Ranking of Popular Japanese Music/J-POP Artists Among University Students [2026]

You don’t listen to rock.aimyon50rank/position

Aimyon – You Don’t Listen to Rock [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

It’s a song whose vivid, scene-rich lyrics and striking melody truly resonate.

The lyrics portray the protagonist’s bittersweet feelings with realism, capturing the emotions of those in love.

Released in September 2017, it became a hot topic, receiving heavy radio rotation.

It has also become a major hit, surpassing 100 million streams.

It’s a track that feels like a snapshot of youth—one that anyone who has ever had a crush, or fallen for someone, can relate to.

Even if you don’t share the same musical tastes as the person you like, listening to this song will surely help your hearts connect.

It’s a song that will cheer on your feelings of love.

companion; comrade; friend; fellow; teammate; allyKetsumeishi51rank/position

Ketsumeishi “Nakama” Full Ver.

Ketsumeishi’s “Nakama” is the perfect song that makes you want to link arms and sing together at the closing ceremony of a sports day.

The friends who fought alongside you are comrades-in-arms at the event, but they’re also the companions you spend your days with.

It’s a song that feels like it can help you build a relationship where you praise each other and say “good job” with genuine appreciation.

The bonds among the children, strengthened through the sports day, may deepen even further.

Be sure to give this song with its comfortable tempo and unpretentious lyrics a listen.

It’ll make for a wonderful sports day!

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mayumi

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Spring SwallowHey! Say! JUMP52rank/position

Hey! Say! JUMP – Spring Swallow [Official Music Video]

Haru Tsubame, released in 2022 by the male idol group Hey! Say! JUMP, was selected as the theme song for the anime Love All Play, which portrays the youth of a high school badminton team.

The song depicts a bird soaring beyond the sky, delivering a refreshing sound that evokes a clear blue sky.

It’s an upbeat track with a bright, expansive worldview that perfectly matches a sports day where classmates and teammates give it their all.

Why not play this song—rich with their harmonies and brimming with passion and hope—at a sports day that’s sure to set hearts ablaze?

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mutō

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CHE.R.RYYUI53rank/position

CHE.R.RY – YUI (Full)

Released as YUI’s eighth single in 2007, “CHE.R.RY” was featured in a commercial for au’s LISMO service.

This song, which cutely captures the start of a romance, has become a staple love song.

It’s easy for women to sing and has a charming vibe, making it a crowd-pleaser at karaoke—one of YUI’s hit tracks.

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kurichan

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Beat de TouhiHama iku54rank/position

Hamaiku – Escape with the Beat [MV]

Hamaiku is a unit formed by Ryuichi Hamaya of Kamaitachi and Erika Ikuta.

Their song “Beat DE Touhi” is their debut track.

Many university students are probably familiar with it.

Since the two are not primarily active as singers, the vocal lines are set at a relatively low difficulty throughout.

Also, even though it’s a duet, there are no harmony parts, which makes it an easy song to sing.

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Ryo

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Curtain callYuuri55rank/position

Curtain Call by Yuuri: My Hero Academia Special Music Video / My Hero Academia Season 7 Cour 2 Opening Theme Anime MV

This is a song by Yuuri featuring an exhilarating, up-tempo rock melody and lyrics filled with hope as two people strive to understand each other.

It powerfully and directly sings of the protagonist’s strong resolve to keep pursuing the path they believe in, while showing empathy toward those they stand opposed to.

A rousing cheer song that gives you a push to chase dreams together with teammates at sports days and athletic festivals, it was released in July 2024 and chosen as the opening theme for Season 7, Cour 2 of the popular anime My Hero Academia.

It’s a track we especially recommend to everyone competing with friends, helping one another, and giving their all toward their goals.

Heart-throbbingHinatazaka4656rank/position

Hinatazaka46 “Kyun”

This is the debut and smash-hit song by Hinatazaka46, a Sakamichi-series group that grew out of Keyakizaka46’s Hiragana Keyaki.

Its addictive chorus and cute dance went viral, and the “Kyunkyun Dance” became a heavy rotation trend on TikTok.

If you want to showcase cuteness, it’s a great choice for a girls’ group performance.

The choreography features lots of upbeat, straightforward moves, which is another plus.

And of course, make the chorus’s Kyunkyun Dance as cute as you can!