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

Letter to the SkyGReeeeN11rank/position

Soraenotegami

Like sending a letter with no address up into the sky, this GReeeeN song gives voice to feelings you want to convey even if they never reach their destination.

It’s included on the album “Shio, Kosho,” released in June 2009, which won Best Album at the 51st Japan Record Awards.

Though it had no flashy tie-ins, this piece has quietly resonated with many listeners as a ballad that leaves a deep afterglow toward the end of the album.

The layered vocals and choral work—spreading out as if gently supporting a single prayer—are especially striking.

It’s a song we particularly want to send to those standing at the milestone of graduation, carrying unspoken gratitude and words left unsaid.

As you look back on the days when you couldn’t be honest with a teacher or mentor, why not entrust your feelings to this song?

Amanojaku16412rank/position

Amano Jakku / 164 feat. GUMI (Official)

Amano-jaku has a band sound with a really cool bassline.

The overall vocal range is G#3 to G5, and it modulates even higher in the final chorus.

If you want to nail a cool rock delivery, mixed voice is essential.

If you keep belting with a strong falsetto, your voice will gradually lock in, but breath control, explosiveness, and core strength are very important.

However, since this was for karaoke scoring this time, as long as the pitch is on, anything goes.

It might be good to think of it as practice to master mixed voice and keep singing in falsetto at first.

Keep time with your whole body so the rhythm doesn’t slip.

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Kubota Mami

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LokiMikito P13rank/position

Mikito-P "Roki" MV

From the very first bar, the four-on-the-floor dance rock sound sends the energy soaring! This track, released in February 2018, is by Mikito-P, a hugely popular producer leading the Vocaloid scene.

It’s a duet between Kagamine Rin and Mikito-P himself, and the call-and-response style vocals are insanely cool.

The lyrics sharply portray the realities of the music industry and the struggle of self-expression in modern society, giving the song a depth that goes beyond just getting hyped.

It’s also included on the album “DAISAN WAVE,” and its overwhelming popularity has put it near the top of karaoke rankings.

It’s the kind of ultimate song that, the moment it plays in a friends’ intro quiz, makes everyone want to break into a full-on singalong!

Karakuri Pierrot40mP14rank/position

[Hatsune Miku (40mP)] Karakuri Pierrot [Original]

Among Vocaloid songs, “Karakuri Pierrot” has an exceptionally relaxed tempo.

The vocal range isn’t too high, so women can keep the original key, while men might find it just right to lower it by two to three semitones.

The small amount of lyrics is another plus! You should be able to sing steadily without rushing.

Don’t push your voice—aim for a straight, honest pitch.

The key goes up in the last chorus, but if you sing with more energy than in the first chorus, you should be able to stay steady.

For scoring systems, focus on singing as mechanically straight as possible.

Clear enunciation will also make the pitch bar respond well.

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Kubota Mami

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Maplesupittsu15rank/position

Spitz / Kaede

As a ballad portraying a farewell with a loved one, this masterpiece has continued to resonate closely with many hearts.

It is the 19th single by the Japanese rock band Spitz, and when it was released in July 1998, it was a double A-side with its coupling track.

The song has also been used as an insert track in Fuji TV dramas Over Time and, in 2022, Silent.

Released as a single cut from the album Fake Fur, the piece features lyrics where a sense of loss intertwines with the will to move forward, carried by an ensemble of piano and acoustic guitar.

Masamune Kusano’s clear, translucent vocals further enhance the poignant melody.

When covering it in a solo voice-and-guitar arrangement, focusing on a progression from quiet arpeggios in the first verse to strong strumming in the chorus will help convey the song’s dramatic worldview.

together; along with; bothWANIMA16rank/position

WANIMA – Together (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

WANIMA is a rock band whose exhilarating sound and catchy melodies energize everyone who listens.

This work portrays the powerful drive to keep moving forward with authenticity, even while carrying painful memories of the past and anxieties about an uncertain future.

Its passionate message—filled with deep gratitude for the friends they’ve met along the way and the importance of overcoming hardships to keep living—will surely resonate with anyone at a new beginning.

Released in August 2016, the song was used in a commercial for Nivea Kao’s 8×4.

During production, their hometown of Kumamoto was struck by an earthquake, and the added layers of prayers and encouragement for their community make the background all the more moving.

It’s an uplifting tune recommended for those who want to look back on days spent with dear friends and step forward with a smile onto a new path!

sasanqua (Camellia sasanqua)SEKAI NO OWARI17rank/position

Sakanaction “Sazanka”

A ballad that portrays the loneliness and anxiety felt in the pursuit of a dream, as well as the warmth of someone watching over you.

SEKAI NO OWARI’s “Sazanka” is a single released in February 2018 and became widely known as the NHK theme song for coverage of the PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympics.

Rather than simply urging listeners to “do your best,” the song is filled with a gentle kindness that seems to affirm every attempt to overcome setbacks and pain.

Anyone chasing a dream may wonder, “Is this really the right path for me?” In those moments, this song will quietly stand by you, saying, “I know how hard you’ve been trying.”

somedaySaucy Dog18rank/position

Saucy Dog "Someday" MUSIC VIDEO

It’s a signature, bittersweet love ballad by Saucy Dog that makes you want to listen while gazing up at the winter night sky.

It vividly portrays lingering feelings for an ex and memories of happy days that will never return, tightening your chest a little more each time you hear it.

The track is included on their May 2017 mini-album “Country Road,” which became a springboard for their rise.

Based on vocalist Shinya Ishihara’s real experiences, its depictions bring the park setting to life and have resonated with many listeners.

It’s a cherished number for the band, also performed when they won the Grand Prix at an audition in December 2016.

In the season when you miss the warmth of another, it’s a song that will gently stay by your side on nights when you want to recall a past love and shed a few tears.

HarukaYOASOBI19rank/position

YOASOBI 'Haruka' Official Music Video

Told from the perspective of a mug, this work warmly portrays its owner’s growth and everyday life, as well as partings and gratitude.

Ayase’s sprightly sound and ikura’s gentle vocals resonate deeply.

Released in December 2020, the song was later included on the album “THE BOOK.” Based on a novel by Osamu Suzuki, it was also used as the image song for “Art Aquarium 2021: Hakata—Festival of Goldfish.” Recommended for those who want to convey feelings they can’t put into words to a teacher who has supported them.

Only for you, clear skiesYorushika20rank/position

Yorushika – Just Clear Skies for You (MUSIC VIDEO)

It’s a track marked by a nostalgic melody that evokes the scent of summer and parched clouds.

n-buna’s lyrics weave in the essence of Masaoka Shiki’s haiku, blending literary depth with an easy, pleasant rhythm.

suis’s clear, translucent vocals highlight the bittersweetness of youth gone by.

The music video, released in May 2018, drew a major response, and streaming plays have surpassed hundreds of millions, making it one of their signature hits.

The song is included on the mini-album “Makeinu ni Encore wa Iranai,” and in December 2019 it was also used as the opening video for the live show “Sayonara Tarinai Futari.” It’s a masterpiece that gently stays with you in those moments when a sudden memory of the past brings a pang of sadness.