Ranking of Gen Hoshino’s Popular Songs [2026]

In the midst of the trivialHoshino Gen8rank/position

Gen Hoshino – In the Useless (Official Video)

A heartwarming song that gently portrays the love hidden in everyday, ordinary moments.

Its lyrics express love through the five senses, and a pleasant melody infused with jazz elements blends seamlessly to create a tender world that anyone can relate to.

Described by Gen Hoshino as “the first love song I wrote head-on,” the track was released as a single in March 2011 and is also included on the album Episode.

It reached No.

17 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and stayed on the charts for 24 weeks, gaining widespread popularity.

Singing softly about the subtleties of human relationships—exchanges between lovers and reconciliation after hurting one another—this is a recommended song for anyone who wants to cherish time with someone special.

Pop VirusHoshino Gen9rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Pop Virus (Official Video)

This is a track included on Gen Hoshino’s fifth album, “POP VIRUS.” It takes a positive view of music’s contagious and viral power, celebrating its ability to resonate with people’s hearts.

With themes of music and love, and the connections between people, it strikingly portrays how music is rooted in everyday life.

Released in December 2018, it was followed by a dome tour across five locations nationwide starting in February the next year.

Blending contemporary dance sounds with elements of funk and soul, the work breaks new ground for Japanese pop.

It’s a recommended song for those who want to connect with others through music or add fresh color to their daily lives.

Ain’t Nobody KnowHoshino Gen10rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Ain’t Nobody Know [Official Video]

A mellow, irresistible groove born from a collaboration with Tom Misch, this track appears on Gen Hoshino’s October 2019 EP “Same Thing.” Over an easygoing beat, it sings of a secret relationship known only to two people.

Sensual yet poetic word choices are sure to tickle the listener’s heart.

The chorus by Gen Hoshino and Ryosuke Nagaoka further enhances the song’s sophisticated allure.

It’s perfect for a relaxed evening away from the bustle of everyday life, and ideal when you want to sink into an intimate mood with someone special.

It promises a quietly moving experience.

Otherworldly Mixed Grand Ball (feat. Ghost)Hoshino Gen11rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Otherworldly Mixed Grand Ball (feat. Obake) [Official Video]

This is a song by Gen Hoshino, written as the theme for the film “Ghostbook: Obakezukan.” Released in July 2022, the track embraces a playful concept where humans and ghosts dance together, creating a world that blends spookiness with fun.

Its uniquely choreographed chorus went viral on TikTok, with countless dance videos being posted.

The song is also included on the album “Gen.” If you post a dance where you act like a ghost to your Instagram Story using this track, your Halloween will be even more fun!

an elderly coupleHoshino Gen12rank/position

Elderly couple — Gen Hoshino — solo acoustic performance

Despite being only about two minutes long, Old Couple evokes a sense of a world that stretches infinitely.

It’s a track included on Gen Hoshino’s first album, Baka no Uta.

The song follows a grandfather as he visits places filled with memories of his late wife.

Nowhere in the lyrics does it explain why he is making the rounds or what he is thinking.

Precisely because of that, listeners can expand their imaginations—thinking, “It must be like this”—and the charm lies in being able to interpret the story in their own way.

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compromiseHoshino Gen13rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Compromise (Official Video)

Created at home using digital gear, this work by Gen Hoshino, released in June 2020, carries a gentle warmth that softly embraces everyday life.

It carefully portrays the dynamics of lovers and married couples, singing about the misunderstandings, moments of empathy, and the process of finding compromise that occur in daily life.

So, give it a listen when you’re thinking of someone special.

Why Don’t You Play in Hell?Hoshino Gen14rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Why Don't We Do It in Hell (Live at Tokyo Dome 2019)

This is a celebrated song by Gen Hoshino that sings of a light of hope found in lonely darkness.

Chosen as the theme song for the film of the same name released in October 2013, it carries profound insights born from experiences in a hospital room.

The message—that “lies” and “fabrications” can become supports for the heart and help us find the strength to endure a painful reality—is filled with tenderness and poignancy.

While harmonizing with the film’s worldview, the arrangement shines with Gen Hoshino’s signature pop melodies woven together with elements of jazz and funk.

In the brisk sound and layered vocals, you can feel a strong resolve to face harsh realities and still keep moving forward.

It’s a song that resonates deeply with those who struggle to live yet want to find hope, and with those who, for the sake of someone important, find themselves in situations where they must tell a lie.