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

silhouetteKANA-BOON15rank/position

KANA-BOON “Silhouette” Music Video

Among the theme songs of the popular anime Naruto Shippuden, Silhouette is one of the most well-known.

While its melody leaves an impression of cheerful, gentle brightness, the song actually has a relatively narrow vocal range.

Its range spans from mid2 A to hi B.

Although the highest note is on the higher side, the lowest note being mid2 A makes it easy to lower the key as needed.

The vocal line also has gentle rises and falls, making it a song where tracking pitch is relatively easy.

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Ryo

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Romantic Flightkome kome CLUB16rank/position

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

Romantic Flight is a piece with an exceptionally smooth and pleasant melody.

It’s renowned as a classic by Kome Kome Club, but many younger people may know it from Kukki of the comedy duo Wild Bomb.

The song’s vocal range spans from low G# to mid2 G, which is somewhat narrow compared to modern songs.

However, as the lowest note indicates, the lower register is fairly important here.

If you have a high voice and don’t raise the key across the board, you might go off pitch in the low range and lose points.

Make sure to assess your own vocal range carefully before singing.

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Ryo

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Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro17rank/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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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.

cherrysupittsu19rank/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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SoranjiMrs. GREEN APPLE20rank/position

Mrs. GREEN APPLE「Soranji」Official Music Video

Is there any other song that sings of the preciousness of life with such tenderness and strength? Released in November 2022 as Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s first single in about three and a half years, this piece was written as the theme song for the film “From Siberia With Love,” starring Kazunari Ninomiya and Keiko Kitagawa.

In step with a story that upholds love for family against the harsh backdrop of a Siberian labor camp, the lyrics—like reciting by heart one’s feelings for a beloved—etch themselves into the soul.

Its grand arrangement featuring strings wraps unspoken everyday emotions and hope for tomorrow into a sweeping ballad.

It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone choosing to believe in the future, no matter how difficult the days may be.

cloudy skyDOES21rank/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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Kubota Mami

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