Popular Japanese music. Latest rankings [2026]

Amanojaku1641rank/position

Amano Jakku / 164 feat. GUMI (Official)

Amano-jaku has a band sound with a really cool bassline.

The overall vocal range is G#3 to G5, and it modulates even higher in the final chorus.

If you want to nail a cool rock delivery, mixed voice is essential.

If you keep belting with a strong falsetto, your voice will gradually lock in, but breath control, explosiveness, and core strength are very important.

However, since this was for karaoke scoring this time, as long as the pitch is on, anything goes.

It might be good to think of it as practice to master mixed voice and keep singing in falsetto at first.

Keep time with your whole body so the rhythm doesn’t slip.

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Kubota Mami

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PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism2rank/position

Official HIGE DANDism – Pretender [Official Video]

A heartbreak song that gently holds close all those tormented by unrequited love—painful yet beautiful.

It portrays the bittersweet emotion of stepping back after realizing you’re not worthy, even while loving the other person deeply.

Your heart tightens at the image of someone sincerely wishing for the other’s happiness while tucking their own feelings away.

Released as a single by Official HIGE DANDism in May 2019, it was used as the theme song for the film The Confidence Man JP and became a massive hit that broke numerous records.

Give it a listen when you’re facing the harsh reality that love, no matter how strong, sometimes isn’t returned and you feel on the verge of breaking.

The beautifully resonant piano melody and gentle vocals will softly embrace your sorrow and give you the courage to look ahead.

bouquetback number3rank/position

back number – Bouquet (Short ver.)

It’s a love song that really hits home, capturing those ordinary, unremarkable moments that wouldn’t stand out in conversation.

We don’t know what the future holds, but right now we just want to be together—those feelings are woven into the song, and it always brings a smile to my face.

Released in June 2011 as the second single, it was featured in a Dinos TV commercial and became a hot topic.

It’s a great choice for wedding celebrations or anniversaries.

The chorus in particular feels like a vow, making it perfect for moments of celebration!

Eine KleineYonezu Kenshi4rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Eine Kleine

There are nights when, the more dearly you care for someone, the more you’re seized by a bittersweet ache that makes you even doubt where you belong.

This song from Kenshi Yonezu’s album YANKEE gently stays by the side of a wavering heart like that.

The sorrow that sits right next to the joy of meeting, and the secrets you want to tell but end up hiding.

Even while holding contradictory feelings, the earnest wish to simply stay connected with the other person is sure to bring you to tears.

Included on the album YANKEE released in April 2014, this track also became widely loved as a Tokyo Metro commercial song.

Its music video, illustrated by Yonezu himself, drew attention as well, and its bittersweet yet warm worldview has resonated with many.

It’s a song especially for those who lack confidence and feel timid in love, or for those who keep an unfulfilled longing tucked away in their hearts.

It will affirm even that pain as something beautiful.

HAPPYBUMP OF CHICKEN5rank/position

BUMP OF CHICKEN『HAPPY』

This is a song filled with deep affection that, behind the word “happiness,” strives to celebrate someone’s life itself, even while carrying sadness and loss.

Released as a single by BUMP OF CHICKEN in 2010, it reached No.

1 on both the Oricon weekly and monthly charts.

Beyond the brightness suggested by its title, it resonates with many as an anthem for life—wishing good health for someone dear and saying “congratulations” to every moment they’ve lived.

The dry-textured guitar sound and Motoo Fujiwara’s gentle vocals blend exquisitely, and despite its medium tempo, the buoyant melody is captivating.

It’s a song you’ll want to give to someone special on a birthday or anniversary, to celebrate every step of the journey they’ve taken so far.

Karakuri Pierrot40mP6rank/position

[Hatsune Miku (40mP)] Karakuri Pierrot [Original]

Among Vocaloid songs, “Karakuri Pierrot” has an exceptionally relaxed tempo.

The vocal range isn’t too high, so women can keep the original key, while men might find it just right to lower it by two to three semitones.

The small amount of lyrics is another plus! You should be able to sing steadily without rushing.

Don’t push your voice—aim for a straight, honest pitch.

The key goes up in the last chorus, but if you sing with more energy than in the first chorus, you should be able to stay steady.

For scoring systems, focus on singing as mechanically straight as possible.

Clear enunciation will also make the pitch bar respond well.

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Kubota Mami

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LokiMikito P7rank/position

Mikito-P "Roki" MV

From the very first bar, the four-on-the-floor dance rock sound sends the energy soaring! This track, released in February 2018, is by Mikito-P, a hugely popular producer leading the Vocaloid scene.

It’s a duet between Kagamine Rin and Mikito-P himself, and the call-and-response style vocals are insanely cool.

The lyrics sharply portray the realities of the music industry and the struggle of self-expression in modern society, giving the song a depth that goes beyond just getting hyped.

It’s also included on the album “DAISAN WAVE,” and its overwhelming popularity has put it near the top of karaoke rankings.

It’s the kind of ultimate song that, the moment it plays in a friends’ intro quiz, makes everyone want to break into a full-on singalong!