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

Start to shine and run forwardSambomasutā43rank/position

Sambomaster / Starting to Shine and Run - MUSIC VIDEO

If you’re looking for a fiery hype song, I recommend Sambomaster’s “Kagayakidashite Hashitteku” (“Shining Out and Running”).

Its powerful band sound and catchy chorus melody will boost your motivation the more you listen.

Let’s do our best today as we head toward your shining tomorrow! Sambomaster has lots of great motivational songs, so I definitely recommend checking out their other tracks too!

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single bedSha ran Q44rank/position

Sharam Q “Single Bed” (Music Video)

This is a wistful ballad that poignantly sings of lingering feelings for a former lover, a classic that gently teaches the preciousness of love.

As the protagonist looks back on memories left behind on a single bed, they realize that a romance once taken for granted was in fact more valuable than jewels, weaving a moving drama.

Released by Sharam Q in October 1994, the song became a major hit, ranking 24th on the year-end charts.

It was also used as the ending theme for the anime D.N.A²: They Were Once a Thing, and included on the album Inferiority Complex.

It’s the perfect track for reminiscing about youthful love while sharing memories with friends.

cherrysupittsu45rank/position

Spitz / Cherry

Cherry is the perfect song to listen to in spring, the season of graduations and new beginnings.

Spitz has many classics, but this one could be called their signature track.

Its forward-looking lyrics—saying goodbye to the past and moving ahead while holding precious memories close—fit spring perfectly.

Listening to this song warms the heart and reminds you how deeply love can support a person.

If you’re feeling anxious about a new chapter, try listening to this song while watching the cherry blossoms.

Chances are your excitement and anticipation will outweigh your worries.

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Nagisasupittsu46rank/position

Spitz / Nagisa

With a melody that’s refreshing yet tinged with melancholy, it vividly paints scenes of summer.

This work by the popular band Spitz was released in September 1996 as their 17th single, and it’s also included on the acclaimed album Indigo Chiheisen.

It’s well known for being used as the CM song for Ezaki Glico’s “Pocky Love Story.” Looking closely at the lyrics, you realize they go beyond mere reminiscence, delicately weaving in themes such as reality and illusion, or even life and death.

It’s the kind of song that gently accompanies those slightly sentimental moods of a summer evening.

Beautiful finsupittsu47rank/position

Spitz / Beautiful Fin

Released in April 2023 as the theme song for the film Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine, this track is a clear, translucent work themed around an oceanic worldview.

Through the symbolic expression “beautiful fins” depicted by Masamune Kusano’s delicate vocals, a profound world emerges where fragility and hope intersect.

As Spitz’s first tie-in with the Conan series, the song debuted at No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and has been beloved by many fans.

It’s recommended for seaside drives in summer or for quiet nights when you want to calm your mind.

Shadows of Youthchūrippu48rank/position

TULIP “Youthful Shadows” (Lyric Video)

A masterpiece whose gentle vocals and delicate melodic lines seep into the heart.

Its grand narrative—portraying profound love for a partner and the resolve to walk through life together—strikes a deep chord.

Seamlessly blending folk and pop, the song brings out the full musical allure of Tulip.

Released as a single in June 1974 and also included on the album “Seishun no Kage,” it garnered widespread support.

It has since been covered by numerous artists and used as an insert song in the drama “Under One Roof.” It’s the perfect track for moments at life’s crossroads or when you want to face forward with a calm mind.

A heartwarming message song you’ll want to listen to with someone special—highly recommended.

Overflows ~Unable to Put It into Words~Naoto Intiraymi49rank/position

Naoto Inti Raymi “Overflows ~I Can’t Put It Into Words~” MV [Fuji TV’s ‘Thrilling TV: Sukatto Japan – Heart-Throbbing Sukatto’ Theme Song]

A work that intertwines stirring lyrics with a warm melody, “Overflows ~Can’t Put It Into Words~” reaches deep into the listener’s heart and brings tears to the eyes.

It evokes different kinds of emotion depending on each listener’s experiences and feelings, allowing everyone to immerse themselves in a story that’s uniquely their own.

Naoto Inti Raymi’s gentle voice further highlights the song’s message.

Beyond the sweetness and bitterness of love, it deftly captures universal human psychology, making it a track that compels you to listen closely to the lyrics.