Nogizaka46 Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Beyond nostalgiaNogizaka 468rank/position

Nogizaka46 “Beyond Nostalgia”

Memories of youth and the ache of unrequited love tighten the heart.

Created in February 2025 to mark Nogizaka46 member Yūki Yoda’s graduation, this piece is an emotional work built on a beautiful soundscape of piano and strings.

It’s filled with the regret of not confessing your feelings to the one you love, and simply reading the lyrics makes you empathize with that emotion.

It’s a song I recommend to anyone who has experienced parting with someone precious, or to everyone standing at a crossroads in life.

I feel like taking the long way home.Nogizaka 469rank/position

Nogizaka46 'I Want to Take a Detour on the Way Home'

I want to take the long way on purpose and savor this moment.

This piece, which portrays a bittersweet yet forward-looking state of mind, carries the message that taking the shortest route isn’t the only right answer.

It’s a song released by Nogizaka46 in November 2018 as their 22nd single, and it was the last track with Nanase Nishino at center before her graduation, a member who led the group.

Chosen as the commercial song for Haruyama Trading, it was beloved by many, with first-week sales of about 1.063 million copies.

Its charm, after all, lies in the lyrics that give you the courage to step into the future while affirming your past.

Leaving a familiar place is lonely, but this song makes you realize that one step can be the chance to meet a new you.

It’s a track I want women standing at a crossroads in life to hear.

You don’t have to put on a brave face until dawn.Nogizaka 4610rank/position

Nogizaka46 “You Don’t Have to Pretend to Be Strong Until Dawn”

It’s a warm song that embraces your fragility, telling you there’s no need to put on a brave face.

Released in September 2019 as Nogizaka46’s 24th single, it sold over one million copies in its first week on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.

You may find yourself acting tough, but inside you’re overwhelmed with anxiety.

This work gently stays by the side of those spending such lonely nights, kindly telling them it’s okay to be honest with themselves until dawn breaks.

When you’re worn out from trying too hard, listening to it might give you a small dose of courage to accept yourself as you are and take another step forward.

splash splashNogizaka 4611rank/position

Nogizaka46 “Zabun Za Zabun”

Zabunzazabun by Nogizaka46 is a song about the moment you realize you’re in love with someone.

It’s a coupling track from the 2021 single Gomen ne Fingers crossed, performed by Yuki Yoda and Ayame Tsutsui.

The lyrics capture the pain of recognizing your feelings yet being unable to confess them, which feels so heartrending when you listen.

Whether or not you choose to express your feelings, how about starting by first acknowledging them?

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pedestrian overpassNogizaka 4612rank/position

Nogizaka46 “Footbridge”

Haven’t we all experienced those moments when we find ourselves stopping at a crossroads in life? This song, released by Nogizaka46 in December 2024 as their 37th single, delicately portrays that very hesitation of the heart.

Should we take a step toward our dreams, or stay where we are? The protagonist’s inner conflict is expressed through gentle piano and dramatic strings.

The lyrics are by Yasushi Akimoto, and the music is composed by Katsuhiko Sugiyama, known for Kimi no Na wa Kibou and Kikkake.

In its first week, it sold 484,000 copies on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, achieving the group’s 36th consecutive No.

1.

It’s a track we especially recommend to those who are about to graduate and can’t find the courage to leap into a new world, or to anyone standing at a turning point in life.

SynchronicityNogizaka 4613rank/position

Nogizaka46 'Synchronicity'

The title track of their 20th single, released in April 2018.

With Mai Shiraishi serving as the sole center for the first time in about four years and nine months, this song is a medium-tempo number built around gentle strings and piano.

The theme is the moments when people resonate with one another, depicting the kindness found when casual gestures and glances align.

It was also used as the CM song for Haruyama’s Freshers’ Campaign, making it perfect for the start of a new season.

The melody flows smoothly and the vocal range isn’t wide, so it’s easy to sing together at karaoke.

Its supple, warm atmosphere helps set a relaxed mood.

Mannequin in a uniformNogizaka 4614rank/position

Mannequin in Uniform / Nogizaka46 Piano Solo Presso

Nogizaka46’s fourth single is a distinctive track that leans heavily on 1990s Eurobeat-style four-on-the-floor rhythms and a minor key.

Composed by Katsuhiko Sugiyama and brought to life through Yasushi Akimoto’s selection, this number features lyrics marked by self-denying themes such as the freedom of love and the suppression of emotion.

Released in December 2012, it became a hit, selling approximately 230,000 copies in its first week.

When playing it on piano, focus on the melancholic melodic line.

The melody, which balances softness and strength, can change its atmosphere dramatically depending on how you infuse emotion, offering new discoveries each time you perform it.

It’s recommended for those who can express a pure elegance while conveying an inner strength.