Theme Songs, Insert Songs, and Popular Song Rankings by Female Singer-Songwriters [2026]

ever afterAimer15rank/position

Aimer “ever after” MUSIC VIDEO short ver. (Drama “Hot Mom” SPECIAL EDIT / Starring: Nanase Nishino)

Amazon Original drama Hot Mom depicts a protagonist juggling work and parenting.

Gently accompanying that world is this song performed by Aimer.

It drew attention around March 2021, when the drama began streaming, and was also included on the album Walpurgis, released in April of the same year.

The sound, crafted together with producer Kenji Tamai and others, is quiet yet powerful, and Aimer’s warm vocals, which seem to affirm our daily struggles, sink deeply into the heart.

A collaborative music video linked with the drama’s footage was also released, becoming a hot topic for rekindling the story’s emotion.

It’s a song that quietly gives you courage in those moments when, even as you face the harshness of reality, you try to protect what matters.

I hope everyone who is doing their best each day will give it a listen.

Zankyo SankaAimer16rank/position

Aimer「Zankyosanka」MUSIC VIDEO（Demon Slayer:Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc Theme Song）

Released in January 2022 as Aimer’s 20th single, this song was selected as the opening theme for the popular anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc.

It topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100 for nine consecutive weeks, surpassed 200 million streams, and received a Special Award at the Japan Record Awards.

Masahiro Tobinai’s bold arrangement features resplendent brass and strings that brilliantly capture both the opulence of the red-light district and the tension of battle.

The lyrics, imbued with a powerful resolve to overcome past pain and resound into the future, embody the very determination of characters who confront their fate.

Performed even in cheering scenes at Koshien, it’s a song cherished not only by anime fans but also by many listeners running through their youth.

Song of the Four SeasonsMINMI17rank/position

Song of the Four Seasons

It’s a work with a mysterious atmosphere that’s nostalgic yet fires you up.

It’s a track by MINMI, a singer-songwriter from Osaka, included as a coupling on the 2004 single “Ai no Mi.” It was the ending theme for Shinichirō Watanabe’s anime Samurai Champloo.

While the song’s fast-paced development is easy to groove to, the lyrics—evoking one of the protagonists, Fuu—are heartbreakingly bittersweet.

That striking contrast really gets me.

If you like reggae, soca, or lo-fi hip-hop, give it a listen.

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Araki Jakkan

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FallSuperfly18rank/position

Superfly『Fall』(Music Video)

Superfly has a song whose lyrics, depicting the peril that lurks within the human heart, make you catch your breath.

Written as the theme for the TBS drama “Anata ni wa Kaeru Ie ga Aru,” which portrays the emotions of characters swayed by a forbidden love, it was included on the single “Bloom,” released in June 2018.

Regarding this song, Shiho Ochi described its theme as “a story about a monster in the shape of a human,” and when combined with its jazzy, seductive sound, it draws listeners into a mysterious world.

On a night when you want to feel a little more grown-up, it’s also recommended to immerse yourself in this thrilling narrative world while listening to the track.

On Your SideSuperfly19rank/position

Superfly『On Your Side』Music Video

“On Your Side” is a track included on Superfly’s fifth album, “WHITE,” released in 2015.

It was written as the ABC Summer High School Baseball support song and the theme for “Nettou Koshien.” Composed by Los Angeles–born songwriter Bonnie McKee, “On Your Side” is a grand medium-tempo ballad whose lyrics—expressing the desire to be there for you—resonate with the friendships of high school baseball players, making it a beloved classic.

There’s even an anecdote that Superfly was so moved during recording that she couldn’t sing for a moment.

Be sure to give it a listen!

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Hamada Takuya

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with a gentle heartSuperfly20rank/position

Superfly “With a Gentle Heart” Music Video

This is “Yasashii Kimochi de,” which served as the theme song for Mezamashi TV for a year starting in April 2009.

It’s performed by Superfly.

Ochi’s vocals are both powerful and gentle, resonating in a way that calms the hectic rush of a busy morning—an expansive mid-tempo number.

True to its title, it makes you want to go through the day with a kind heart.

Listening to it naturally warms your heart.

Replaying it from time to time can even bring back memories of how your mornings felt back when it was on the air.

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Kado(guchi) Shichigatsu

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flareSuperfly21rank/position

Superfly “Flare” (Music Video) — Theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Scarlet”

Superfly’s song “Flare” was written as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Scarlet,” starring Erika Toda.

It reached No.

2 on the Oricon Singles Chart.

The music video, filmed in stop motion with 1,500 candles, has a fantastical feel.

The title “Flare” carries two meanings: “flame” and “self-expression/talent.” With its upbeat, forward-driving sound, it’s a track that makes you feel happy as you listen.

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Hamada Takuya

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