Top Japanese Pop Karaoke Rankings for Men [2026]

KusushikiMrs. GREEN APPLE15rank/position

Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Kusushiki” Official Music Video

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s masterpiece “Kusushiki.” This song has been selected as the theme for the popular anime “The Apothecary Diaries,” and, along with the anime’s success, it has been drawing a great deal of public attention.

In terms of melody, it’s in the energetic major key that Mrs.

GREEN APPLE excels at, spanning from the mid-low to high vocal range.

Not only does it feature falsetto and mixed voice, but it also delivers a powerful presence throughout, so using this piece as a practice song will significantly boost your vocal skills.

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Ryo

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Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro16rank/position

Motohiro Hata – “Himawari no Yakusoku” Music Video

This is Hata Motohiro’s smash-hit ballad, written as the theme song for the film “STAND BY ME Doraemon.” With its warm melody and lyrics themed around the importance of the people by your side, it’s a timeless classic loved across generations, staying on the Billboard charts for over 150 weeks.

Many people actually practice it in vocal training, and it’s especially popular among men.

In practice, it’s sung by switching between chest voice and falsetto, but if you’re aiming for a perfect score, you’ll first want to improve your pitch accuracy.

Since the chorus jumps up in range, I think the best approach is to sing carefully in the voice you’re most comfortable with.

Be careful not to strain.

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Kubota Mami

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cherrysupittsu17rank/position

Spitz / Cherry

Despite being released in 1996, Spitz’s classic “Cherry” is still loved by many listeners today.

The song spans mid1E to hiC, which is quite high for a male vocal.

However, the highest note, hiC, only appears at the end of the final chorus as a faux, falsetto-like flourish, so in practice it’s fine to consider the range as mid1E to hiA.

Although it’s a wide-range song, it doesn’t lean heavily on the low register, so there’s plenty of room to lower the key; with key adjustment, most male singers should be able to sing it comfortably.

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Ryo

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Wherever you areONE OK ROCK18rank/position

Wherever you are

This is one of the signature ballads by ONE OK ROCK, a rock band active not only in Japan but around the world.

It conveys deep love for a cherished person and an eternal vow to always stay by their side.

Its direct message and beautiful melody profoundly move listeners.

Released on the 2010 album “Niche Syndrome,” the song is also widely known for being featured in an NTT Docomo commercial.

It remains highly popular, especially in bridal settings.

While the vocalist’s expressive singing is striking, technical skill isn’t necessary if you sing it carefully with feeling.

It’s a masterpiece that anyone wanting to convey their feelings at karaoke—while thinking of a beloved partner or someone special—should definitely try.

balladKetsumeishi19rank/position

Ketsumeishi “Ballad”

While Ketsumeishi is known for many upbeat tracks with lots of hip-hop and rap elements, they actually have ballads too! Gentle melodies over piano and strings in the background… This side of Ketsumeishi is compelling to listen to, and it’s cool to sing as well! The full track runs close to seven minutes, so it’s on the longer side, but it’s highly recommended when you’re in the mood for something mellow.

Of course, there’s rap too, but the tempo is relaxed, making it easy to learn and groove to.

It seems like a song that would feel good to sing while moving your body broadly.

The chorus is a real showcase, so singing each phrase carefully helps you put emotion into it.

When you slip lightly into falsetto, the sense of poignancy really deepens.

The latter half of the chorus is a spot where it feels great to sing, so don’t hesitate—project your voice with confidence!

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Kubota Mami

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single bedSha ran Q20rank/position

Sharam Q “Single Bed” (Music Video)

Sharan Q’s signature ballad “Single Bed.” Among ballads from this generation of Japanese pop, this piece is exceptionally easy to sing.

Its vocal range is mid1 C# to mid2 G#, which sits squarely in the range most comfortable for the average adult male, so you shouldn’t feel any difficulty in terms of range.

Teens may find there’s a lot of low notes, but for those in their late 20s to 30s and up, it actually accentuates a more masculine tone, so it’s recommended to deliberately sing the opening lower.

The mid-to-high notes actually stick around longer than you might expect, so if you avoid raising the key too much at the start, it’s entirely possible to aim for a score of 90 or higher.

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Ryo

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SaudadePorunogurafiti21rank/position

Pornograffitti “Saudade” MUSIC VIDEO

This song, whose title means “nostalgia” in Portuguese, is a heartrending love ballad that deliberately uses feminine speech to depict the protagonist’s complex feelings at the end of a romance.

While accepting the breakup, it poignantly sings of lingering attachment and memories that remain deep in the heart, expressing down-to-earth emotions anyone can relate to.

Released in 2000, it reached a personal best of No.

1 on the weekly Oricon chart and became Porno Graffitti’s first million seller.

It features some slightly rapid-fire sections and a key change in the latter half, but its Latin-flavored sound is easy to groove to and makes it a crowd-pleaser for karaoke.