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Chitose Hajime’s Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
Chitose Hajime, who debuted in 2002, drew major attention with her distinctive singing voice and beautiful melodies.
Her vocal style incorporates Amami folk music known as “shima-uta.” Here, we present a ranking of her popular songs.
Hitomi Goto Popular Song Ranking [2026] (1–10)
Tree of WadatsumiHajime Chitose1rank/position
This is the debut single by singer Chitose Hajime, who is also known as a uta-sha—a bearer of the traditional music of the Amami Islands.
With lyrics that tell the story of “a woman who, in loving someone so deeply, becomes a flower,” and an arrangement that strongly reflects the atmosphere of folk music, the song sent shockwaves through the J-pop scene at the time.
Released in February 2002, it reached No.
1 on the Oricon charts about two months after its debut.
The distinctive melodic inflections characteristic of Amami folk music and her mystical voice evoke the timeless melodies passed down in Japan since ancient times.
It is a truly one-of-a-kind masterpiece, perfect for immersing yourself in the grandeur of nature and the world of myth.
GratitudeHajime Chitose2rank/position
As the title “Gratitude” suggests, Chitose Hajime’s song celebrates the small joys we feel in everyday life and expresses thanks to the cherished people with whom we share them.
Included on the album “Niji no Fumoto,” released on July 6, 2022, the track was also featured in a Chofu Corporation commercial.
This work shines a light on seemingly ordinary moments and encounters we often take for granted, prompting us to rediscover the happiness hidden within them.
The song reminds us of the people who support us throughout our lives, making it perfect for conveying your appreciation to someone special.
Let your parents, partner, or closest friends—those who are your pillars of support—listen to it.
Dead girlHajime Chitose3rank/position
Chitose Hajime, a singer who also has a career as an Amami folk vocalist, captivates fans with a voice that speaks straight to the heart.
Her song “The Dead Little Girl,” included on her third album Hanadairo, was chosen as the theme for the film Caterpillar.
The lyrics, written by Turkish poet Nâzım Hikmet and centering on the Hiroshima atomic bombing, painfully convey the horrors of war and the preciousness of lives that can never return.
Produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto, it is an anti-war song sung around the world, and their joint performance in front of the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome also drew wide attention.
Muddy up to the waistHajime Chitose4rank/position
A single, quiet yet piercingly poignant song, like a short story.
This piece was written in 1966 by American folk singer Pete Seeger.
It tells a sorrowful tale based on a real incident in the United States, in which subordinates were sacrificed due to a leader’s misguided judgment.
The voice of Chitose Hajime—whose roots lie in the Amami “Shima-uta” tradition—conveys a deep, quiet anger, blending beautifully with the lyrics that calmly recount the irrationality of war.
Included on the acclaimed album Heiwa Gannen (Year One of Peace), released in July 2015, this song may prompt listeners to once again reflect on the preciousness of peace in the face of the unjust reality depicted in the story.
At the foot of the rainbowHajime Chitose5rank/position
Motohito Chitose’s first original album in about 14 years, At the Foot of the Rainbow, is a milestone work released on July 6, 2022.
The album as a whole is imbued with her earnest “prayer” for peace amid a turbulent world, and the title track, At the Foot of the Rainbow, in particular, has the power to depict human pain and joy, empathy, and love.
It gently stays close to the listener’s heart and invites you to envision hope for tomorrow while holding someone’s hand.
Give it a listen when times are tough or when you need a boost.
BirthdayHajime Chitose6rank/position
If you’re looking for a slightly unconventional birthday song, we recommend “Birthday” sung by Chitose Hajime.
It’s a cover of a song by The Sugarcubes, the band that featured Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk.
Hajime included it on her 2010 English-language cover album Occident.
The lyrics depict a certain girl on her birthday, and the content is fairly eccentric.
That said, the more you listen, the more you get drawn into its unique world.
The lyrics may surprise you, but Hajime’s laid-back vocals make it a great BGM choice to gently wrap a birthday in warmth.
The Day I Become the Wind SomedayHajime Chitose7rank/position
Someday I’ll Become the Wind is a song by Chitose Hajime released in 2003.
Many of you may remember it as the CM song for au by KDDI’s “Everyone’s Summer” commercial.
It’s a gently soothing track that feels like being cradled by a vast, drifting sea.
I think listeners of any generation can connect it with their own nostalgic summer scenes and memories.
While summer often brings to mind upbeat dance numbers, if you’d like to enjoy karaoke with a soothing song that’s the complete opposite, be sure to pick this one!
