Popular Band Rankings [2026]

Ultramarine DaysToukyou Jihen50rank/position

Tokyo Incidents – Ultramarine Weather

A landmark debut single that marked a striking entrance as a band—the very origin of Tokyo Jihen.

Released in September 2004, it was featured in a KDDI mobile phone commercial, reaching a wide audience.

Ringo Sheena’s choice of words and then-keyboardist H ZETT M’s compositional flair fuse brilliantly, unfolding into an intense yet intricately crafted band ensemble.

The lyrics, depicting a torrential downpour in Shinjuku and a sense of impatience, race forward over an urgent beat, instantly raising the listener’s adrenaline.

When you want to blow away a gloomy mood, try blasting it at full volume.

Not reflected in the eyesindigo la End51rank/position

indigo la End – Not Reflected in Your Eyes

Even just the title stirs up a pang of sadness—indigo la End’s “Hitomi ni Utsuranai” (“Not Reflected in Your Eyes”).

The song gives the impression of a woman who thinks only of him with single-minded devotion, while he wavers, unable to commit, drifting.

Even if she sees herself as the so-called “convenient woman,” she still loves him so much and can’t let go of the hope that one day he might be hers alone.

There’s the frustration of wanting to convey those feelings but failing to get them across.

The music video features Haru, and it became a talked-about track for its poignancy.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

cloudy skyDOES52rank/position

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

The moment that sharp guitar riff rang out, many of you were probably glued to your TVs.

This is the single released in June 2008 as the opening theme for the popular anime Gintama.

Its lyrics, which convey the will to cut through doubt and push forward even under gloomy skies, fuse with a finely honed sound to set listeners’ souls ablaze.

Put it on when you need to fire yourself up, and it’s sure to give you a powerful push from behind!

SupernovaELLEGARDEN53rank/position

ELLEGARDEN「Supernova」

ELLEGARDEN, the four-piece rock band that resumed activities in 2018 after a ten-year hiatus and proved their enduring popularity, has a track called “Supernova,” which opens their third album Pepperoni Quattro.

When they returned, they played it as the first song at their live shows, sending fans into a frenzy.

The bass line isn’t particularly fast relative to the song’s tempo and mainly sticks to root notes, making it a great pick for beginner bassists.

It’s a poppy, upbeat tune that will get the audience fired up and united when performed live.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

Motherkariyushi 5854rank/position

Kariyushi58 “Anma”

As the title suggests—“Anma,” meaning “mother” in the Okinawan language—the single released by Kariyushi58 in July 2006 is a warm masterpiece that sings of regret and deep gratitude toward one’s mother.

With lyrics carefully woven by Shingo Maekawa expressing his feelings for his mother, harmonized with a medium-tempo sound incorporating Okinawan scales and reggae elements, the song resonates deeply with many listeners.

It was chosen as the ending theme for the music program MUSIC B.B.

and is also known for winning the New Artist Award at the Japan Cable Awards.

Its friendly rhythm makes it easy to incorporate into Eisa performances at school sports festivals, and it’s recommended as a piece that highlights children’s powerful performances.

The Zero Sense10-FEET55rank/position

10-FEET – The Zero Sense (Ending Theme Song of the Film 'THE FIRST SLAM DUNK')

This is a digital single released in November 2022, written as the ending theme song for the film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK.

It’s a rock number that embodies the film’s sense of speed and emotion, expressing the feelings of SLAM DUNK character Ryota Miyagi and the intensity of the game.

For its length, it features surprisingly little sung content and a lot of melodic repetition.

There are also quite a few chorus parts, so be careful not to get pulled off by them.

I think if you sing the chorus boldly, your voice will project better and it will be easier to stay on pitch.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Kubota Mami

Report a problem

Resident of the EyeL’Arc〜en〜Ciel56rank/position

L’Arc~en~Ciel “Resident of the Eyes” -Music Clip-

When it comes to L’Arc~en~Ciel’s signature songs, many people probably think of ‘Hitomi no Juunin’ first.

It features the band’s characteristic vocals—lustrous and at times intense.

The song’s vocal range is exceptionally wide, spanning from mid1E to hihiA.

This alone limits who can sing it, but since the tempo is relaxed, it can be considered an easy song to sing for those who can handle falsetto and sudden pitch changes without issue.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem