_arrow | Toshinobu Kubota’s heartrending ballad that sings of deep love. |
| 3 | First loveMurashita Kōzō |  play_arrow | It could be called a quintessential unrequited-love song of the Showa era: Mura… |
| 4 | The Last Holy NightSugiyama Kiyotaka |  play_arrow | Kiyotaka Sugiyama’s hit song used in multiple commercials |
| 5 | Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuro |  play_arrow | Christmas Eve, a bittersweet love song |
| 6 | Sentimental ChristmasHamada Shogo |  play_arrow | Shogo Hamada’s winter masterpiece, a heartwarming singing voice |
| 7 | Ruby RingTerao Akira |  play_arrow | Known as one of Akira Terao’s signature songs, this work is... |
| 8 | SOMEDAYSano Motoharu |  play_arrow | A classic song that sings of the brilliance and hope of youth, Motoharu Sano |
| 9 | There’s always tomorrowSakamoto Kyu |  play_arrow | A classic song that sings of the clumsiness of youth and the hope it holds |
| 10 | You are in full color.Ohtaki Eiichi |  play_arrow | Eiichi Ohtaki’s classic: a bittersweet yearning for love |
| 11 | Summer HornsInagaki Junichi |  play_arrow | Released in 1983, this work is urban and so... |
| 12 | Merry Christmas Mr. LawrenceSakamoto Ryuichi |  play_arrow | Theme song of the film 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence' |
| 13 | A long nightMatsuyama Chiharu |  play_arrow | A quintessential example of cool Showa-era kayōkyoku sung by men is... |
| 14 | Midnight Flight – A Lonely Christmas EveHamada Shogo |  play_arrow | The loneliness of airports and the ache of a broken heart |
| 15 | CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi |  play_arrow | Moving masterpieces that color life's milestones |
| 16 | loveMatsuyama Chiharu |  play_arrow | This piece, known as one of Chiharu Matsuyama’s signature songs, is... |
| 17 | LOVELAND, ISLANDYamashita Tatsuro |  play_arrow | The appeal of summer songs and the vibe of the ’80s |
| 18 | I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka |  play_arrow | In 1991, with Yutaka Ozaki’s 11th single... |
| 19 | SherryOzaki Yutaka |  play_arrow | The album that Yutaka Ozaki released in 1985... |
| 20 | SPARKLEYamashita Tatsuro |  play_arrow | Hearing the striking guitar cutting in the intro… |
| 21 | Words of FarewellKaientai |  play_arrow | A classic by Kaientai, singing of heartbreak and the depths of love. |
| 22 | Make it a slow boogie (I want you)Minami Yoshitaka |  play_arrow | Singer-songwriter Yoshitaka Minami, 19… |
| 23 | Merry Xmas to youOda Kazumasa |  play_arrow | Kazumasa Oda’s classic song “Christmas Song” |
| 24 | WaveKadamatsu Toshiki |  play_arrow | An '80s ballad that evokes the end of summer |
| 25 | For me to be myselfOzaki Yutaka |  play_arrow | A song of young people's emotional growth and self-discovery |
| 26 | Seventeen-Year-Old’s MapOzaki Yutaka |  play_arrow | Yutaka Ozaki’s debut single. A representative rock song that portrays the loneliness of youth. |
| 27 | GraduationOzaki Yutaka |  play_arrow | A graduation song that speaks for students’ youth. |
| 28 | Rainy BlueTokunaga Hideaki |  play_arrow | With a distinctive high-tone voice and lyrical singing... |
| 29 | Forbidden Rouge MagicImagawa Kiyoshiro + Sakamoto Ryuichi |  play_arrow | The groundbreaking collaborative track by Kiyoshiro Imawano and Ryuichi Sakamoto |
| 30 | And then I’m at a lossŌsawa Yoshiyuki |  play_arrow | A masterpiece widely known as one of the signature songs of the Showa era... |
| 31 | Goodbye OceanSugiyama Kiyotaka |  play_arrow | A classic song that portrays a bittersweet love at the end of summer. |
| 32 | In the Name of LoveHamada Shogo |  play_arrow | There was a drama with the same title on the Nippon TV network… |
| 33 | Boy in the back alleyHamada Shogo |  play_arrow | Singer-songwriter Shogo Hamada’s f... |
| 34 | dragonflyNagabuchi Tsuyoshi |  play_arrow | Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s signature songs are trending on social media right now. |
| 35 | In the Middle of a DreamKisugi Takao |  play_arrow | With parting and reunion as its theme, a man and woman living in the city... |
| 36 | ANGELHimuro Kyosuke |  play_arrow | Kyosuke Himuro’s sa… released in July 1988 |
| 37 | No End SummerKadamatsu Toshiki |  play_arrow | Kado..., with its charm of Showa-era kayōkyoku-style chord progressions. |
| 38 | Morning of the PegasusIgarashi Hiroaki |  | Skillfully wielding high-tone vocals and falsetto... |
| 39 | Strawberry Statement Once Againbanban |  play_arrow | As a work that reflects the sentiments of youth and the spirit of the times... |
| 40 | Sad Colors, huh? ~ OSAKA BAY BLUESUeda Masaki |  play_arrow | A masterpiece where you can fully feel the charm of good old songs… |
| 41 | Riverside HotelInoue Yosui |  play_arrow | An 80s drama theme song, a bewitching, mature love song |
| 42 | Monroe WalkMinami Yoshitaka |  play_arrow | Yoshitaka Minami’s Summer Love, covered by Hiromi Go |
| 43 | Let’s get married.yoshida takurou |  play_arrow | Folk songs in the Japanese music scene... |
| 44 | memory glasseshorie atsushi |  play_arrow | "Memory Glass" was released in 1981 and... |
| 45 | Farewell, Siberian RailwayOhtaki Eiichi |  play_arrow | The masterpiece Eiichi Ohtaki gave to Hiromi Ohta |
| 46 | Karen in LoveOhtaki Eiichi |  play_arrow | Eiichi Ohtaki’s refreshing summer rock song |
| 47 | Setting Sail SASURAITerao Akira |  play_arrow | From the 1981 album “Reflect…” |
| 48 | CHRISTMAS CHORUSKomuro Tetsuya |  play_arrow | Tetsuya Komuro’s heartwarming masterpiece that echoes on a winter night |
| 49 | Night of 15Ozaki Yutaka |  play_arrow | Yutaka Ozaki brought many hit songs into the world... |
| 50 | EscapeInagaki Junichi |  play_arrow | A mature summer classic and a thrilling Yokohama Rubber commercial |
| 51 | Dance If You Want ItKubota Toshinobu |  play_arrow | Toshinobu Kubota's smash hit—energetic and profound. |
| 52 | You were mineKubota Toshinobu |  play_arrow | Toshinobu Kubota’s classic ’80s track—bittersweet, funky R&B |
| 53 | Saddle of a Shooting StarKubota Toshinobu |  play_arrow | The 1986 album “SHAKE I… |
| 54 | An outright serenadeInoue Yosui |  play_arrow | Yosui Inoue’s hit song “Isso Serenade”… |
| 55 | Harmony at the End of SummerInoue Yosui & Anzen Chitai |  play_arrow | A legendary duet by Koji Tamaki and Yosui Inoue |
| 56 | Rainbow Sea LineSato Hiroshi |  play_arrow | This work, which sings of a yearning for the far reaches of the sea and sky, … |
| 57 | Christmas Time in Blue — Whistling on the Holy NightSano Motoharu |  play_arrow | A heartwarming classic Christmas song by Motoharu Sano |
| 58 | Young BloodsSano Motoharu |  play_arrow | “Young Bloods” is a singer-so... |
| 59 | Be my bride.Kayama Yūzō |  play_arrow | Yuzo Kayama’s classic song set against the sea |
| 60 | X’mas PartyHarada Shinji |  play_arrow | Shinji Harada’s Christmas song depicts scenes of the city. |
| 61 | Eyes of the heartSakamoto Kyu |  play_arrow | Kyu Sakamoto’s “Kokoro no Hitomi,” a song of love and bonds |
| 62 | Look up at the stars in the nightSakamoto Kyu |  play_arrow | A beautiful ballad that prays to the stars, a song of love and hope |
| 63 | To each their own.Ōe Senri |  play_arrow | Released in 1984, now more than 30 years later... |
| 64 | SHADOW CITYTerao Akira |  play_arrow | Atsushi Terao captivates with an intense, haunting performance and songs from the Showa era. |
| 65 | winter groveogura kei |  play_arrow | Kei Ogura, a former bank employee, delivers a winter song of beautiful vocals and melancholy. |
| 66 | Rainy BlueTokunaga Hideaki |  play_arrow | Released in 1986, it has been covered by numerous artists... |
| 67 | While shining…Tokunaga Hideaki |  play_arrow | HIDEAKI TOKUNAGA’s youthful classic “Love” |
| 68 | Aeolian of the WindTokunaga Hideaki |  play_arrow | A single released in 1988. Used in a Matsushita Electric air... |
| 69 | Blue NovemberKisugi Takao |  play_arrow | A wistful autumn ballad, a masterpiece that resonates with the heart |
| 70 | Snowbound Party -Tonight Visitors OK!-Hamada Shogo |  play_arrow | A Night of Love on a Street Corner Where Powdered Snow Dances |
| 71 | Sorrow like snowHamada Shogo |  play_arrow | Shogo Hamada’s classic, a sad winter song |
| 72 | A Place in the SunHamada Shogo |  play_arrow | A heart-wrenching ballad that depicts an affair. A… |
| 73 | Blue Jean PierrotInagaki Junichi |  play_arrow | Speaking of sultry vocals, this person comes to mind. “Christma… |
| 74 | The Woman in the DunesSuzuki Shigeru |  play_arrow | Set on a winter seashore, on a sandy beach where wind and snow intertwine... |
| 75 | The Summer That Vanished Beyond the GlassSuzuki Masayuki |  play_arrow | Masayuki Suzuki sings of a summer farewell in his debut solo single. |
| 76 | GOOD-BYE YouthNagabuchi Tsuyoshi |  play_arrow | This song was released as a single in 1983... |
| 77 | Wandering Love SongNagabuchi Tsuyoshi |  play_arrow | A piece widely known as one of the iconic songs representing the Showa era... |
| 78 | JunkoNagabuchi Tsuyoshi |  play_arrow | Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s fifth single “Junko.” 1… |
| 79 | Come to the snowy mountainsŌe Senri |  play_arrow | A fun winter song set in snowy mountains, with a touch of romance |
| 80 | White Winterfuki no tō |  play_arrow | The shifting of autumn to winter and the sorrow of heartbreak |
| 81 | I knew it—I love you.yashiki takajin |  play_arrow | A Kansai-dialect breakup song, a timeless track that resonates with the heart |
| 82 | A hill where summer begins to showDaisuke |  play_arrow | Refreshing, heart-stirring music of summer |
| 83 | Shot by a TIME showerKubota Toshinobu |  play_arrow | Toshinobu Kubota’s ‘Shot by a TIME Shower…’ |
| 84 | Into the DreamInoue Yosui |  play_arrow | Showa-era classics are trending again on Instagram |
| 85 | Goodbye PatternItō Toshihiro |  play_arrow | I used to listen to this song back when I was working as a JNR employee… |
| 86 | AngelinaSano Motoharu |  play_arrow | MOTOHARU SANO's debut single, and 198... |
| 87 | Dream FlowerEn Hiroshi |  play_arrow | Hiroshi Madoka, who is still active as a TV personality... |
| 88 | Time travelHarada Shinji |  play_arrow | Mr. Shinji Harada was with the record company For Life… |
| 89 | I look up as I walkSakamoto Kyu |  play_arrow | Showa-era classic songs, appealing for their positive lyrics |
| 90 | Katsushika RhapsodyDōjima Kōhei |  play_arrow | The local theme song from the anime “Kochikame” |
| 91 | If I can see you in my dreamsOhtaki Eiichi |  play_arrow | A heartrending melody and a tightening in the chest… |
| 92 | Farewell, youthogura kei |  play_arrow | Kiyoshi Ogura’s renowned masterpiece, a song that accompanies youth |
| 93 | Ride On TimeYamashita Tatsuro |  play_arrow | The city pop classic “RIDE ON TIME.” |
| 94 | The PeopleYamashita Tatsuro |  play_arrow | Tatsuro Yamashita’s masterpiece “Sōbō” encourages us in life. |
| 95 | Lonely Way of the WindSugiyama Kiyotaka |  play_arrow | A translucent singing voice that seeps into the heart, and the loneliness of the city... |
| 96 | In the Great Sky and on the Vast EarthMatsuyama Chiharu |  play_arrow | A resolve to seize happiness by my own strength amidst the great outdoors… |
| 97 | BAN BAN BANKuwata Keisuke |  play_arrow | KUW...'s music is characterized by a pop sound and bittersweet lyrics. |
| 98 | youthMorita Kōichi to Toppugyaran |  play_arrow | Graduation season: the struggles and memories of youth |
| 99 | Another SaturdayHamada Shogo |  play_arrow | Shogo Hamada’s poignant classic ‘Another Saturday’ |
| 100 | Unrequited loveHamada Shogo |  play_arrow | A wistful unrequited-love ballad by Shogo Hamada |