Kai Band Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

HERO (When You Become a Hero, That Time Is Now)Kai Band8rank/position

Kai Band - HERO

It’s one of Kai Band’s signature songs.

It sings about the moment of determination—loving, protecting, and standing up to fight for someone—as the time you become a hero.

The song conveys a powerful feeling: that it’s enough simply to become a hero for the person you cherish.

Leaning against the cold walls of TokyoKai Band9rank/position

Kai Band - Leaning Against Tokyo's Cold Wall

A song that vividly portrays loneliness and alienation in the big city.

Known as one of Kai Band’s signature works, it helped pioneer Japanese rock.

Yoshihiro Kai’s powerful yet wistful vocals resonate deeply with listeners.

Released in June 2001, the track symbolically expresses the coldness of urban life and the fragility of human relationships.

Yet it’s never despairing; it also sings of the courage and hope to keep moving forward.

Recommended for those diving into a new environment or feeling worn out by city life.

If you listen while walking through the city at night, it might give you a chance to face yourself.

Drifter (Outlaw)Kai Band10rank/position

Drifter (Outlaw)

This is a song notable for Yoshihiro Kai’s soulful, resonant vocals.

Released in 1980, it explores themes of social anxiety and personal loneliness.

The protagonist’s feelings of being left behind by the movements of the world are powerfully conveyed through Kai’s distinctive singing, striking a chord with the listener.

It was also included on the album “Chikashitsu no Melody” (Basement Melody) and reached No.

14 on the Oricon chart.

The hard-boiled atmosphere characteristic of Kai Band and the poetic lyrics are a perfect match, making it a classic you’ll want to revisit again and again.

It’s a song that digs up the emotions buried deep within those of us living in modern society.

Recommended for when you’re feeling a bit down or when you want to reflect on the world.

bus streetKai Band11rank/position

Kai Band - Basu Dori (Bus Street)

Released in November 1974, it is included on Kai Band’s debut album, the first album “Lime Light,” which came out in December 1974.

Although Kai Band is a rock group, this song, “Bus Street,” has a strong folk flavor.

Yoshiro Kai, the band’s vocalist, later revealed a behind-the-scenes story that they composed their next work in order to dispel their image as a folk-rock band.

Rainy DriveKai Band12rank/position

"Rainy Drive" Kai Band (VINYL)

“Rainy Drive” was the first single Kai Band released after re-signing with Toshiba EMI in 1986.

Yoshihiro Kai’s vocals poignantly convey the bittersweet emotions of lovers on their final rainy-day drive date.

HERO ~When You Become a Hero, That Time Is Now~Kai Band13rank/position

Kai Band - HERO (When It's Time to Become a Hero, That Time Is Now)

There are many iconic rock songs that became hits in the 1970s, and among them, “HERO — The Time to Become a Hero Is Now” is surely one of the long-loved classics.

This song is one of Kai Band’s signature works, released in 1978.

While its sound leans strongly toward pop, it carries a distinct rock-like wistfulness and continues to be featured across various media today.

If you’re into catchy rock, this is a must-listen.

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Ephemeral SwingKai Band14rank/position

Ephemeral Swing

In the season when December’s neon colors the city, the single Kai Band released in October 1975 is a winter classic set against a metropolitan Christmas night.

Depicting a fleeting reunion and parting that arrive unexpectedly on a glittering street corner where jingle bells ring out, the song vividly captures, like a scene from a film, the loneliness and poignancy that lurk behind the festive bustle.

From its wistful violin intro, the sound unfolds into a light rhythm reminiscent of gypsy jazz, perfectly expressing the unique atmosphere that envelops the city at year’s end.

Included on the album “Heroes and Villains,” the track has continued to be cherished as a signature piece in the band’s history, even lending its name to a best-of compilation and tour in 2017.

It’s recommended for those who want to look back on the past year and savor a slightly bittersweet, grown-up moment.