Popular Japanese Girls’ Band Songs Ranking [2026]

I had been waiting for summer.amazarashi91rank/position

amazarashi "I Was Waiting for Summer"

A song I’d like to introduce as one you’ll want to listen to over and over is “We Were Waiting for Summer.” It’s a track released by the rock band amazarashi.

At first glance, it sounds like a fast-paced, exhilarating pop song, but if you listen closely, you’ll realize that’s not quite the case.

This is a bit of a spoiler, but the lyrics depict summer vacation from the perspectives of four different characters.

And as you read each set of lyrics carefully, a heartrending truth comes to light.

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yamamoto

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Meteor Shower at DawnSCANDAL92rank/position

SCANDAL “Dawn Meteor Shower” / Yoake no Ryūseigun – Music Video

This song features a refreshing tone and a catchy, cute melody.

It’s a track by SCANDAL, a girls’ band formed in Osaka Prefecture in 2006.

It was released in 2014 as their 19th single.

A positive song that sings about the bonds between friends.

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Araki Jakkan

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Because I want to be by your side.SHISHAMO93rank/position

SHISHAMO "Because I Want to Be by Your Side"

A number by SHISHAMO, written specifically as a required piece for the NHK All-Japan School Music Competition and loved by people of all ages.

The lyrics, which express the pure desire to be by someone’s side in down-to-earth words, are deeply moving.

The stance of reflecting on oneself and trying to be close to the other person perfectly matches the delicate hearts of adolescence.

Released as a single in October 2019, it was included on the album “SHISHAMO 6.”

On the night the world endsChatto Monchī94rank/position

Chatmonchy 'On the Night the World Ends' Music Video

This is a double A-side single track included on the fifth single, “Tobiuo no Butterfly / Sekai ga Owaru Yoru ni,” released on June 20, 2007.

The song, said to have been born from experiences in the bleakness of Tokyo, is sung over a gentle melody and is a ballad that can be listened to in a reflective mood.

Tears of RegretSCANDAL95rank/position

SCANDAL “Namida no Regret” / Namida no Regret ‐ Music Video

A medium-tempo ballad that delicately portrays the ache of longing and the pains of growing up.

Released by SCANDAL in July 2010 as their seventh single.

It depicts young people gradually becoming adults through a summer farewell.

Tears spilling behind smiles, two silhouettes reflected in a windowpane, and a small nod exchanged in place of “goodbye.” You can feel the emotions where bittersweet memories and regret intertwine.

It’s a song I recommend when you want to recall past love or friendship, or when you’re facing a parting with someone.

One thing I want to ask youSHISHAMO96rank/position

SHISHAMO "One Thing I Want to Ask You"

Released digitally in June 2025, SHISHAMO’s “Kimi ni Kikitai Hitotsu no Koto” is a slightly fast song with a tempo of 183, but since the vocal range is A#3–D#5, which is comfortable for many female singers, it’s quite singable as long as you lock into the rhythm.

The song is in 4/4 time; rather than feeling it loosely, it’s easier to catch the groove if you follow the drums and divide the beats more finely, slicing each note.

In the chorus especially, be mindful of the rhythm, and because the melody runs continuously, if you find it hard to find spots to breathe, try not to sustain the ends of phrases—cut them off instead.

As you get used to it, you’ll gradually find places to breathe, so until then, focus on a clipped, rhythmic delivery!

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Kubota Mami

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My lover is Santa ClausSCANDAL97rank/position

My lover is Santa Claus

Yumi Matsutoya’s “My Lover Is Santa Claus” is another classic that many artists have covered.

It’s a very popular Christmas song, but if you listen closely to the lyrics, you’ll see how charming it really is.

This one also does a great job of heightening the Christmas mood!

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Murakami Shinpei

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Mass-produced boyfriendSHISHAMO98rank/position

SHISHAMO “Mass-Produced Boyfriend”

Released in June 2019, it’s one of the most striking songs in SHISHAMO’s catalog! With Asako Miyazaki’s candid vocals, the heartbreak and loneliness of unrequited love resonate deeply with listeners.

Though not based on real experiences, the lyrics are written from the perspective of an imaginary protagonist, like a short manga, and they have struck a chord with many people.

Comparing yourself to the boyfriend chosen by the person you like…

hasn’t everyone felt that at some point? I think it’s a song that brings back the bittersweet memories of youth.

DepartureSCANDAL99rank/position

SCANDAL 「Departure」 ‐Music Video

The four-member girls’ rock band SCANDAL released “Departure” in 2014.

This song is the first for which the members handled both lyrics and composition, and it’s a love song that conveys a faint, bittersweet feeling that tightens the chest.

She’s likely thinking of the boyfriend she broke up with and will never see again; the memory of viewing the night cherry blossoms left an especially vivid impression on her heart, and every time she sees those blossoms, every time that season comes, she’s reminded of him.

The title “Departure” carries meanings like “setting out from where you are” and “departure,” which conveys her intention to bring closure to her own heart.

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utatane

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Smoke of LoveChatto Monchī100rank/position

Chatmonchy “Love’s Smoke” Music Video

This track stands out for Eriko Hashimoto’s delicate vocals and the band’s light, brisk sound.

The lyrics convey the pounding excitement of falling in love and the desire to be lost in a world for just the two of you.

Released in March 2006 as Chatmonchy’s first major-label single, it drew attention by being chosen as the opening theme for TV Tokyo’s music program “JAPAN COUNTDOWN.” The lyrics vividly portray the feelings of someone in love, and the refreshing melody evokes the arrival of spring.

It’s a recommended number for those newly in love or anyone wanting to look back on memories with someone special.