[50s] Popular Japanese Music / J-POP Rankings [By Generation]

ChampionArisu36rank/position

Alice Champion

A dramatic rock ballad that really resonates with men in their 50s.

It’s also said to be surprisingly easy to score well on in karaoke.

The overall vocal range is D3 to G#4, which is basically on the lower side, so if you sing calmly you shouldn’t rush the tempo and it should be easy to sing.

In the chorus, all three members of Alice sing in harmony at once, so you’ll need to firmly confirm the main melody.

To sing with a rich, rugged tone, try resonating fully in your mouth and imagine projecting a beam from your whole mouth—this will give your voice more depth.

Opening your mouth vertically may also help.

Give it a try and sing it with your best voice!

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Kubota Mami

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365 Days’ Paper AirplaneAKB4837rank/position

[MV] Paper Airplane of 365 Days (Short ver.) / AKB48 [Official]

This work captivates with lyrics that stir the heart and a warm, comforting melody.

Comparing life to a paper airplane, it gently sings of the importance of continuing to take on challenges.

Released in October 2015 as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Asa ga Kita,” it garnered support across generations, including a performance by NMB48 at the 66th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen the following year.

It’s recommended for those about to take a new step forward or wishing to convey their feelings to someone special.

At karaoke, if everyone sings the chorus together, it will surely create a wonderful moment of heartfelt connection.

TOMORROWMayo Okamoto38rank/position

Mayo Okamoto “TOMORROW” Music Video

This song is packed with the charms of Mayo Okamoto as a singer-songwriter and has long been loved as a message song that delivers hope and courage.

It gently conveys the importance of believing in yourself and the bravery to take a step toward tomorrow—a timeless classic.

With calm piano tones and a warm, heartfelt vocal, it resonates deeply.

Since its 1995 release, it has moved many as the theme song for the drama “Second Chance” and was included on the album of the same name, “TOMORROW.” This work will surely give you a gentle push when you feel lost in life or are about to take a new step forward.

I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka39rank/position

Yutaka Ozaki – I LOVE YOU (Official Music Video)

A masterpiece that vividly portrays the feelings of youth is included on the 1983 album “Seventeen’s Map.” Accompanied by a beautiful piano melody, it sings of the poignant love between two who are far too young, moving the hearts of many.

It is said that Yutaka Ozaki completed the song in just a day or two, a testament to his remarkable talent.

In March 1991, it was re-released as a single and reached No.

5 on the Oricon charts.

It also gained wide support as it was featured in a JR Tokai commercial.

This is a song you’ll want to listen to when reminiscing about someone dear or when you wish to feel pure love.

Season in the SunTUBE40rank/position

Tube Season in the sun

The third single overall by TUBE, the four-piece rock band still known today as a byword for summer.

Released in April 1986, it became a major turning point for the band.

Composer Tetsuro Oda is said to have infused it with his own longing for the sea, and the result is an exhilarating number.

Its lyrics, which depict the bittersweet feeling of lamenting the passing summer under the dazzling sun, and its uplifting melody can still set your heart ablaze even now.

It’s perfect not only for summer drives but also for those slightly sentimental moments at dusk.

For those who heard it in real time, it’s an immortal summer song you can’t help but hum along to.

CHA CHA CHAIshii Akemi41rank/position

CHA CHA CHA

Akemi Ishii’s biggest hit, “CHA CHA CHA.” Although it’s often thought to be an original, this song is actually a Japanese-language cover of a track by the Italian music group Finzi-Contini.

Its hallmark is a musical style that distills a somewhat Latin-tinged sound into Italo disco.

Because it’s based on Western pop, you might feel the rhythm is tricky, but the elements of the cha-cha-cha dance genre aren’t very pronounced; as long as you follow the bass line, you should be able to catch the rhythm in the B section without issue.

The chorus uses a standard Italo disco rhythm, so that shouldn’t pose any problems either.

The vocal range is narrow and there are hardly any long sustained notes, so you can definitely aim for a high score.

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Ryo

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Words of FarewellKaientai42rank/position

Kaientai was an organization founded by Ryoma Sakamoto that handled tasks like transporting goods and brokering trade—essentially what we’d now call a general trading company.

Given that Takeda Tetsuya admired Sakamoto so much that he named his band Kaientai, his love for Ryoma is truly profound.

Speaking of Kaientai, “Okuru Kotoba” was the go-to song for graduation ceremonies when it was released.

Even after many years, we still remember the lyrics; the song’s quality combined with graduation memories has made it an unforgettable track in many people’s lives.

Whenever you sing it at karaoke, it always brings back memories of graduation—a song brimming with nostalgia.