Popular Wake-Up Songs: Japanese Music and J-Pop Artist Rankings [2026]

MAGICSEKAI NO OWARI57rank/position

SEKAI NO OWARI「MAGIC」from『The Dinner』

SEKAI NO OWARI’s “MAGIC” was originally a song by the three-piece band HAWAIIAN6, and this is a cover.

HAWAIIAN6 is known for not lending out their songs, so I’m surprised they agreed.

OrangeSPYAIR58rank/position

SPYAIR “Orange” Music Video (Theme Song for Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle: The Movie)

When it comes to support songs that stay close to the hearts of high school students, this is the one.

Released by SPYAIR in February 2024, the track was also chosen as the theme song for Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle: The Movie.

Centered on the themes of encounters, bonds, and farewells within a limited time, it sings of the courage to not say goodbye and the hope of meeting again.

The powerful vocals over an up-tempo melody convey the courage to keep moving forward.

It’s perfect for the graduation season when you part ways with dear friends, or on the eve of an entrance ceremony as you dive into a new environment.

KiLLiNG MESiM59rank/position

SiM – KiLLiNG ME (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

In addition to having many hard breakdowns, this is a very new track with elements of reggae.

The use of Auto-Tune is excellent as well.

As you’d expect from such a hard-hitting sound, it really gets you hyped.

If you set it as your alarm, the intro would probably startle you.

with a gentle heartSuperfly60rank/position

Superfly “With a Gentle Heart” Music Video

Superfly’s “Yasashii Kimochi de” was the 2009 theme song for Fuji TV’s “Mezamashi TV.” It was extremely popular, and later was also chosen as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Kagayaki YELL!,” making it a track that has maintained unwavering popularity.

HOT LIMITT.M.Revolution61rank/position

T.M.Revolution – HOT LIMIT｜Official Music Video

Although this song—one of T.M.Revolution’s signature tracks—doesn’t quite fit the conditions for a good wake-up song introduced at the beginning of the article, its powerful, high-energy vibe makes it a track that can snap you out of grogginess and wake you up refreshed.

Of the three conditions, the only one it meets is the structure of the intro.

The iconic synth intro that defines the song, followed by the entrance of the bass drum, then a sudden surge into the chorus—it’s a real hype track that makes you want to start dancing.

Listen to it and you’re guaranteed to wake up in an instant!

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Hane Keisuke

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Philadelphia fleabaneYOASOBI62rank/position

YOASOBI “Halzion” Official Music Video

There’s also a perfect morning track among YOASOBI’s songs, which are hugely popular especially with younger generations! This one sits around BPM 130, which is about the upper limit of what’s considered good for waking up, so it’s especially recommended if you like up-tempo music.

The intro is structured so that the number of instruments gradually increases, and the phrases build up bit by bit.

In particular, the chorus features a four-on-the-floor dance beat and a bouncy bass that really stand out—by the time the first chorus ends, you’ll probably be fully awake.

Ikura’s flowing, crisp vocals are also just the kind of voice you want to hear in the morning.

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Hane Keisuke

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Summer SongYUI63rank/position

YUI　『Summer Song-short ver.-』

This is a popular song by YUI, a singer-songwriter who is hugely popular among young people.

The lyrics portray the frustrating feelings of a summer romance and bring back memories of sparkling youthful days.

It’s the perfect song to listen to on a summer morning—guaranteed to put you in a refreshing mood.