Ranking of Popular Japanese Songs and J-Pop Among High School Girls [2026]

Blue HabitatKitanitatsuya85rank/position

Where Our Blue Is / Tatsuya Kitani

Tatsuya Kitani is a singer-songwriter who also makes his presence felt as a bassist, supporting acts like sajou no hana and Yorushika.

The title track of his third EP, Ao no Sumika (Where Our Blue Is), was selected as the opening theme for the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death.

Though the song features many challenging elements—such as wide interval leaps using falsetto—mastering it is sure to draw attention.

With lyrics depicting a friendship gradually growing distant and a dramatic ensemble that stirs the heart, it’s a high-energy rock tune brimming with momentum.

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Hoshino Takashi

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tobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawa86rank/position

Koresawa “Tobacco” [Music Video]

Koresawa, whose cute bear headgear has left a strong impression, is best known for that charming image.

But “Tabako” is a sad, tear-jerking love song that’s a bit removed from that cuteness.

It’s a heartbreak song in which she thinks about the man who left, and the way she looks at both the things she disliked and the things she loved about him with a kind of detached objectivity only makes the sadness stand out even more.

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utatane

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I can’t forget it.Sakanakushon87rank/position

Sakanaction / Wasurerarenai no -Music Video-

Sakanaction is supported by a wide range of generations, regardless of gender or age.

This song is the band’s 13th single, released in 2019, but it was surprisingly put out as an 8 cm single—something high school girls likely wouldn’t be familiar with.

The track has a somewhat retro, nostalgic feel, and the music video is made to match, with an old-fashioned look.

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utatane

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KanadeSukima Suichi88rank/position

Sukima Switch – “Kanade” Music Video : SUKIMASWITCH / KANADE Music Video

A signature, hugely popular ballad by Sukima Switch.

Released in June 2004, this song has been featured widely in the media, including as an insert song for the film “Rough” and as the theme for the third night of the drama series “Sotsu Uta.” Centered on themes of parting, growth, and bonds, it gently sings of feelings for a lover far away.

It’s a tender ballad that you can sing with heart, and its broad popularity makes it especially approachable to perform.

Highly recommended for those who’ve experienced a breakup with someone they love or who want to convey their feelings to someone important.

It’s nothing.makaroni enpitsu89rank/position

Macaroni Empitsu “It’s Nothing,” MV

This song, which poignantly portrays the quiet everyday life shared with a lover, is a perfect fit for a high school boy.

It’s included on Macaroni Enpitsu’s album “Expectations for a Happy Ending,” released in January 2022, and was also chosen as the theme song for the film “At Dawn, Young People.” The lyrics, which convey a heart that cherishes the small joys of each day, seem to speak for boys who can’t honestly express their feelings to the person they like.

If you sing it at karaoke, you’re sure to capture girls’ hearts.

With over 300 million streams, it’s a hit that will definitely draw attention from those around you.

Blueberry Nightsmakaroni enpitsu90rank/position

Macaroni Empitsu 'Blueberry Nights' MV

Blueberry Nights is a song by the four-piece rock band Macaroni Enpitsu that packs pop sensibilities with a tinge of heartbreak.

It captures the kind of spiraling thoughts and emotional loops common in love—especially unrequited love.

Rather than the fluttery excitement of a crush, the lyrics read more like a song about lingering attachment—a slightly dark unrequited love song that conveys a desire to start over and a sense of regret.

It really evokes that feeling of remembering something in the middle of the night and getting stuck in a loop of thoughts—yeah, we’ve all been there.

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utatane

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Only for you, clear skiesYorushika91rank/position

Yorushika – Just Clear Skies for You (MUSIC VIDEO)

This is one of Yorushika’s signature songs, released in 2018.

It’s a bittersweet pop track themed around summer, youth, love, and parting.

The overall vocal range is relatively narrow at D4–D#5, so it’s highly recommended for singers who find higher notes easier than lower ones.

In the verses (A and B sections), it’s more spoken than sung, and the spacing between phrases is a key point.

The solid band arrangement makes it easy to lock into the groove, so you’ll likely feel your energy rise in the chorus.

Listen closely to the drums and be careful not to rush the tempo.

In the last chorus, the key changes and the pitch goes even higher, so try to sing with extra drive and momentum.

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Kubota Mami

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