Ranking of Male J-Pop Singers’ Best-Lyric and Most Popular Songs [2026]

Song of Springsupittsu15rank/position

Spitz / Spring Song

A quintessential spring song by Spitz, released in 2005.

Your heart starts to race from the very first notes.

It’s a uniquely gentle Spitz song that seems to softly embrace both the days you charged ahead recklessly and the days when nothing went right.

Encouraged by Masamune Kusano’s clear yet powerful vocals, you can feel the beginning of spring in the sound.

Why not listen and savor that sense of excitement?

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KEI

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All of the YouthFujifaburikku16rank/position

Fujifabric – Youth of Everything

A coming-of-age song that captures the bittersweet feeling at summer’s end.

Released in 2007 as the group’s 10th single, it was created with the fireworks festival at Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi Prefecture in mind.

In simple words, it portrays the scene of looking up at the final firework and the moment of parting while carrying unspoken feelings.

It was also featured as an insert song for the Fuji TV drama “SUMMER NUDE” and in a LINE Mobile commercial, becoming a beloved classic that stayed in many people’s hearts.

It’s a track that, along with the air of summer fading away, makes you quietly reminisce about who you were back then.

The nostalgia for days of youth and the poignant sense of the changing seasons seep deeply into the heart.

Let’s become a familyFukuyama Masaharu17rank/position

Masaharu Fukuyama – Let’s Become a Family (Full ver.)

A straightforward title that really hits you in the heart—this is one of Masaharu Fukuyama’s songs.

Marriage is the only family you can choose for yourself.

It’s a masterpiece that conveys the resolve of two people who have decided to walk through life together from here on out, along with the warm feelings of caring for each other.

Meeting someone you want to be with no matter what happens is nothing short of a miracle, isn’t it? Listening to this song might give you a chance to reflect on your own family anew.

SakurazakaFukuyama Masaharu18rank/position

Masaharu Fukuyama – Sakurazaka (Full ver.)

This is a song by Masaharu Fukuyama that expresses unchanging feelings for someone dear who has grown distant, and a love that endures as the seasons pass.

Its gentle sound, incorporating the tones of an acoustic guitar, seems to highlight the warm affection woven into the lyrics.

It portrays both the loneliness of being unable to spend time together despite the love, and the wish for that special person’s happiness.

It leaves the impression of a song filled with sorrow-tinged affection, as if singing out unfulfilled feelings toward the sky.

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kappamaki

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Joined handsMINAMI19rank/position

[MV] MINAMI – The Hands We Held

This is a slow ballad we hope you’ll listen to when you need the courage to move forward.

It’s the memorable first track marking MINAMI’s major-label debut in July 2023.

The theme—taking a new step while supporting and being supported by someone—delicately conveyed through a gentle voice, resonates deeply.

Interweaving everyday scenes like the after-school chime and a rainbow, its narrative style—believing in the hope beyond tears—leaves a strong impression.

It’s a work that gently stays by your side on days when something painful has happened.

Our TomorrowElefanto Kashimashi20rank/position

Elephant Kashimashi – “Our Tomorrow”

It’s a cheer song that instantly fills you with energy.

Released by Elephant Kashimashi in November 2007, the track was written and composed by Hiroji Miyamoto.

With lyrics infused with hope and a forward-looking spirit and a powerful melody, it gently nudges those stepping into a new environment.

Chosen as the commercial song for House Foods’ “Ukon no Chikara,” it has been loved by a wide audience.

It’s a perfect pick not only for those starting a new chapter in spring but for anyone standing at a crossroads in life.

Give it a listen—you’re sure to feel encouraged.

I know, okay.Kyūso Nekokami21rank/position

Kyuso Nekokami – “I Know It” MUSIC VIDEO

The down-to-earth words pierce straight into the heart.

It’s a song by Kyuso Nekokami, a rock band active mainly in the Kansai area, released as their third single in 2016.

It’s an energetic rock number, yet it carries a hint of melancholy.

Perhaps that comes from the negative emotions embedded in the lyrics.

Even so, the determination of “I’m going to do it anyway!” comes through at the same time, making it a message song that really hits home.

Why not stand up and join in, too?

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Araki Jakkan

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