Best Songs and Popular Tracks by Male Singer-Songwriters: 2026 Rankings

mysteryHoshino Gen64rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Fushigi (Official Video)

It’s a warm number that gently embraces those indescribable feelings that arise between people you hold dear.

Have you ever felt that inexplicable sense of “Why do I love this person?”—not just the thrill of romance, but the unexplainable emotion that surfaces as two people meet and build a relationship? Gen Hoshino delicately captures those mysterious, cherished feelings with a sound that fits right into everyday life.

Written in April 2021 as the theme song for the TBS drama “Kikazaru Koi ni wa Riyuu ga Atte,” the track was also included on the single “Fushigi/Souzou,” released in June of the same year.

It’s a recommended song for those moments when you suddenly feel like expressing gratitude to an irreplaceable presence by your side, whether a partner or a friend.

Outside the dreamHoshino Gen65rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Into the Outside of the Dream (Official Video)

When it comes to artists who truly represent Japan both in name and reality—as a singer and an actor—Gen Hoshino comes to mind.

As a singer, his repertoire spans a wide range of genres, from pop and up-tempo tracks to tender songs featuring only acoustic guitar, and even pieces full of humor.

“Yume no Soto e” is a pop song with a bright, memorable rhythm.

It’s a track that resonates with a passionate desire to always stay close to a loved one, in a world just for the two of you.

loveHoshino Gen66rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Koi (Official Video)

It became a hit as the theme song for the drama “We Married as a Job” (Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu), and the “Koi Dance,” performed by the cast in the ending, exploded in popularity—you must have seen and heard it everywhere in dance videos and events.

While the dance tends to steal the spotlight, the lyrics of this song are actually quite thought-provoking and philosophical.

Despite the title “Koi” (Love), it never uses words like “I like you” or “I love you,” giving it a slightly mature and quietly wistful atmosphere.

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IHoshino Gen67rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Watashi [Official Video]

A folk song of exceptionally high purity in both arrangement and lyrics by Gen Hoshino, an artist who, after the 2010s, gained cross-generational support and broke beyond the bounds of pop musicianship.

The latter half of the 2010s could be described as an era of division, and this song’s appeal lies in lyrics that gently nudge you forward—not with harsh expressions, but with unadorned, kind words—against an aggressive, unforgiving, and difficult world.

It lets you fully savor the unique turns of phrase only he can deliver, and when you’re worn out, you might find comfort in its warm words that offer modest courage and hope.

In the Great Sky and on the Vast EarthMatsuyama Chiharu68rank/position

In the Great Sky and on the Vast Earth

Set against the majestic nature of Hokkaido, this gem of a masterpiece sings of a powerful way of life.

Its lyrics, which stress the importance of continuing to look forward even while facing the setbacks and hardships everyone experiences at least once, are filled with the unique depth of insight and warmth characteristic of Chiharu Matsuyama.

Especially in moments when your heart feels like it might break, the song embodies the will to seize happiness with your own hands, gently giving listeners a reassuring push forward.

Included on the June 1977 album “Kimi no Tame ni Tsukutta Uta” (A Song Made for You), it was later featured as an insert song in the Fuji TV drama “The Ugly Duckling” and used in a Snow Brand Milk Products commercial.

This is a song to hear when you stand at a crossroads in life or are about to take a new step.

Matsuyama’s clear, pure voice will surely kindle a light of courage and hope in your heart.

A Letter to YouKuwata Keisuke69rank/position

Keisuke Kuwata – A Letter to You (Full ver.)

A heartwarming love song delivered by Keisuke Kuwata.

It was selected as the theme song for the film “Gold Medal Man” and as the CM song for WOWOW’s 25th anniversary.

Released in November 2016, it debuted at No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

Portrayed as an anthem for people who strive to move forward despite setbacks and sorrow, the song conveys deep affection and encouragement to everyone who shares life’s joys and hardships, resonating with listeners across generations.

Why not give it a listen as a track that adds color to moments with someone special?

I wonder if it will be sunny tomorrow.Kuwata Keisuke70rank/position

Keisuke Kuwata – Will It Be Sunny Tomorrow? (Full ver.)

With its grand sense of scale and message brimming with hope, this ballad seems to mirror the faint loneliness felt at the end of the day and the lingering anticipation for tomorrow.

The lyrics’ emphasis on “believing in yourself and wishing” gently lends strength in those quiet moments after summer’s bustle fades, when you find yourself facing your inner thoughts.

Released in May 2007 as Keisuke Kuwata’s ninth solo single, the song became etched in many people’s memories as the theme for the Fuji TV drama “Operation Love” (Proposal Daisakusen).

It’s a gem of a track to listen to when you want to soak in the sentimental mood of summer’s end, pause for a moment, and rediscover hope for the future.