Ken Hirai’s Most Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
With his uniquely expansive vocals and catchy songs, Ken Hirai has secured an unshakable position in the J-pop scene.
This time, we’ll introduce a ranking of his most popular tracks.
Since these are all well-known songs, there’s a good chance you’ve heard many of them.
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Ken Hirai’s Popular Song Rankings [2026] (11–20)
Close your eyesHirai Ken11rank/position
The moment that poignant piano intro begins, many of you may feel your memories from that time come rushing back.
This is the 20th single by singer-songwriter Ken Hirai, who continues to captivate countless fans with his overwhelming vocal prowess and expressive artistry.
Written as the theme song for the 2004 film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World,” it became a historic hit, topping the year-end charts.
The lyrics, which portray the sorrow of mourning a lost lover and the resolve to go on loving them in memory, never fail to bring listeners to tears.
Also included on the album “SENTIMENTALovers,” this ballad gently accompanies the heart of a man living on while carrying an unforgettable love.
On a night when you want to quietly lose yourself in memories alone, give it a listen.
Nevertheless, I want to do it.Hirai Ken12rank/position
A double A-side single that portrays a thrilling, forbidden love where you want to make your crush turn around and notice you.
The music video—shot entirely in Delhi, India—features Ken Hirai dressed as an Indian man, showing off Bollywood dance moves, which became a major talking point.
Viewers have even said it “doesn’t feel out of place.” The lyrics are distinctive, making it a song you can recognize right away.
I think the key is how emotionally you sing the opening of the chorus.
The vocal range isn’t that high, so you might be able to sing it in chest voice.
Once you’re feeling it, belting it out in chest voice instead of falsetto can feel really good.
Because it won’t reach / Because it doesn’t reachHirai Ken13rank/position
This is a ballad written as the theme song for the film “50 First Kisses,” starring Takayuki Yamada and Masami Nagasawa in dual leading roles.
It sings of a bittersweet love for someone whose memory resets every day, and the music video’s clown dance in a tatami room became a hot topic.
The vocals over a light electric guitar are particularly striking.
The key point is the chorus’s choppy, start-and-stop melodic line, where the singer intentionally inhales and exhales during the breaks to let you enjoy the sound of the breath.
Try singing it with an easy touch, without overexerting yourself.
Mr. Monster feat. AimyonHirai Ken14rank/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.
Grandfather’s ClockHirai Ken15rank/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.
half of meHirai Ken16rank/position
It’s the theme song for Fuji TV’s Thursday drama “Twilight Meteor Shower: Midlife, Falling in Love,” a “phantom love ballad” that had been kept under wraps for about nine years since 2009, and it’s said to depict the world ten years after his signature song “even if.” In the music video, it’s striking how half the screen is composed of “blank space” like walls and doors to express the feeling of losing something precious.
Ken Hirai’s beautiful, heartrending voice resonates over the piano accompaniment.
When you sing it, if you deliver each lyric carefully, I think you can recreate that beautiful vocal quality.
Try to be mindful not to rush through it carelessly.
Phew.Hirai Ken17rank/position
It’s a ballad that gently embraces all the feelings that come after a fight.
Sometimes a small spat can escalate before you know it, right? When you end up saying too much, the tender yet warm melody and lyrics feel like they’re wrapping you up, and it really hits home.
Ken Hirai’s clear, translucent voice is irresistible, too.
As the saying goes, the more you fight, the closer you are—there are surely things you only realize after a quarrel.
Once you’ve calmed down, try sharing your honest feelings.
KISS OF LIFEHirai Ken18rank/position
Released on May 16, 2001, this exhilarating pop song served as the theme for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Love Revolution.” It sings about genuine love and the importance of a kiss.
Since the song stays mostly in a high register, it’s recommended for those good at falsetto or high notes.
The melody line isn’t difficult, so it should be easy to learn even if you’re just starting.
The key rises slightly in the final chorus, so nailing that section will make you sound impressive at karaoke.
Try singing with a slightly higher, polished tone in mind.
Make my heartHirai Ken19rank/position
This is the theme song for Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Great Adventure in the Antarctic Kachi Kochi, released on March 1, 2017.
It was her first anime theme song, written to evoke the bond between Doraemon and Nobita—a touching medium ballad that resonates with the heart.
The accompaniment is piano throughout, and if you sing without rushing, the tempo shouldn’t run.
Since it’s basically sung gently, lightly resonating in the nose and head as if you were humming will suit the atmosphere perfectly.
When humming, use plenty of breath as if you’re humming a tune.
Be careful not to produce the sound in your throat, as that will turn into a throaty voice.
KikyogaokaHirai Ken20rank/position
A warm song that evokes nostalgia and familial love.
Ken Hirai’s gentle vocals portray parents watching over and tenderly embracing their child, richly singing of a child’s growth and the unchanging love of those who care for them.
Released in October 2013 as a digital-only single and used as the tie-in song for the commercial commemorating the 45th anniversary of Misawa Homes, this is a track you’ll want to listen to while reminiscing about your hometown.
Listening to it together as a parent and child may deepen your bond.