Japanese Rock Music Popularity Rankings [2026]

fragrant oliveorenji supainikurabu85rank/position

ORANGE SPiCE CLUB 'Kinmokusei' Music Video

This is a perfect song for the season when the scent of fragrant olive drifts through the air.

It’s a work by Orange Spiny Club, a four-piece rock band from Ibaraki Prefecture, included on their first mini album “When I’m Irritated, It’s Always” released in January 2020.

It gained popularity mainly through streaming and TikTok, topping Billboard JAPAN’s Heatseekers Songs for three consecutive weeks.

Total streams have surpassed 100 million.

The lyrics delicately capture fleeting moments in everyday life and the sweet-and-sour feeling of romance, leaving a strong impression.

How about listening to it leisurely on a long autumn night?

to youMONGOL80086rank/position

To You by MONGOL800

When it comes to cover bands, you just can’t resist playing their songs! It’s a classic that everyone knows, can sing along to, and it overflows with that driving rock band energy.

The fast-paced song structure and punky phrases sound cool to anyone, and there’s no doubt that watching it performed will look great to any audience! Aside from the quick tempo, it’s a perfect pick for beginner bands playing their first live show.

Start practicing at a slow tempo and gradually get used to faster speeds.

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Hane Keisuke

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Rose of PassionTHE BLUE HEARTS87rank/position

[Official] THE BLUE HEARTS 'Rose of Passion' [6th Single (1990/7/25)] THE BLUE HEARTS / Jyounetsu no Bara

A four-piece rock band that ignited middle and high school students nationwide from the 1980s through the 1990s, THE BLUE HEARTS helped elevate punk rock into a mainstream genre in the J-POP scene.

This is their ninth single overall.

Chosen as the theme song for the TV drama “High School Graffiti 2,” it’s also known as the band’s signature track for being their only single to reach No.

1 on the Oricon charts.

Its exhilarating, fast-paced sound contrasts with its poetic message—sure to stir the hearts of anyone who spent their youth in the 1990s.

With powerful choruses and ensemble work that will lift your spirits, it’s a number that likely influenced many artists.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Surfing JohnnyKuwata Keisuke88rank/position

Keisuke Kuwata – Surfing Johnny (Full ver.)

A masterpiece has been born—a love story set on a summer seashore, tracing encounters, partings, and the path to renewal.

Riding on a lively rock sound, Keisuke Kuwata’s lyrical vocals resonate deeply.

Overflowing passion, heartrending farewells, and the courage to find love again after loneliness are all woven together with a refreshing melody.

Released in July 2001, the song was also featured in a Japan Coca-Cola campaign and became a million seller.

It was included on the album “TOP OF THE POPS,” drawing a major response.

It’s a perfect track for those yearning for the arrival of the season of love, as they feel the fresh ocean breeze.

Hey,SHISHAMO89rank/position

SHISHAMO “Hey,”

SHISHAMO is a three-piece band leading the girls’ rock scene with a solid, hard-hitting sound layered with relatable, true-to-life lyrics.

“Nee,” the opening track of their fifth album, SHISHAMO 5, was featured in a commercial for Calpis “Calpis Water,” and later served as the theme song for ABEMA’s “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita” in 2021.

The lyrics tell a story of bittersweet love and the resolve to take a step forward—perfect for spring, the season of new beginnings.

With a tight, guitar-driven pop ensemble that lingers in your ears, it’s a refreshing pop tune.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Before the cherry blossoms bloomkinoko teikoku90rank/position

Kinoko Teikoku – Before the Cherry Blossoms Bloom

In 2017, Kinoko Teikoku released “Before the Cherry Blossoms Bloom” as their debut single.

It’s a poignant song about parting ways—leaving a familiar place before spring arrives.

If you listen while thinking of a close friend or a lover, countless shared memories will resurface, and your heart will ache.

The cut-out ending of the track also seems to express the feeling of severing emotions, which is quite heartrending.

Overall, the sound is calm and subdued, so I recommend listening alone at night.

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sasashina

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Thread & NeedleThe BONEZ91rank/position

Thread & Needle / The BONEZ – Music Video-

A song by The BONEZ, a band that began as a solo project by JESSE, the guitarist/vocalist of RIZE.

In sharp contrast to RIZE’s tracks, I was instantly drawn in by the beautiful melodies and vocals layered over a heavy, hard-hitting sound.

The breadth of JESSE’s sensibility is truly moving.