Popular Japanese karaoke songs. Latest rankings [2026]

Hated by LifeKanzaki Iori26rank/position

Hated by Life Itself / Hatsune Miku

This is a signature song of the Vocaloid scene that sets views on life and death and conflicts with society to an intense rock sound.

Released by Kanzaki Iori in 2017 using Hatsune Miku, it has surpassed 100 million total plays.

From the very beginning, the driving rhythm and lyrics that feel like an outpouring of the contradictory emotions deep within are overwhelming.

It depicts doubts about living and the struggles within relationships with others, striking deeply at the listener’s heart.

It also garnered attention when Mafumafu performed it on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

It’s included in the rhythm game Project Sekai, so many people may have discovered it through the game.

It’s a masterpiece that makes you project your own life onto it and want to sing it with raw emotion at karaoke.

cherrysupittsu27rank/position

Spitz / Cherry

When it comes to Spitz, many people probably think of “Cherry.” In fact, it’s a classic that became a million-selling hit despite having no tie-in.

In karaoke, it’s a popular choice for both men and women because it’s relatively easy to score high.

The key is to sing through to the end without straining.

There are many sustained notes, but try not to use much vibrato—focus on matching the pitch bar.

The chorus suddenly jumps to higher notes, so take solid breaths and aim to resonate in your head voice to sing more easily.

The most important moments are the melody transitions; keep your facial muscles and eyebrows lifted and sing to switch smoothly.

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Kubota Mami

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366 daysHY28rank/position

HY – 366 Days (Official Music Video)

A signature ballad by HY, released in 2008 and widely known as the theme song for the film “Red Thread.” “366 Days” has been covered by many artists and is especially popular.

It’s basically composed in a lower range; if you resonate in your mouth and sing with a deep tone, you can achieve a powerful voice like Izumi Nakasone’s.

The key is switching to falsetto in the pre-chorus—if you don’t nail that, it feels hard to flow smoothly into the chorus.

Aim gently and accurately for the pitch bar there.

The chorus builds up a lot, so singing with an explosive burst of emotion should also help enhance your expressiveness!

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Kubota Mami

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silhouetteKANA-BOON29rank/position

KANA-BOON “Silhouette” Music Video

It’s the opening theme from the anime “Naruto Shippuden,” hugely popular among teenage boys! It’s sure to get the crowd going at karaoke! When you sing it, focus on the key points: keep a solid sense of tempo, feel the occasional bouncy rhythms, and pay attention to the falsetto in the chorus.

With fast-tempo band songs, it’s easy to get excited and speed up as you sing.

Try not to sway your body too much—stay centered so you can maintain a steady rhythm.

For the bouncy rhythm, lightly use your knees to move up and down and you’ll nail the timing.

Make sure your falsetto resonates in your head voice! Overall, I recommend singing lightly with a bright, heady resonance.

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Kubota Mami

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SenbonzakuraKurousa-P30rank/position

"MV" Senbonzakura WhiteFlame feat. Hatsune Miku

A quintessential Vocaloid song—the king of kings! It’s an incredibly cool and wonderful track, also famous for Wagakki Band’s cover.

The tempo is so fast it could be called intense, and the beautiful piano tones will turn a small karaoke room into a live stage.