Ranking of Popular Japanese Music and J-POP Artists Among People in Their 30s [2026]

loveHoshino Gen64rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Koi (Official Video)

Gen Hoshino’s ninth single, released in 2016, became a social phenomenon as the theme song for the drama “We Married as a Job!” (Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu).

Its up-tempo sound fuses soul and funk, highlighted by a colorful array of instruments including the erhu and strings.

The lyrics carefully depict the joy of returning to a loved one in the midst of everyday life and the preciousness of being by their side, giving a warm push to the couple’s new beginning.

Topping the Billboard Japan Hot 100 for 11 weeks, the song—together with choreographer MIKIKO’s “Koi Dance”—has remained a beloved staple for livening up wedding receptions.

It’s a perfect fit for entrance scenes and performances, a bright, uplifting track that sets a positive tone.

Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi65rank/position

Like the Moon Tonight / Elephant Kashimashi

This song, marked by Hiroji Miyamoto’s characteristically passionate vocals, portrays the emotions of a heart wandering in search of lost love.

Released in July 1997, it was also used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Because It’s a Moonlit Night.” It was Elephant Kashimashi’s first drama theme tie-in and became a major hit, breaking into the top 10 on the Oricon charts.

The track depicts someone who, while immersed in past memories, continues to move forward in search of new love, gently encouraging those who want to take on something new or are trying to recover from a broken heart.

Why not listen to it on your commute or on your way home and let Miyamoto’s voice lift your spirits?

dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo66rank/position

Hitoto Yo – Hanamizuki

A beloved masterpiece by Yo Hitoto that gently sings a prayer for loved ones and a wish for peace.

Released in February 2004, it has soothed many hearts with her unique sensibility as a Japanese-Taiwanese artist and her clear, transparent voice.

Using the flower—an emblem of Japan–U.S.

friendship—as its motif, the song expresses bonds with precious people and hopes for a happy future.

It was featured as the theme song for NTV’s Tuesday Suspense Theater and in JRA commercials, and set a record by staying on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart for 125 consecutive weeks.

Whether in moments of aching love or parting, or at life’s milestones such as weddings and graduations, it remains a song that shines without fading.

Things that have formShibasaki Kou67rank/position

Ko Shibasaki “Things That Have Form” (Official Promotion Video)

It became a long-running hit as the theme song for the drama “Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World,” reaching No.

2 on the Oricon charts for three consecutive weeks and No.

6 for the year! It’s a ballad that portrays a heartrending romance, structured so that it starts quietly and the emotions explode in the chorus.

The tempo is slow, so the pitch bar is easy to follow and it’s easier to stay on pitch, making it feel singable even for beginners.

If you take solid breaths for each phrase and project your voice toward the mic, your expressiveness will score extra points too! For the start of the pre-chorus, come in with a firm voice, and in the chorus, don’t hesitate—letting your voice out boldly feels good and hits just the right spot.

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Kubota Mami

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At all times.Makihara Noriyuki68rank/position

[Official] Noriyuki Makihara “No Matter What” (Music Video) [3rd Single] (1991) Noriyuki Makihara/donnatokimo [No. 1]

A signature work by Noriyuki Makihara that delivers a universal message of living true to yourself, carried by a powerful yet gentle melody.

While acknowledging the doubts and anxieties of life, this classic is imbued with a strong resolve to cherish your true self.

Included on the album “Who Do You Share a Happy Yawn With?”, it became a massive hit, surpassing one million copies within six months of its June 1991 release.

It was also selected as the entrance march for the 64th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament in spring 1992.

The melody, featuring a distinctive acoustic guitar and a calm tempo, makes it easy to sing.

For many people, it’s a song that resonates in the heart when standing at a crossroads or when they feel on the verge of losing themselves.

secret base ~What You Gave Me~ZONE69rank/position

secret base ~What You Gave Me~ ZONE (Full)

ZONE is a girls’ band that disbanded in 2005, reunited in 2011, and then ceased activities in 2013.

Their signature song, “secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~,” was their third single, released in 2001, and it’s a track that has been passed down through many cover versions by numerous artists.

It caught fire again in 2011 when it was covered as the ending theme for the anime “Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.”

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utatane

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moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro70rank/position

Chihiro Onitsuka – Gekkou (Moonlight)

It became a hit as the theme song for the hugely popular drama series TRICK.

Chihiro Onitsuka also handled the theme song for TRICK 2.

The banter between Yukie Nakama and Hiroshi Abe made it a truly enjoyable show.

Did you watch it? When it was released, Chihiro Onitsuka drew attention for performing barefoot on stage.

The way she sang with her whole body trembling was truly beautiful—“putting her whole soul into it” fits perfectly.

More recently, Chihiro Onitsuka’s bold image change has been the talk of the town.

The way she steers her own life without worrying about those around her—many women in their 30s probably relate to this song, Gekkou (Moonlight), too.