Popular Band Rankings [2026]

Maplesupittsu8rank/position

Spitz / Kaede

As a ballad portraying a farewell with a loved one, this masterpiece has continued to resonate closely with many hearts.

It is the 19th single by the Japanese rock band Spitz, and when it was released in July 1998, it was a double A-side with its coupling track.

The song has also been used as an insert track in Fuji TV dramas Over Time and, in 2022, Silent.

Released as a single cut from the album Fake Fur, the piece features lyrics where a sense of loss intertwines with the will to move forward, carried by an ensemble of piano and acoustic guitar.

Masamune Kusano’s clear, translucent vocals further enhance the poignant melody.

When covering it in a solo voice-and-guitar arrangement, focusing on a progression from quiet arpeggios in the first verse to strong strumming in the chorus will help convey the song’s dramatic worldview.

sasanqua (Camellia sasanqua)SEKAI NO OWARI9rank/position

Sakanaction “Sazanka”

A ballad that portrays the loneliness and anxiety felt in the pursuit of a dream, as well as the warmth of someone watching over you.

SEKAI NO OWARI’s “Sazanka” is a single released in February 2018 and became widely known as the NHK theme song for coverage of the PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympics.

Rather than simply urging listeners to “do your best,” the song is filled with a gentle kindness that seems to affirm every attempt to overcome setbacks and pain.

Anyone chasing a dream may wonder, “Is this really the right path for me?” In those moments, this song will quietly stand by you, saying, “I know how hard you’ve been trying.”

balladKetsumeishi10rank/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.

somedaySaucy Dog11rank/position

Saucy Dog "Someday" MUSIC VIDEO

It’s a signature, bittersweet love ballad by Saucy Dog that makes you want to listen while gazing up at the winter night sky.

It vividly portrays lingering feelings for an ex and memories of happy days that will never return, tightening your chest a little more each time you hear it.

The track is included on their May 2017 mini-album “Country Road,” which became a springboard for their rise.

Based on vocalist Shinya Ishihara’s real experiences, its depictions bring the park setting to life and have resonated with many listeners.

It’s a cherished number for the band, also performed when they won the Grand Prix at an audition in December 2016.

In the season when you miss the warmth of another, it’s a song that will gently stay by your side on nights when you want to recall a past love and shed a few tears.

Only for you, clear skiesYorushika12rank/position

Yorushika – Just Clear Skies for You (MUSIC VIDEO)

It’s a track marked by a nostalgic melody that evokes the scent of summer and parched clouds.

n-buna’s lyrics weave in the essence of Masaoka Shiki’s haiku, blending literary depth with an easy, pleasant rhythm.

suis’s clear, translucent vocals highlight the bittersweetness of youth gone by.

The music video, released in May 2018, drew a major response, and streaming plays have surpassed hundreds of millions, making it one of their signature hits.

The song is included on the mini-album “Makeinu ni Encore wa Iranai,” and in December 2019 it was also used as the opening video for the live show “Sayonara Tarinai Futari.” It’s a masterpiece that gently stays with you in those moments when a sudden memory of the past brings a pang of sadness.

broad daylightKing Gnu13rank/position

King Gnu – Hakujitsu

When we watch the snow falling hard, a bittersweet yet beautiful melody comes to mind.

It’s a signature song by King Gnu, released digitally in 2019 and written as the theme for the drama “Innocence: False Accusation Lawyer.” The lyrics depict a heartfelt wish to have an irreparable past and one’s mistakes concealed beneath pure white snow.

No matter how much we regret, time won’t turn back; all we can do is keep walking through the continuous present—a painful truth most of us have felt at least once.

Begun by Daiki Tsuneta at the end of 2018, the track went on to set astonishing streaming records.

It’s also an indispensable winter soundtrack on TikTok.

Listening to it in the cold air might be a good chance to face your own heart.

366 daysHY14rank/position

HY – 366 Days (Official Music Video)

A signature ballad by HY, released in 2008 and widely known as the theme song for the film “Red Thread.” “366 Days” has been covered by many artists and is especially popular.

It’s basically composed in a lower range; if you resonate in your mouth and sing with a deep tone, you can achieve a powerful voice like Izumi Nakasone’s.

The key is switching to falsetto in the pre-chorus—if you don’t nail that, it feels hard to flow smoothly into the chorus.

Aim gently and accurately for the pitch bar there.

The chorus builds up a lot, so singing with an explosive burst of emotion should also help enhance your expressiveness!

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