Takahashi Yu’s Popular Song Rankings [2026]

jealousyTakahashi Yuu50rank/position

Yu Takahashi - Jealousy (Theme song for the TBS drama “Midnight Diner: Season 3”)

As the title suggests, “Yakimochi” by Yu Takahashi captures the feeling of jealousy.

The song was the theme for the drama Midnight Diner 3, which is based on a manga and portrays the lives of people who gather at a late-night diner.

While Takahashi is known for powerful, heart-stirring message songs, the jealousy in this track also comes through painfully clearly.

Sung from a male perspective about feeling jealous of his girlfriend, it’s a love song in which, through jealousy, he seems to reaffirm his feelings for someone important to him.

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utatane

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Tomorrow will surely be a good dayTakahashi Yuu51rank/position

Akita Station departure melody: “Tomorrow Will Surely Be a Good Day.”

This is the 12th major-label single by singer-songwriter Yu Takahashi, who was appointed Akita Music Ambassador for his efforts to energize Akita through music, including organizing the Akita CARAVAN MUSIC FES.

With its brisk, fast-paced melody and arrangement, and lyrics that say good things follow even after unpleasant ones, it’s a refreshing number.

The fact that it has been used since 2017 as the departure melody for both conventional lines and the Shinkansen at JR Akita Station also speaks to the strong bond between Yu Takahashi and Akita Prefecture.

It’s a station jingle that radiates hometown pride—one you’ll want to hear when you visit Akita.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Are there any crying children?Takahashi Yuu52rank/position

Yu Takahashi “Nagu Ko wa Ine ga” — Filmed by Sion Sono (Street Free Live @ Tokyo, Otemachi Sankei Building Metro Square Plaza, 2013.7.9)

Yu Takahashi, who calls himself a native speaker of the Akita dialect.

This song is packed with love for his home prefecture, Akita.

The music video, which captures him performing on the street, was apparently filmed by Sion Sono! (Perhaps a connection through the theme song for “Everyone! Esper Dayo!”) While expressing hometown pride, it also serves as an uplifting anthem that encourages everyone with the message “Tomorrow is a new day,” which is so characteristic of Takahashi.

Current applauseTakahashi Yuu53rank/position

Yu Takahashi “Current Acclaim” MV

Featured as the theme for a morning news program, this song showcases Yu Takahashi’s powerful vocals that truly resonate.

It’s an uplifting anthem that describes the small efforts and victories of everyday life as “little clutch plays,” celebrating them with heartfelt praise.

Even amid a busy routine, you can feel the cheer for yourself and those around you who are doing their best.

Released in September 2024, it’s been used on the program since April.

It’s perfect for tough mornings or challenging days at work.

It’s a song that gives you energy, so be sure to give it a listen! You can also catch glimpses of Takahashi’s warm feelings toward his hometown of Akita in this heartfelt track.

lidTakahashi Yuu54rank/position

Yu Takahashi – “Futa” MV

A full-on bright tune that sings about a boy imagining how he’d spend his day off.

It starts with carefree ways to enjoy a break and ultimately leads to a positive message: live your life freely.

The song was used as the theme for the sneaker brand campaign “PF FLYERS 2012,” and Gota Watabe also appears in the music video.

The duo’s back-and-forth in the footage is comedic, with plenty of moments that’ll make you chuckle.

Real-time singer-songwriterTakahashi Yuu55rank/position

Yu Takahashi “Real-Time Singer-Songwriter” MV

Singer-songwriter Yu Takahashi, known for his catchy, emotionally impactful lyrics, has earned widespread popularity.

While his early work leaned toward orthodox rock, he’s recently been releasing many highly original tracks.

Among his catalog, Real-Time Singer-Songwriter is a standout recommendation.

Its vocal line is extremely catchy, and with a fair number of sustained notes, you can aim to rack up points with vibrato.

There’s a key change, so it has a bit of a quirk, but the vocal line itself is simple—definitely consider adding it to your repertoire.

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Ryo

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travelerTakahashi Yuu56rank/position

Yu Takahashi “Tabibito”

The theme song for the 2014 film Tokyo Refugees.

The music video also features the film’s star, Aoi Nakamura.

The story follows an ordinary college student who, due to a sudden turn of events, loses his home and falls into homelessness—a scenario that feels unreal yet hardly irrelevant in today’s Japan.

The song itself is a gritty, hard-hitting rock number that evokes that harsh reality.

It’s the kind of track that makes you appreciate the simple happiness of having a place to return to.