Ranking of Popular Japanese Songs and J-Pop Among Men [2026]

silhouetteKANA-BOON15rank/position

KANA-BOON “Silhouette” Music Video

It’s the opening theme from the anime “Naruto Shippuden,” hugely popular among teenage boys! It’s sure to get the crowd going at karaoke! When you sing it, focus on the key points: keep a solid sense of tempo, feel the occasional bouncy rhythms, and pay attention to the falsetto in the chorus.

With fast-tempo band songs, it’s easy to get excited and speed up as you sing.

Try not to sway your body too much—stay centered so you can maintain a steady rhythm.

For the bouncy rhythm, lightly use your knees to move up and down and you’ll nail the timing.

Make sure your falsetto resonates in your head voice! Overall, I recommend singing lightly with a bright, heady resonance.

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Kubota Mami

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Romantic Flightkome kome CLUB16rank/position

JAL Okinawa Campaign Summer Rikyu 1990 Theme Song: "Kome Kome Club - Roman Hikou"

As the title suggests, it became a big hit as the CM song for JAL’s “Summer Palace Campaign,” and its bright, forward-looking lyrics and the thrill of setting off on a journey are emblematic.

The overall vocal range is B2 to G4, with the A melody sitting quite low.

The key modulates for the final chorus and the pitch rises, but it doesn’t go too high, so if you time your breath and placement well, those notes should come out smoothly.

Overall, avoid pushing your voice; aim for light singing with head resonance for a pleasant feel.

Also, for the syllables where the vowel is “i,” be careful not to spread the sound too horizontally.

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Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro17rank/position

Motohiro Hata – “Himawari no Yakusoku” Music Video

Himawari no Yakusoku, popular as a Doraemon movie theme song, gives the impression that a wide range of people sing it.

The overall vocal range is D#3 to A#4, so men should be able to handle it without strain if they sing calmly.

Since it’s a ballad, the melody line is simple and easy to remember, and the more carefully you sing, the more accurately you can hit the notes—making it a good choice for scoring systems.

There are many long tones, so if you focus on the pitch bar and sustain to the end, your score will go up.

For the chorus’s highest note, A#4, lift your facial muscles and aim to produce it easily without forcing or belting—think of delivering it lightly and gently.

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Kubota Mami

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Wherever you areONE OK ROCK18rank/position

Full ver. One Ok Rock Wherever You Are #oneokrock #ワンオク #whereveryouare

ONE OK ROCK’s signature song “Wherever you are.” Since it’s sung as a love song that vows eternity, you’ll want to use falsetto to really bring out the song’s appeal.

That said, the falsetto in “Wherever you are” appears mainly at the beginning.

The song builds toward the latter half, so about two-thirds is sung in chest voice.

If you sing the initial guitar-backed section firmly in falsetto to create contrast, it lands stylishly.

Many people who like rock and band music seem to want to sing ONE OK ROCK.

The high range can be a hurdle, but ballads let you cover the high notes with falsetto, so they’re recommended.

Open your throat and keep the breath flowing steadily!

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cherrysupittsu19rank/position

Spitz / Cherry

When it comes to Spitz, many people probably think of “Cherry.” In fact, it’s a classic that became a million-selling hit despite having no tie-in.

In karaoke, it’s a popular choice for both men and women because it’s relatively easy to score high.

The key is to sing through to the end without straining.

There are many sustained notes, but try not to use much vibrato—focus on matching the pitch bar.

The chorus suddenly jumps to higher notes, so take solid breaths and aim to resonate in your head voice to sing more easily.

The most important moments are the melody transitions; keep your facial muscles and eyebrows lifted and sing to switch smoothly.

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cloudy skyDOES20rank/position

DOES 'Donten' (TV Tokyo anime 'Gintama' opening theme)

As the opening theme for the fifth season of the TV Tokyo anime Gintama, a lot of people probably think of Don’ten when they hear Gintama! DOES is a band whose lower registers resonate more than the high ones.

It’s a rock track popular with men for karaoke, where stable low notes and a raw expressive style are key to high scores! The song itself is short at about three minutes.

Even first-time listeners can pick up Don’ten easily, and it’s highly recommended for rock fans! The trick to low notes is to use your breath well and release your voice slowly straight ahead.

If you push your voice out, the low notes resonate more and you can hear your own singing better.

That, of course, makes it easier to stay on pitch.

It’s important to get your voice solidly into the mic when you sing.

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balladKetsumeishi21rank/position

Ketsumeishi “Ballad”

This work by Ketsumeishi gently embraces listeners with a melody overflowing with songcraft, keeping the rapping to a minimum.

It’s their 24th single, released in January 2011, and it became widely familiar as the theme song for Nippon TV’s information program “Sukkiri!!”.

Sung over a quiet arrangement woven from piano and strings, the lyrics convey the pain of unrequited love and a yearning for a beloved that refuses to fade.

Even an adult man who usually keeps his emotions under wraps may find the long-suppressed ache welling up when he hears this song, perhaps even moved to tears.

It’s a touching adult love ballad that makes you want to listen alone, quietly, on a sleepless night.