[40s] Popular Songs Ranking by Generation [2026]

HANABIMr.Children92rank/position

Mr.Children「HANABI」from TOUR 2017 Thanksgiving 25

Mr.

Children’s “HANABI,” known for being chosen as the theme song of the smash-hit TV drama Code Blue: Doctor Heli Emergency Lifesaving.

Men in their 40s may have no end of daily worries, but listening to this song might give you courage.

Mr.

Children are a karaoke staple among staples, so you can hype things up with people of any generation! Try savoring and singing the memorable lines in the chorus.

It’s a song that really gets everyone excited when sung together.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

miyabi

Report a problem

Premium salted grilled Kuroge Wagyu tongue 680 yenOtsuka Ai93rank/position

Ai Otsuka / Grilled Kuroge Wagyu Top Salted Tongue 680 yen

This is a song about pure love for someone special.

Created by Ai Otsuka, this number was released in February 2005 as her seventh single.

It was chosen as the ending theme for the anime Black Jack and became a hot topic.

It’s a love song with an intriguingly unusual title, and its heartwarming lyrics and gentle melody are truly wonderful.

It reminds you that the ordinary moments of everyday life are the real treasures.

Brimming with that kind of charm, this piece will surely bring you a sense of calm when you listen to it!

StoryAI94rank/position

AI – Story

The AI with the famously husky voice.

While there are some high notes in the song, it’s mostly sung in a natural mid-range chest voice, so “Story” should be quite easy to sing! The tricky part of this song is definitely the high notes in the bridge.

My students practiced that same spot over and over.

If you sing it with the same feel as the chorus, you’ll run out of breath and your voice won’t carry.

It’s crucial to prepare before hitting the high notes! Since the song flows straight into the bridge after the end of the second verse, it can move on before you’ve had time to prepare… Take a quick breath right before the bridge and project your voice powerfully as if aiming into the distance! For the vowel “i,” it’s easy to spread the mouth sideways and tense up, so it’s easier to produce if you create space inside your mouth while pronouncing it.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Kubota Mami

Report a problem

After the FestivalKuwata Keisuke95rank/position

Keisuke Kuwata – After the Festival (Full ver.)

That sudden stillness and loneliness that arrives after a joyful time.

Keisuke Kuwata masterfully sings of that sentimental scene that everyone can relate to.

Released in October 1994, this song was also used as the theme for the drama “Shizukanaru Don,” and surely remains in many people’s memories.

The helpless lingering attachment and unbroken, pure feelings after a passionate love has ended are woven together by a weathered, Dylan-esque vocal timbre and a gently resonant acoustic sound.

The faint warmth and bittersweet ache that remain after the frenzy—portrayed so vividly in this work—are truly nothing short of breathtaking.

It’s a gem of a rock ballad, perfect for immersing yourself in quiet reflection on days gone by as summer ends and autumn begins.

Tomorrow, when spring comesMatsu Takako96rank/position

Tomorrow, when spring comes

This is the memorable debut single of Takako Matsu, who had already earned high acclaim as an actress.

Released in March 1997, it was also featured in an NTT commercial and became a hit, selling about 500,000 copies.

The warm, springlike melody—like sunlight filtering through the trees—matches perfectly with her clear, translucent voice.

The lyrics depict bittersweet memories of days gone by and a poignant longing for someone dear.

The scenes from those days, when you simply watched “you” devoted to your passion, come vividly to mind.

Listening to it in the season when farewells and new encounters intersect—graduations, new beginnings—might fill your heart with both nostalgia and hope for the future.

I want to shout that I love you.BAAD97rank/position

"Slam Dunk Theme Song" vol. 2 BAAD - 'I Want to Shout That I Love You' sung by Kaname Kawabata (Short Ver.)

It’s a timeless masterpiece etched in my heart along with memories of my nostalgic youth.

Beginning with a fresh morning scene, it portrays the protagonist’s emotions as they waver between friendship and romantic feelings, conveyed through a passionate melody and powerful vocals.

A signature work by BAAD, it was released as a single in December 1993 and used as the first opening theme for the TV anime SLAM DUNK.

In March 2021, it won the Users’ Choice Award at the Heisei Anisong Grand Prize, and it continues to be loved across generations.

With lyrics that explore universal themes such as the frustrations of love and the courage to take a step forward, it’s perfect for moments when you want to indulge in sweet, bittersweet memories of romance.

astronomical observationBUMP OF CHICKEN98rank/position

BUMP OF CHICKEN “Stargazing”

A timeless masterpiece that has captured the hearts of countless generations continues to resonate with many people today.

Released by BUMP OF CHICKEN in February 2002, this song is known as one of the band’s signature tracks and was also used as an insert song for a Kansai TV/Fuji TV drama.

Included on the album “jupiter,” it became a million-seller.

Its lyrics contrast the innocence of childhood with the complex emotions of adulthood, portraying a willingness to face unanswerable questions—an approach that resonates with those standing at life’s crossroads.

As a song that gives listeners the courage to move forward without fearing failure, it has become a source of support for many.