Popular Japanese music. Latest rankings [2026]

CHE.R.RYYUI78rank/position

CHE.R.RY

When you feel the gentle warmth of spring, it brings on that bittersweet feeling that makes you want to fall in love, doesn’t it? The perfect song for such a season is this spring classic sung by YUI.

Released in March 2007 as her eighth single, it became a hot topic as the CM song for au by KDDI’s “LISMO!”.

It captures the joy and sorrow of texting someone you like and the fluttery excitement while waiting for a reply—just listening makes your heart skip a beat.

It’s also beloved on social media like TikTok, and it’s truly a spring staple that people across generations can’t help but hum along to.

beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko79rank/position

aiko - 'Kabutomushi' music video

Aiko’s signature love song “Kabutomushi.” The overall vocal range is quite wide, from F3 to F5, but it’s very easy to sing if you switch between chest voice and falsetto.

The A and B sections sit firmly in a lower range, and while the chorus climbs higher than you might expect, it may help to switch decisively to a falsetto base from there.

To switch smoothly between registers, stable pitch is essential.

If you keep your eyebrows raised or make a surprised face, you can maintain accurate pitch centered between your eyebrows without letting it drop into your throat.

Also, when singing high notes, if you hold back and produce the sound halfway, it will definitely be harder to hit, so try projecting your voice solidly!

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Kubota Mami

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Love Trial40mP80rank/position

[Hatsune Miku] Love Trial 【Original MV】

A pop number that blends humor and bittersweet emotion, likening a romantic entanglement to a courtroom drama.

Created by 40mP, who has produced numerous hit songs, it was released in June 2014.

In addition to being included on the doujin album “41m,” it has been featured in rhythm games such as CHUNITHM and Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE! feat.

Hatsune Miku.

Set to a band sound centered on piano and guitar, it portrays a protagonist accused of cheating who pleads for leniency.

If you’re in a relationship, it might be fun to listen together.

sasanqua (Camellia sasanqua)SEKAI NO OWARI81rank/position

Sakanaction “Sazanka”

A ballad that portrays the loneliness and anxiety felt in the pursuit of a dream, as well as the warmth of someone watching over you.

SEKAI NO OWARI’s “Sazanka” is a single released in February 2018 and became widely known as the NHK theme song for coverage of the PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympics.

Rather than simply urging listeners to “do your best,” the song is filled with a gentle kindness that seems to affirm every attempt to overcome setbacks and pain.

Anyone chasing a dream may wonder, “Is this really the right path for me?” In those moments, this song will quietly stand by you, saying, “I know how hard you’ve been trying.”

1106WANIMA82rank/position

WANIMA-1106 (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

WANIMA’s “1106” is a heartwarming song that expresses deep feelings for a loved one who has passed away.

Dedicated by member KENTA to his late grandfather, the track conveys his respect for a man who loved the sea and never gave in to hardship.

His grandfather’s words—“Sing the way you feel”—became a driving force behind KENTA’s passion for music.

Released in October 2014, the song was a milestone for WANIMA as it was the first to receive a music video.

Filmed by the sea in their hometown of Amakusa, the MV also communicates their love for family.

It’s a piece that gently stays by your side when you’re thinking of someone dear.

March 9Remioromen83rank/position

Remioromen – March 9

A classic by Remioromen with a warmth that makes you pause amid the passing seasons and reaffirm the bonds with those you love.

Its lyrics, which speak of the trust you feel for someone whose presence appears behind your closed eyelids and the joy of dreaming together, resonate deeply with listeners.

It was originally created to celebrate a friend’s wedding, but after being used as an insert song in the 2005 drama “1 Litre of Tears,” it became a staple for graduation season as well.

Released as a single in March 2004, it’s also included on the acclaimed album “ether.” A nostalgic tidbit is that Maki Horikita appeared in the music video before her big break.

It’s the kind of song you want to listen to in spring, as you take a new step forward and think of someone you want to thank.

Dawn and Firefliesn-buna84rank/position

[Hatsune Miku] Dawn and Fireflies [Original]

“Yoake to Hotaru” is a song by the Vocaloid producer n-buna, released in 2014.

It was included on the 2015 album “Hana to Mizuame, Saishuu Densha” (Flowers and Sugar Water, Last Train).

It’s a deeply nostalgic number that makes effective use of rests and muted guitar techniques.

In the song’s climax, the sound surges like a wave.

It’s a piece that offers comfort to those who have experienced heartbreak or parting.