Male Singer-Songwriters’ Anime Songs: Popular Tracks Ranking [2026]

ONE JUMP AHEADIshii Kazutaka76rank/position

A Step Ahead (Aladdin)

The Japanese title is “Hitofumi Osaki ni” (literally, “A Step Ahead”).

It’s the music for the scene where Aladdin runs joyfully and nimbly through the city, escaping from the guards.

Aladdin steals a loaf of bread, and in the end he shares it with hungry children—a scene that conveys his kindness.

ONE JUMP AHEAD（REPRISE)Ishii Kazutaka77rank/position

Aladdin – One Jump Ahead (Reprise) [Japanese]

It’s a heartrending song that makes you want to cheer, “Hang in there, Aladdin!” He’s not doing bad things because he wants to—he’s singing about his bittersweet longing to one day live in a palace-like place.

It’s a gentle and beautiful song.

I live, I will keep on living.Fukuyama Masaharu78rank/position

Masaharu Fukuyama – Living, Going On (Full ver.)

It is the theme song of the movie “Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles ~Animal Adventure~.” The song features an impressive rhythm that emphasizes the offbeat and is enjoyable even for children.

Many listeners may find the lyrics—which feel like an adult speaking to a child—deeply relatable.

RainHata Motohiro79rank/position

Rain

It’s a song whose sound of rain seeps into the heart.

Sung powerfully by Motohiro Hata, this piece was originally a masterpiece released to the world by Senri Oe on his 1988 album “1234,” with Hata’s version included on his May 2013 single “Kotonoha.” It graced the ending of the animated film “The Garden of Words,” captivating fans.

The ineffable pangs of sorrow and the subtleties of the heart are delicately portrayed alongside rainy scenes, and that frustrating sense of longing tightens the chest.

Perfect for gazing at a summer downpour lost in thought, or for nights when you want to shed tears over a love that has passed.

globeYonezu Kenshi80rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Spinning Globe

Kenshi Yonezu is a singer-songwriter who continues to captivate many listeners with his original, imaginative world.

Centered on themes of loss and rebirth, the lyrics of this piece resonate deeply, while the organic ensemble of piano and strings quietly stirs the listener’s emotions.

Marking the 100th song released under the name Kenshi Yonezu, it came out in July 2023 and was written as the theme song for Hayao Miyazaki’s film “The Boy and the Heron.” With a relatively narrow vocal range and a leisurely melody, it’s easy to hum along to even for those not confident in their singing.

It’s a beautiful yet powerful ballad, one to sing with care while savoring the lingering emotions of the story.