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Kenshiro Hirai’s Most Popular Karaoke Songs Ranking [2026]
Since his debut, Ken Hirai has released a wide variety of songs.
This time, we’ve put together a ranking of the songs fans most often sing at karaoke.
It includes not only nostalgic tracks but also relatively new ones, so please take a look.
Ken Hirai Karaoke Song Popularity Ranking [2026] (1–10)
NonfictionHirai Ken1rank/position
Based on the artist’s real experience of losing someone close, this medium-tempo ballad explores views on life and death and loneliness, and served as the theme song for the TBS drama “A Little Giant” in the April 2017 season.
Kenshi Hirai himself said it “cuts into the dark side of life,” and it’s a masterpiece that expresses an earnest questioning of death and a sense of loss.
The chorus is famous, so I think many people know the song.
The overall vocal range is C3–A4, and the falsetto in the chorus is especially distinctive; if you can’t hit that comfortably, the performance can feel underwhelming.
Rather than belting in chest voice, sing more strongly in falsetto.
Try placing a hand on the back of your head and imagine sending your voice in that direction as you sing.
Close your eyesHirai Ken2rank/position
This is a song that resonates with the aching feeling of holding on forever to the memory of a beloved person you’ve lost.
It’s the 20th single by singer-songwriter Ken Hirai, known for his unique musical world, released in 2004 and written as the theme song for the film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World.” It topped the year-end Oricon singles chart and became a massive hit, with total shipments exceeding one million copies.
It’s a ballad overflowing with the sorrow of only being able to meet that person in memories—when closing your eyes brings their smile to mind.
If you’ve experienced parting from someone dear, or if you want to quietly reflect on the past, please give it a listen.
POP STARHirai Ken3rank/position
Released on October 26, 2005 as the 23rd single, it became a major hit as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Kiken na Aneki” starring Misaki Ito.
Marking the 10th anniversary of Ken Hirai’s debut, the song features a pop, exhilarating melody and luxurious strings.
With a relatively fast tempo and a bouncy rhythm, the melody line keeps driving forward, making it highly recommended for those who love bright, danceable tracks.
The chorus sits quite high, so in addition to using falsetto, it’s crucial to project your voice confidently without hesitation.
Try singing with large, full-body movements, as if sending your voice far into the distance.
Can I call it magic?Hirai Ken4rank/position
It was written as the theme song for the Panasonic LUMIX GX7 Mark II commercial featuring Haruka Ayase and went on to become a long-running hit.
It’s a quiet, love-filled ballad where the acoustic guitar tones resonate with Ken Hirai’s vocals.
The overall vocal range of the song is F2–B4, and compared to other songs, the high notes aren’t unexpectedly that high, making it a range that seems singable in falsetto.
In fact, Ken Hirai sings it softly in falsetto to create a bittersweet mood, so it’s best to sing with the sensation of releasing a thin stream of sound from the top of your head.
For the low notes in the A section, be sure to raise your eyebrows and take care not to strain your throat.
Dear daysHirai Ken5rank/position
Produced by Kiyoshi Matsuo for the first time in ten years to cap off the 15th anniversary, this exquisite ballad, tinged with sadness yet evoking hope for the future, was released on May 4, 2011 as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama JIN: The Final Chapter.
The song spans a very wide vocal range from G#2 to C5, with a clear structure where the range gradually rises from the A verse to the B verse and then the chorus.
The low notes in the A verse are pitches you don’t often use, so be careful not to let your voice get muffled.
Take a deep breath and project your voice forward, letting the air flow.
The start of the chorus uses phonemes that make falsetto easy to produce, so if you really let your head voice resonate, you should be able to hit the notes without any problem.
#302Hirai Ken6rank/position
“#302” portrays a poignant love for a woman heartbroken by a failed romance.
Released in 2019, the song was used as the theme for the TV drama “4-minute Marigold,” and the music video features Yui Sakuma and Sho Kiyohara.
Although the rhythm is set in 6/8, the melody that flows over it is very simple, so as long as you follow the lyrics closely, you should be able to sing it without feeling too anxious.
The chorus goes a bit higher, so if you’re not comfortable with high notes, we recommend adjusting the key to make it easier to sing.
Grandfather’s ClockHirai Ken7rank/position
This song resonates with Ken Hirai’s warm, heartfelt vocals.
Centered on themes of family love and the passage of time, it weaves a 100-year story of a grandfather and an old clock.
Released in August 2002, it became familiar through NHK’s “Minna no Uta” and an au commercial.
It’s said to be a particularly memorable track for Hirai and even a foundation of his singing.
The single sold a total of 667,000 copies, reached No.
1 on the Oricon charts, and won the Japan Gold Disc Award.
It’s recommended for those who have experienced parting from a loved one or want to feel the bonds of family.
If you sing it at karaoke, you’re sure to be moved to the core.
Mr. Monster feat. AimyonHirai Ken8rank/position
This is a lavish collaborative number by Ken Hirai, a leading figure in the J-POP scene, and Aimyon, who can now be called an icon of the times.
Written by Ken Hirai with Aimyon in mind, the song portrays a hopeless unrequited love—knowing it won’t be rewarded yet still being irresistibly drawn in.
The inescapable sorrow of it all is set to a sophisticated, urbane pop sound.
Released in March 2020, it was also included on the album “Anata ni Naritakatta” (“I Wanted to Be You”).
If you’re struggling with a futile love, this song might resonate perfectly.
ElegyHirai Ken9rank/position
A song by Ken Hirai that sings of a heartrending love from a woman’s perspective.
Released in January 2007 as his 25th single, it was also used as the theme song for the Toho film “Ai no Rukichi” (The Prisoner of Love).
The emotions of a woman tormented by a forbidden love are conveyed through Hirai’s delicate vocals.
It may be a bit challenging to sing at karaoke, but if you pour your feelings into it, it’s sure to resonate with listeners.
This is a recommended track for when you want to feel the bittersweetness of love or express your feelings to someone special.
1995Hirai Ken10rank/position
A track from Ken Hirai’s first album in about five years, “Anataninaritakatta,” released on May 12, 2021.
Its music video was unveiled on May 5, ahead of the album release.
Not limited to this song, much of Ken Hirai’s music appears to be sung using mixed voice.
Speaking of mixed voice, it lies between falsetto and chest voice—a blend of the two—so in that sense, you could say this track is a treasure trove of diverse falsetto-like tones.
There are hardly any sections sung in what you’d call typical falsetto, but it’s a song you can enjoy as a showcase of varied vocal production.
If you’re confident in your falsetto, definitely try singing it at karaoke.
It’s also perfect as practice material!
