Popular Japanese karaoke songs. Latest rankings [2026]

lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE78rank/position

Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Lilac” Official Music Video

This song delicately portrays the bittersweetness of youth and the struggles of growth.

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE often creates fun, catchy tracks like this.

It sings of accepting past pain as part of oneself and of indescribable feelings of love.

Released as a single in April 2024, it became the opening theme for the TV Tokyo anime “Oblivion Battery.” Incorporating the impulsive sensations of student days, it’s a guitar rock piece that really showcases how versatile the band is.

Their back-to-back wins at the Japan Record Awards make perfect sense.

This track gets the crowd going at karaoke, too! It’s a quintessential youth anthem from them, perfect for belting out with friends when you want to have a great time.

To Those Who Know the Blue of the Skyaimyon79rank/position

Aimyon – A Person Who Knows the Blue of the Sky [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

This is one of Aimyon’s signature songs, known for its beautiful lyrics that feel like a snapshot from a youthful chapter.

It’s a heartfelt ballad that soaks in with a bittersweet mood as the singer looks back on memories with a lover under a clear blue sky.

Released in October 2019, it was also used as the theme song for an animated film of the same title.

Aimyon’s uniquely delicate sensibility blends perfectly with a striking, lush string arrangement.

It’s an ideal pick for teenage girls who want to enjoy a comfortable time at karaoke.

With a medium tempo that’s easy to sing, it’s great for fun moments with friends and also recommended for quietly singing on your own.

User ManualNishino Kana80rank/position

Kana Nishino “Torisetsu” MV Full

This single was released on September 9, 2015, and it’s the theme song for the film “No Longer Heroine.” The lyrics, which humorously yet realistically liken the complexities of a woman’s inner self to an “instruction manual,” resonated with many listeners.

The song itself has a steady rhythm and a range that isn’t excessively wide, so as long as you pay attention to pitch, you can aim for a high score.

Also, because the lyrics are delivered in a talk-like manner with many words, enunciating clearly instead of letting them blur together will be accurately reflected on the pitch bar.

As the song progresses, there are more high notes, so it’s best to project your voice without hesitation—visualize the notes and aim to match them to the pitch bar.

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Kubota Mami

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balladKetsumeishi81rank/position

Ketsumeishi “Ballad”

Ketsumeishi is known for having lots of bright songs with plenty of hip-hop and rap elements, but they actually have ballads too! With gentle melodies over piano and string-backed arrangements… this side of Ketsumeishi is really satisfying to listen to, and it looks cool to sing as well! The song runs close to seven minutes, so it’s on the longer side, but it’s highly recommended when you want something mellow.

Of course, there’s rap in it too, but the tempo is relaxed, so it’s easy to learn and easy to groove to.

It seems best to sing while moving your body in a big, open way.

The chorus is a real highlight, so if you sing each phrase carefully, you can really put your feelings into it.

There are spots where it slips lightly into falsetto, which adds a surge of poignancy.

The latter half of the chorus is a sweet spot for singing, so don’t hesitate—project your voice with confidence!

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Kubota Mami

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Don’t go.Souta82rank/position

Uta-nee Yuki “Don’t Go” (remaster)

This is one of Sota’s signature songs, depicting a heartrending moment of parting.

The protagonist’s plea—“Please don’t go”—sinks into the heart alongside the sound of the piano.

Released in October 2013, the track is included on the album “Shonen Shoujo no Kotoba.” It’s a song that stays close to those who carry the fear of losing someone important or the weight of loneliness.

If you’ve had such experiences, you might find yourself in tears while singing it.

Sing it with all your heart.

together; along with; bothWANIMA83rank/position

WANIMA – Together (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

It’s WANIMA’s second single and was used in Nivea Kao’s “8×4 Body Fresh” commercial.

The chorus really sticks in your head—even for me.

The overall vocal range is G#3 to D#5, which is on the higher side, and the tempo is an ultra-fast BPM 254, but if you lock into the band’s rhythm and sing along, your energy will definitely rise and it should actually make it easier to project your voice! If you let your guard down even for a moment, your pitch will drop into your throat and it’ll get harder to sing, so you need to keep your facial muscles lifted at all times.

For the rapid-fire section in the latter half, first run through the melody line and pronounce it lightly to get it under your belt!

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Kubota Mami

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SakurazakaFukuyama Masaharu84rank/position

Masaharu Fukuyama – Sakurazaka (Full ver.)

A bittersweet yet warm classic ballad that I can’t help but want to listen to when spring arrives.

The lyrics, which wish happiness for a former lover, are deeply moving.

It’s said that Masaharu Fukuyama wrote it based on his own real-life experience, and it’s also famous for being set on an actual slope in Ōta Ward, Tokyo.

Released as a single in 2000, it drew attention as the theme song for the popular segment “Mirai Nikki V” on the variety show “U-nan no Hontoko!” It became a massive hit with over two million copies sold, truly one of the defining songs of the Heisei era.

The tempo is relaxed, so if you sing it carefully, savoring each word, it will surely resonate with the hearts of those around you.