[40s] Popular Japanese Music / J-POP Rankings [By Generation]

LOVE PHANTOMB’z78rank/position

B’z / LOVE PHANTOM

It was released in 1995 as B’z’s 18th single.

Serving as the lead single from their eighth album, LOOSE, it was chosen as the theme song for TV Asahi’s drama The X-Files (Season 1).

The song was a million-seller, and its lyrics are said to have been written with the image of an unusual protagonist’s love—such as Frankenstein or Dracula—in mind.

On the hill where the moon is visible tonightB’z79rank/position

B'z / At the Hill Where the Moon Is Visible Tonight

This is one of B’z’s signature ballads, painting the powerful desire to understand someone—and the aching blur that love can bring—against a night-sky backdrop.

Takahiro Matsumoto’s shaded, nuanced melody and Koshi Inaba’s sharp, incisive phrasing create a striking contrast.

Released in February 2000, the song remains enduringly popular.

It was chosen as the theme for TBS’s Sunday drama “Beautiful Life: Futari de Ita Hibi,” generating huge buzz and staying on the charts for 17 weeks.

An alternate version is also included on the album “ELEVEN,” released in December 2000.

It’s a heart-stirring number you’ll want to listen to on nights when you’re struggling with the distance between you and someone you cherish, gazing up at the sky.

MUGO… so sexyKudō Shizuka80rank/position

Shizuka Kudo / MUGO… n… Irresistibly Sexy [Official Video]

This work, with its weighty arrangement and wistful melodic lines, has an irresistible charm that draws you in.

Shizuka Kudo delivers the protagonist’s delicate emotions—an inexpressible inner tremor and a quiet attempt to communicate through the eyes—with her distinctive husky voice and expressive singing, gripping the listener’s heart.

Released in August 1988 as Kudo’s fifth single, it was also used as the Kanebo Cosmetics “’88 Autumn Promotion Image Song.” The track reached No.

1 on the Oricon weekly chart and was performed at the 39th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen at the end of the same year.

For karaoke, try singing it with a restrained, inward passion and a subtle hint of allure to deepen the song’s world even further.

planetariumOtsuka Ai81rank/position

Ai Otsuka / Planetarium

A treasured ballad by Ai Otsuka that weaves memories of love sparkling like a starry sky into gentle piano melodies.

With a clear, translucent voice, she conveys the aching emotions anyone who has experienced heartbreak can relate to.

Released in September 2005, it became a hot topic as the theme song for the drama “Koi no Karasawagi.” Also included on the album “LOVE COOK,” this work remains etched in many hearts as one of Ai Otsuka’s signature songs.

For karaoke, we recommend singing it at a relaxed pace while recalling memories of someone special.

cherry (sweet cherry; cherry fruit)Otsuka Ai82rank/position

Ai Otsuka / Sakuranbo

This is the second single by singer-songwriter Ai Otsuka, a sweet-and-sour portrayal of irreplaceable days spent with a lover.

Released in December 2003, it was featured as the opening theme for TBS’s “COUNT DOWN TV” and the ending theme for Fuji TV’s “Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!”, making it a familiar tune in households across Japan.

Its sprightly arrangement incorporating brass instruments and an irresistibly bouncy pop melody leave a strong impression.

The lyrics look back on memories shared with a partner over two years, depicting a deep bond so strong that even quarrels and hardships feel precious.

The charming image of two lovers is likened to a pair of fruits nestled together.

The song has also been adopted as the departure melody at JR West’s Sakuranomiya Station, so you may hear it often with the arrival of spring.

It’s the perfect number for rekindling the thrill of new love or getting everyone pumped up at karaoke.

The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi83rank/position

The Last Rain

Yasushi Nakanishi’s classic, filled with gentle yet heartrending emotion, is a ballad about parting with a lover.

The breakup scene, overlaid with imagery of rain, along with the portrayal of deep affection, possessiveness, and the acceptance of being unable to make the other person happy, leaves a strong impression.

The beautiful arrangement of piano and strings further highlights the crystalline quality of his vocals.

Released in August 1992, it was later used as the theme song for Hitachi’s “Ashita P-KAN Kibun!” and gradually gained support, ultimately becoming a massive hit with total sales of 900,000 copies.

In karaoke, its relaxed tempo and relatively narrow vocal range make it easy to sing calmly.

Why not sing it while carefully unfolding its story-like lyrics, together with your cherished memories?

To the futureKiroro84rank/position

Kiroro “To the Future” Official Music Video

Kiroro’s second single, a song of gratitude to a mother and hope for the future.

Released in June 1998, it was the first song written by vocalist Chiharu Tamashiro when she was in her third year of junior high school, inspired by her mother’s illness to put her feelings of gratitude into words.

While she once took her parents’ love for granted as a child, growing up made her realize its depth; the song reflects on times she couldn’t be honest, yet resolves to keep moving forward, all set to a simple melody.

It peaked at No.

4 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and became widely loved across Asia, including Chinese-language covers.

In 2020, it drew attention again when Shuzo Matsuoka sang it in a P&G TV commercial.

Often performed at junior high and high school chorus contests and graduation ceremonies, it’s a perfect song for spring departures.

Before stepping into a new environment, give it a listen to reaffirm your gratitude to your parents.