Chihiro Onitsuka’s Most Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Castle・imitationOnitsuka Chihiro8rank/position

Castle Imitation (Original Version)

It’s a pretty cool track.

It was used as a game’s theme song, and with its seemingly meaningful yet hard-to-grasp lyrics, its cool vibe, and the vocals, it’s become very popular among game fans.

It’s even said to have brought in more fans for Chihiro Onitsuka.

signOnitsuka Chihiro9rank/position

Chihiro Onitsuka – Sign

Among Onitsuka’s early singles, this one stands out for its especially pop, relatively bright melody and its light, breezy band ensemble that lingers in the ear.

It was also used in commercials for the J-T08 and J-T09 phones—models sold by the mobile carrier then known as J-PHONE (now SoftBank) and developed by Toshiba.

Take note as well of Onitsuka’s distinctive rhetoric in describing a mobile phone with the word “blink.” If you try to grasp Onitsuka only through the image commonly circulated in the public eye, many may carry the preconception that she’s a straightforward, impassioned type who sings of raw emotion.

I’d like people to recognize anew that, as demonstrated by “Sign,” she is a singer-songwriter with the talent to distill a small love story—depicting a boy’s pure feelings—into lyrics and express it as a highly popular pop song.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

ShineOnitsuka Chihiro10rank/position

Chihiro Onitsuka – Shine (unplugged)

A debut single announced with the striking tagline, “Don’t worry, I’ll shoot them all dead.” The lyrics, which sing of the stifling atmosphere of school, and the string-featured arrangement create an image steeped in danger and pathos.

On the first album Insomnia, there’s also an album version performed with only piano and vocals, which many listeners may be more familiar with.

This dark number conveys Chihiro Onitsuka’s world through a heavy, prison-like air, showcasing her high expressive power and musical sensibility.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

CageOnitsuka Chihiro11rank/position

Chihiro Onitsuka – Cage

This is their third single, released in 2000.

The lyrics are striking for their portrayal of unstable emotions: the intense anxiety that strikes when you’re alone, and the way you cling to good memories from the past as if to fill a missing piece in your heart.

The up-tempo sound, featuring a light, airy piano tone, is also memorable.

In contrast to the dark mood of the lyrics, it seems to express a restless urge to escape from the present place and emotions that waver without settling.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

LITTLE BEAT RIFLEOnitsuka Chihiro12rank/position

Chihiro Onitsuka – LITTLE BEAT RIFLE

It’s a rather beautiful piece.

The vocals are wonderful, of course, but the lyrics have a mysterious, somewhat solemn atmosphere—like a hymn—that makes you want to sit up straight as you listen.

This is another truly excellent song, and one I hope many people will hear.

Lingering SnowOnitsuka Chihiro13rank/position

Chihiro Onitsuka - Nagori Yuki (Remnant Snow/Lasting Snow)

Chihiro Onitsuka is an artist I personally like, and this is her cover of my beloved “Nagori Yuki.” It’s just the best.

Her bittersweet yet powerful voice makes the world of the song’s lyrics feel even more alive.

It’s as if you can see snow falling straight ahead where her gaze is fixed.

I truly recommend this performance.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ozaki Shunji

Report a problem

Amber SnowOnitsuka Chihiro14rank/position

Chihiro Onitsuka – Kohaku no yuki ~ Ken to kaede

Included on the 2011 album “Ken to Kaede” (Sword and Maple).

A singer-songwriter born in 1980 from Miyazaki Prefecture.

With a slow tempo and gently flowing rhythm, the piano tones in the background are easy on the ears.

Carried by a moody, slightly melancholic melody, her truly soulful voice seeps into the heart.