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Wonderful Music Rankings

Popular Japanese Music / J-POP Artist Rankings [2026]

Around 1990, the term “J-POP” was born.

However, Japanese music as a cultural force has never stopped; from long before then up to the present, it has continued to expand.

We’ve put together a collection of soul-stirring tracks created by such artists—please give them a listen.

Popular Japanese Music & J-POP Artist Rankings [2026] (91–100)

Sugar Song and Bitter StepUNISON SQUARE GARDEN99rank/position

UNISON SQUARE GARDEN “Sugar Song and Bitter Step” MV
Sugar Song and Bitter StepUNISON SQUARE GARDEN

It’s a song you can’t forget after just one listen, with a bouncing rhythm and lyrics that capture the sweetness and bitterness of life.

That sharp social perspective woven into a pop sound is exactly what you’d expect from the skilled band UNISON SQUARE GARDEN! Released as a single in May 2015, it became a hot topic when it was chosen as the ending theme for the anime Blood Blockade Battlefront.

It has an exhilarating feel that blows away everyday gloom and makes you want to start dancing, so it’s perfect for when you need a boost or for a stylish night drive!

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The One and Only Flower in the WorldSMAP100rank/position

A signature SMAP song whose moving message resonates with everyone.

Written and composed by Noriyuki Makihara, it was first included on the 2002 album “SMAP 015/Drink! Smap!” and released as a single in 2003.

It gained attention as the theme song for the drama “Boku no Ikiru Michi,” starring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and achieved cumulative shipments of 3.23 million copies.

In 2007, it was selected for the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “100 Best Songs of Japan.” From the scene of flowers proudly blooming side by side in a flower shop, the lyrics gently tell us that there’s no need to compare ourselves to others—making it perfect for graduation season.

It’s a song that softly heals hearts tired from competition and evaluation, so why not send it as a message of support to someone embarking on a new chapter?

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