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

If being alive is painfulMoriyama Naotaro41rank/position

Naotaro Moriyama – If Being Alive Is Painful

It’s a ballad whose shocking opening line makes everyone doubt their ears—and then captures their hearts.

Sung by Naotaro Moriyama, who frames the world from a unique perspective, this masterpiece lays bare both the pain and joy of living.

The lyrics, written by poet Ochanomizu Kazu around 1997, were turned into a song after Moriyama happened upon them.

Released in August 2008 as his 16th single, it also drew attention as the CM song for Shuto Iko, Osaka Isen, and Nagoya Isen.

Its paradoxical wording delivers a message that affirms “living,” one that should especially resonate with those carrying deep worries.

Rather than forcing yourself to be cheerful, why not listen quietly on a night when you want to face your heart with calm?

366 daysHY42rank/position

HY 366 Days LIVE

A four-piece band from Okinawa, HY features a male-female twin vocal mix and is active mainly in their local area.

This song, used as the theme for the film “Threads of Destiny,” is included on their fifth indie album, “HeartY.” The poignant lyrics and melody—born from vocalist/keyboardist Izumi Nakasone’s real-life experience—likely resonated with many women.

Despite never being released as a single, it is known as one of HY’s signature songs: a gem of a heartbreak ballad.

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Hoshino Takashi

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shameless; indecentchanmina43rank/position

CHANMINA – Lewd (Official Music Video) –

A track by Chanmina that portrays a destructive love driven purely by instinct.

Released digitally in September 2021, it drew attention as the title song of her third full-length album, Harenchi, which came out in October of the same year.

In March 2022, it was chosen as the theme song for ABEMA’s dating reality show The Grass Is Greener Next Door 3, becoming a long-running hit with over 200 million streams.

The lyrics, where wavering emotions, desire, and guilt intersect, vividly depict the peril of a love you know you shouldn’t pursue but can’t stop.

Those moments when you surrender to impulses you can’t even control yourself are sure to resonate with anyone who’s felt the same.

The kid who always gets comparedTsuyu44rank/position

Tsuyu – Kurabera Rekko MV

A song by Tsuyu that empathizes with the pain of being compared to others.

Many of us have been hurt by being measured against someone else.

This work portrays, head-on, the feelings of inferiority and inner conflict from the perspective of the one being compared.

Rei’s clear, translucent vocals and Pusu’s band sound—blending rock and pop—resonate deeply.

The lyrics lay bare the protagonist’s earnest emotions as they are continually compared by those around them, and their determination to keep going even while blaming themselves is truly moving.

The track was included on the February 2020 album “Yappari Ame wa Furun da ne,” and a remixed version was later released.

It was also featured in Konami’s music game SOUND VOLTEX, earning love from a wide audience.

Give it a listen when you’re feeling unsure of yourself or hurt by comparisons.

It will surely whisper, “I understand,” and stay by your side.

I thought about killing myselfNakajima Mika45rank/position

Mika Nakashima – The Reason I Thought I Would Die / THE FIRST TAKE

There are days when you don’t want to do anything or go to school, and your heart can feel lonely.

When upbeat music feels too hard to listen to, try giving “Boku ga Shino to Omotta no wa” a listen.

Mika Nakashima released it in 2013, and it also drew attention because Hiromu Akita from the rock band amazarashi produced it.

Life isn’t full of only good things, but its lyrics—ones that make you feel like you can try living a little more gently—speak to you softly, especially when you’re feeling lonely.

Please listen to this song at least once; it reminds you that it hurts precisely because you’re doing your best and living earnestly.

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mutō

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curseYamazaki Hako46rank/position

Hako Yamasaki - Curse

This is “Noroi” (“Curse”), a song by Hako Yamasaki released in 1979.

I think there are times when we end up hating someone so much we feel like cursing them.

When those feelings surface, don’t you feel overwhelmed with guilt and find it hard to breathe? In those moments, please listen to this song.

Realizing “I’m not the only one who feels this way” should ease your heart.

Although it’s a dark, ominous piece, you could also say it’s a warm song that absorbs the darkness in people’s hearts.

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Yoimachi Jēn

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voiceAmano Tsukiko47rank/position

Voice (with lyrics) — Tsukiko Amano

Tsukiko Amano debuted in 2001 as a singer-songwriter shrouded in mystery, keeping her profile undisclosed.

“Koe” is her 11th single, released in 2005, and it exquisitely matches her uniquely cool-toned voice with lyrics that embrace self-sacrifice.

In 2009, she changed her stage name to Tsuki Amano and expanded her activities beyond music.

The Day the Curse Was LiftedTaito48rank/position

Takuto “The Day the Curse Was Lifted” MV

This song has a story: although Taku Takeru was bullied in junior high and closed himself off, he was able to regain his smile through encounters with fans and the people around him.

It’s a track that, while being a “dark” song, still inspires hope, making you think, “Let’s accept ourselves as we are, acknowledge ourselves, and keep moving forward.”

Cute Girlfriendsyudou49rank/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.

It’s not that I want to die.Asanomachi50rank/position

It’s Not That I Want to Die / KAFU

A song whose fleeting, translucent vocals almost bring you to tears.

Its lyrics—like the soft words that slip out in the stillness before sleep—gently embrace a lonely heart.

Asanomachii’s delicate production and KAFU’s crystal-clear voice blend beautifully, creating a work that deeply moves its listeners.

Released in August 2024 and included on the album “Yoi no Machi,” this track quietly stays close to those who feel life is hard or who struggle to find where they belong, and to those whose hearts are worn out by modern society.

It’s a song to lean on when you don’t want to force yourself to look ahead, but instead wish to face your feelings just as they are.