Popular Japanese music. Latest rankings [2026]

Hated by LifeKanzaki Iori57rank/position

Hated by Life Itself / Hatsune Miku

A signature work by Vocaloid producer Kanzaki Iori that candidly portrays the grit and inner struggles of living.

Released in August 2017, its high-velocity rock sound and emotional piano arrangement shake listeners to the core.

The lyrics, which flatly reject pretty platitudes and hurl complex emotions about life itself, resonated with many.

It was later included in the rhythm game “Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE! feat.

Hatsune Miku,” and on New Year’s Eve 2021 Mafumafu’s cover was performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, earning love across generations.

It’s a song you should listen to when you’re carrying feelings with nowhere to go, or on nights when you want to face yourself.

SoranjiMrs. GREEN APPLE58rank/position

Mrs. GREEN APPLE「Soranji」Official Music Video

A gem of a ballad that expresses the preciousness of bonds with loved ones and the meaning of life on a grand scale.

It is the title track of Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s single released in November 2022, written as the theme song for the film “From Siberia With Love,” starring Kazunari Ninomiya.

The lyrics hold an earnest wish to never lose hope even in trying times and to convey heartfelt feelings to someone dear.

The song depicts the joy of being born and the resolve to walk toward the future together, resonating with a profound message that celebrates human existence itself.

It’s perfect for the opening movie of a wedding, where two people embarking on a new life vow unwavering love to each other.

The work’s rich strings will envelop the venue in emotion.

me me sheRADWIMPS59rank/position

RADWIMPS – me me she [Official Music Video]

Let me introduce a classic ballad that sings of a man’s aching heart, still thinking of his former lover even after the breakup.

Created by RADWIMPS, one of Japan’s leading popular bands, this track is included on their landmark album “RADWIMPS 4: Okazu no Gohan,” released in December 2006.

Despite never being released as a single, it has long enjoyed overwhelming support among fans.

The lyrics vividly depict the lingering attachment to a love that has ended, as well as the ego that, while wishing for the other’s happiness, can’t help but prioritize oneself.

The world of Yojiro Noda’s honest and complex emotional landscape—so distinctly his—will pierce the hearts of adults who usually put on a brave face.

On nights when you carry a weakness you can tell no one about, why not listen to this song alone in silence and let yourself cry your heart out?

PrologueUru60rank/position

"Prologue" FULL ver.

Uru is known for a singing voice that gently accompanies bittersweet stories.

The song we’re introducing today is a gem of a ballad that tugs at listeners’ heartstrings.

Written as the theme for the TBS drama “Chugakusei Nikki,” which began airing in October 2018, its lyrics resonate with many, mirroring the show’s sensitive worldview.

Beginning with quiet piano tones and building toward a chorus where emotions overflow, it represents the epitome of a “tearjerker ballad,” crafted by Uru, who wrote and composed it, and arranger Tomi Yo.

Upon its early digital release, it topped the charts on major platforms and was later included on the album “Orion Blue.” If you’ve experienced a sad love or are looking for a night to cry your heart out and cleanse your soul, this is a must-listen.

Donut holehachi61rank/position

Hachi – Donut Hole 2024, HACHI – DONUT HOLE 2024

It’s well known that Hachi is Kenshi Yonezu.

In this version of Donut Hole, Yonezu does a self-cover an octave lower, so male singers might find it useful to use that as a reference.

For female singers, listening to Hachi’s version—sung an octave higher—should make it easier to grasp.

When singing, be mindful to add thickness to your voice step by step from the A section to the B section to the chorus.

Also, since the tempo is fast and the delivery is quite quick, rather than enunciating every word crisply, aim to lightly trace the melody line.

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Kubota Mami

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budKobukuro62rank/position

Kobukuro – Tsubomi

Many people have surely found themselves encouraged time and again by Kobukuro’s songs.

Tsubomi is a single released in March 2007, and it resonated deeply as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama Tokyo Tower: My Mother and Me, and Sometimes My Father.

Rooted in Kentaro Kobuchi’s real-life experiences, the piece expands from a quiet opening into a broad, soaring arrangement, with Shunsuke Kuroda’s rich vocals stirring powerful swells of emotion.

Its warm melody, portraying gratitude for a precious presence that has been lost and the human heart that keeps moving forward, gently accompanies life’s turning points and lonely nights.

For moments when everyday life wears you down and you want to quietly immerse yourself in memories, this exquisite ballad softly loosens the tension in your heart.

The Disappearance of Hatsune MikucosMo@bousou P63rank/position

The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku (THE END OF HATSUNE MIKU) – cosMo@Bousou-P

A signature work by cosMo@Bousou-P, who has been active since the early days of the Vocaloid scene and continues to lead the charge as an all-around creator.

Released in April 2008, this piece is characterized by its extremely rapid-fire lyrics—leveraging Hatsune Miku’s unique traits—and its overwhelming density of information.

Its narrative, centered on the anxieties and self-awareness of an electronic diva being consumed as data, resonated deeply with many listeners.

It is also widely known as the title track of the major-label album “The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku,” released in August 2010, and has long been beloved as an ultra-high-difficulty song in Sega’s “Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA” series, among others.

There’s a chance people might be put off by the sight of someone desperately trying to sing a super high-speed melody that no human could ever fully master.

Still, turning that difficulty on its head and tackling it together with friends in a lively challenge might be part of the fun!