![Happy End Popular Songs Ranking [2026]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/4EwvYfsRawc/maxresdefault.webp)
Happy End Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
A Japanese rock band active from 1969 to 1972, featuring a stellar lineup of Eiichi Ohtaki, Haruomi Hosono, Takashi Matsumoto, and Shigeru Suzuki.
They are still highly regarded today as pioneers who expanded the literary quality of Japanese rock and explored new possibilities as “new music.”
Here is a ranking of Happy End’s popular songs.
Happy End Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
Gather the Windhappiiendo1rank/position
A gentle weaving of urban transformation and nostalgia, this is a quintessential coming-of-age song of the 1970s.
Created by Happy End in November 1971, it’s a gem in which Takashi Matsumoto vividly and poetically portrays Tokyo’s streets and the lives of its people.
Featured on the album Kazemachi Roman, the track wraps the city’s memories in delicate soundscapes crafted by Eiichi Ohtaki, Haruomi Hosono, and Shigeru Suzuki.
After being featured in the film Lost in Translation, it has been covered and cherished by many artists, including Akiko Yano and Hiromi Ohta.
It’s a song whose tender melody and storytelling resonate deeply—perfect for a calm afternoon or an emotionally stirring dusk.
Haikara Hakuchihappiiendo2rank/position
When it comes to the drummer of Happy End, pioneers of Japanese rock, it’s Takashi Matsumoto—who also sent countless classic songs into the world as a lyricist.
One track where Matsumoto’s drumming truly shines is their first single, Haikara Hakuchi, released in 1971.
The driving, high-velocity beat interlocks with Haruomi Hosono’s soulful bassline to create a groovy feel.
It’s also rare for a Japanese song in that era to feature a drum solo, and the intense playing on snare and floor tom makes it a must-hear for any drummer!
Come, springhappiiendo3rank/position
This is the celebrated opening track of Happy End’s landmark debut album, commonly known as “Yudemen,” by pioneers of Japanese rock.
Using everyday words brimming with domestic warmth—like New Year’s kotatsu and ozoni—it portrays loneliness, while still conveying a heartfelt resolve to face forward.
Released in August 1970, the song is also famous for the episode where Takashi Matsumoto visited Eiichi Ohtaki’s boarding house one night, and a melody was improvised on the spot to the words in his notebook.
In an era when English lyrics dominated the rock scene, the resonance of Japanese lyrics paired with a hard-edged sound threw a stone into the pond—and listening now, it feels strikingly fresh.
While waiting for spring to arrive, you may want to quietly face your own heart.
This is the perfect song for such moments—be sure to savor it.
Kurayamizaka Musasabi Hengehappiiendo4rank/position
Listening to it puts you in a happy mood.
It features lyrical yet playful lyrics.
The lyricist, Takashi Matsumoto, is also well-known and worked on songs like Glass no Shōnen and Seikan Hikō.
Although it was created over 40 years ago, it remains a timeless classic.
Sky-colored crayonhappiiendo5rank/position
Happy End was a legendary Japanese-language rock band formed by four young musicians: Haruomi Hosono, Eiichi Ohtaki, Takashi Matsumoto, and Shigeru Suzuki.
This song is included on their second album, Kazemachi Roman, often hailed as their masterpiece.
It charmingly captures a young boy’s pure feelings for the girl he loves.
Highly recommended for anyone in the mood for a touch of nostalgia.
A Rainy Day in Decemberhappiiendo6rank/position
Isn’t this a song whose lyrical, beautiful sound conjures up the image of a rain-soaked cityscape? It was Happy End’s very first creation and can be considered the origin of their attempt to make rock music in Japanese.
The episode about lyricist Takashi Matsumoto writing the poem based on scenes he saw in rainy Tokyo in December 1969 is well known.
Rather than using direct words, the method of expressing the inner self through fragments of scenery was truly innovative.
The song was included on the 1970 album “Happy End,” and a single version was released in April 1971.
In recent years, a film project based on this work has also been announced, and its story continues to this day.
It’s a sentimental rock sound, perfect for days when you want to ponder your thoughts in the rain.
country roadhappiiendo7rank/position
Included on the 1973 album “HAPPY END.” A four-piece band formed in Tokyo in 1969.
The group featured members such as Haruomi Hosono of YMO, Takashi Matsumoto—known for his lyrics for artists like Seiko Matsuda—and Eiichi Ohtaki, who also achieved success as a solo artist.
Their musical style influenced later bands.
spring in full bloomhappiiendo8rank/position
This is a 1971 work by Happy End, the legendary rock band formed by Haruomi Hosono, Takashi Matsumoto, Eiichi Ohtaki, and Shigeru Suzuki.
It’s included on Kazemachi Roman, which could be called the culmination of the Japanese-language rock category that continues to this day.
The lyrics, carried by a quirky, intricate rhythm, read like a page from a literary work, and listening again is full of fresh surprises.