Popular “yami” songs: Japanese music / J‑Pop artist rankings [2026]

The holeKing Gnu64rank/position

King Gnu – The hole

A ballad that gently accompanies those carrying loneliness, loss, and wounded hearts.

It begins with a serene piano melody, then unfolds into a deeply poignant soundscape woven from strings and reverb-laden drums.

The lyrics, crafted by Daiki Tsuneta, express profound empathy for people bearing emotional scars and a powerful desire to protect the ones they love.

The music video, directed by filmmaker Takuya Uchiyama, beautifully portrays the shifting dynamics of a couple’s love.

When you want to take time alone to face yourself, or when your heart feels unsettled, this work offers quiet healing along with deep resonance.

GlideLily Chou-Chou65rank/position

Lily Chou-Chou – Glide (Riri Shushu – Glide)

She is the singer who appears in the film All About Lily Chou-Chou.

In reality, the vocals are by Salyu.

The film itself deals with troubled, pent-up emotions of youth, so the songs are dark as well.

Please watch the movie first.

Lily Chou-Chou’s music has a morbid feel to it.

EverythingMISIA66rank/position

MISIA – Everything （Official HD Music Video）

Released in 2000, this is one of MISIA’s signature songs.

It was also used as a TV drama theme song, and I think its unparalleled ballad—with a majestic melody that evokes a wintry sky and a voice that feels beyond what you’d expect from a Japanese singer—is truly exceptional.

It’s a defining song of the 2000s that fully conveys the ache of not being able to see someone you love and the intensity of those feelings.

The BeginningONE OK ROCK67rank/position

ONE OK ROCK – The Beginning [Official Music Video]

A song you’ll want to listen to when you’re wrapped in the anxiety of an uncertain future.

It was also used as a movie theme, so many of you may know it.

It’s a well-crafted hard rock track.

Give it a spin when you wake up earlier than usual before dawn and need one last push.

Echoes of a rainy voiceOrangestar68rank/position

Orangestar – Amekigoe Zankyō (feat. IA) Official Video

This is a song I want to listen to when things aren’t going well.

Orangestar’s characteristically straightforward lyrics seep into a wounded heart.

The title “Amekigoe” (rain-cry/cry in the rain) gives the sense of desperately shouting for help in the rain, and I feel like the song speaks on behalf of painful feelings.

DownerPolyphonicBranch69rank/position

Downa / Hatsune Miku – Polypho [ downa / Hatsune Miku ]

As the title suggests, it’s a very downer-style Vocaloid song.

It’s a track by PolyphonicBranch, a Vocaloid producer who has even made a major debut, released in 2020.

From the intro, a dark atmosphere starts to seep in.

However, the chorus is incredibly catchy, and you can really get into it.

The choice of words in the lyrics has a great sound to them, making you want to sing it yourself—that’s another charm.

The lyrics dwell on negative emotions, but I can’t help empathizing with these feelings.

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Cute Girlfriendsyudou70rank/position

【Ka Fu】Cute Girlfriend【syudou】

“Cute Girlfriend” is a song that pierces deep into the emotions.

In syudou’s work, the lyrics are marked by a sense of heartache and darkness, embracing those who are dealing with heartbreak and painful feelings and giving voice to what lies within their hearts.

Its maddeningly single-minded love for a partner rides on a rhythmic yet subtly unsettling melody, resonating deeply with listeners.

syudou’s vocals carry a uniquely poignant and beautiful allure found nowhere else, making this a track you’ll want to hear especially in tough times.

By laying bare its emotions, this song may ease the hearts of those who carry similar pain.