Japanese Pop Friendship Songs Ranking [2026]

road; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)EXILE78rank/position

EXILE / Michi (Short Ver.)

This is a ballad that makes you want to express gratitude to the friends who stood by your side when you’re at a crossroads in life.

Released by EXILE in February 2007 as their 23rd single, the song warmly reflects on the days spent walking together, with themes of graduation and new departures.

It reached No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and became the 1,000th song in Oricon history to top the chart, marking a milestone.

It was featured in MTI’s “music.jp” commercial and selected by the National Karaoke Business Association as a recommended song for the graduation season, resonating with many listeners.

First included on the album “EXILE EVOLUTION,” it was later featured on releases such as “EXILE BALLAD BEST.” Loved as a staple performed at graduation ceremonies, a choral version was also produced.

When you and your dear friends begin to walk separate paths, it gives you the courage to move forward while holding your memories close.

Even when you’re apart, your hearts remain connected.

It’s a song that makes you feel exactly that.

My WayDef Tech79rank/position

Def Tech – My Way【Official Music Video】

A heartwarming song that makes you believe the presence of your friends will give you a push.

It’s a track by Def Tech, the duo of Shen, who grew up in Hawaii, and Micro, from Tokyo, included on their 2005 album “Def Tech.” It was featured in a Yokohama Tires commercial and as the theme song for the High School Baseball Championship digest program, selling over 2.5 million copies in total.

Its uniquely soothing sound, known as “Jawaiian reggae,” and lyrics that weave English and Japanese together carry a powerful message: “Believe in your own path and keep moving forward.” This is a song you’ll want to dedicate to friends setting out toward their dreams or companions diving into a new environment.

A graduation song, a song of friends.1980rank/position

19 – Sotsugyou no Uta, Tomodachi no Uta

19, active from 1998 to 2002, was a band with a huge following at the time.

Their song “Sotsugyo no Uta, Tomodachi no Uta” features simple lyrics about school life and the importance of friends, and it remains popular today as a timeless track.

It’s a great choice for getting everyone hyped with handclaps and tambourines.

If you’re in a band, practicing and singing it together with your mates can instantly make a karaoke session feel like a live concert.

It’s also a song that teachers would appreciate receiving as a dedication.

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tsukada moe

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Song of a Friendyuzu81rank/position

Yuzu Live “GO HOME” - Tomodachi no Uta (Friends’ Song)

A song woven around the theme of friendship, brimming with kindness and warmth.

Released in September 1999 as the commercial song for Ezaki Glico’s “Pocky Chocolate,” it became a major hit for Yuzu and is also included on their album Yuzuen.

Innocent memories with a friend, the tenderness of caring about each other’s lives, and the awareness of what changes and what remains constant over time are all carefully interlaced.

With its gentle acoustic guitar tones and Yuzu’s signature warm harmonies that resonate in the heart, this piece is perfect for gifting to a cherished friend at a wedding, and for conveying the joy of celebrating the couple’s new life together as part of their circle.

Dear.achanyu i82rank/position

Dear.a

The warm tone of an acoustic guitar feels so comforting, doesn’t it? This piece by Chan Yuu-i, a singer-songwriter from Ehime Prefecture, was released in 2020.

I bet quite a few people feel that a best friend can be “more than family, more than a lover.” Maybe it’s not something you can directly compare, but you just can’t help cherishing them that much.

Listening to this song might make those feelings grow even stronger.

Try listening to it with your friends.

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Araki Jakkan

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I’m glad I met you.Inoue Sonoko83rank/position

Kiminideaeteyokatta

Sonoko Inoue has been active as a singer-songwriter since elementary school.

At the time she graduated from high school, she released “Kimi ni Deaete Yokatta” (“I’m Glad I Met You”).

As the title suggests, the song celebrates the joy of meeting friends and expresses gratitude for the time they’ve spent together.

It captures genuine, true-to-life feelings that only she could write with graduation just ahead.

Also noteworthy is the gentle melody, which samples the sound of a music box.

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yamamoto

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Kaiju no Hanabuta (Monster’s Flower Song)Vaundy84rank/position

Monster’s Flower Song / Vaundy: MUSIC VIDEO

A song by Vaundy that sings about recalling the days when one held dreams as big as a kaiju and striving to reignite that passion.

Through a song once hummed by someone dear in the past, the protagonist sets out to reclaim the dreams, hopes, and childlike innocence they had nearly forgotten, all unfolding alongside a captivating melody.

Released as a digital-only single in May 2020, the track rapidly gained popularity after being performed at the end of 2022 on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Its call-and-response style, which unites performers and audience, makes it an ideal choice for school and cultural festivals.