[30s] Popular Songs Ranking by Generation [2026]

Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi57rank/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?

planetariumOtsuka Ai58rank/position

Ai Otsuka / Planetarium

A signature song by Ai Otsuka that delicately expresses a bittersweet love with a clear, translucent voice.

Comparing the pain of heartbreak to a starry sky, this moving piece overlays memories of a finished romance with the glow of a planetarium.

Included on the album “LOVE COOK” and released in September 2005, it’s also remembered as the theme song for the drama “Koi no Karasawagi.” Beginning with a gentle piano melody, Ai Otsuka’s clear vocals resonate as if soaking into the listener’s heart.

While cherishing memories, it’s a song that inspires you to look ahead and keep moving forward.

Why not sing this memory-filled song for someone special, with all your heart?

FriendKetsumeishi59rank/position

Ketsumeishi “Tomodachi”

Released by Ketsumeishi in February 2002, this song is a masterpiece that extols the value of friendship.

It powerfully conveys the importance of bonds that remain unchanged even as times change.

Its lyrics, which depict days spent together, the process of growing up, and the enduring worth of friendship even when people drift apart, are sure to resonate with many.

Chosen as the ending theme for TV Tokyo’s “JAPAN COUNTDOWN,” it also had a significant social impact.

It’s a perfect song for graduation season and for those facing life’s turning points.

Sing it at karaoke, and you’ll surely reaffirm the bonds you share with your friends.

SakurazakaFukuyama Masaharu60rank/position

Masaharu Fukuyama – Sakurazaka (Full ver.)

Masaharu Fukuyama is undoubtedly one of Japan’s most iconic figures, both as a singer-songwriter and as an actor.

It’s truly remarkable that he has continued to release hit songs from the 1990s through the Reiwa era.

While each generation likely has its own “Fukuyama songs,” Sakura-zaka, released in 2000, is a quintessential Heisei-era classic that achieved a record-breaking double million in sales.

Some may find ballads challenging, but the simply crafted melody line makes it easy to sing, and the relatively low key makes it approachable for those with lower voices.

If you carefully follow the scale, you can definitely aim for a high karaoke score; at the same time, the song’s charm lies in its lower register, so if you’re not confident with low melodies, this is a great piece to practice with.

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KOH-1

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I should be able to fly (in the sky).supittsu61rank/position

Spitz / I Should Be Able to Fly in the Sky

Spitz’s classic song “Sora mo Toberu Hazu” (“We Should Be Able to Fly”).

When it comes to Spitz, you might think their songs are hard to sing because of the very high vocals.

It’s true that at first listen this track also seems high, but in fact its vocal range isn’t particularly wide.

As a result, most men in their 30s should be able to sing it smoothly without straining.

In addition, there aren’t any sections that rely heavily on vibrato, so you can deliver it nicely even without fancy techniques.

Definitely consider adding it to your repertoire.

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Ryo

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dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo62rank/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.

come againm-flo63rank/position

m-flo / come again

m-flo, with a solid grounding in authentic club music and a talent for seamlessly translating genre-defying sounds into J-POP.

Known as one of their signature tracks, this song portrays the bittersweet emotions of a female protagonist who dances the night away on the floor, trying to cut off her feelings for someone who’s indifferent to her.

Released in January 2001 as their ninth major-label single, it became widely recognized after being featured in a Kanebo Cosmetics commercial.

It’s also included on the classic album EXPO EXPO.

The rhythm at the core of this piece was remarkably innovative in Japan’s music scene at the time, and its refined sensibility is still striking today.

It’s a cool dance tune, perfect for nights when you want to feel a bit more grown-up or when you need a change of mood.