Hikaru Utada’s Most Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Beautiful WorldUtada Hikaru8rank/position

Utada Hikaru「Beautiful World」　Directed by Tsurumaki Kazuya

This is the 19th single by Hikaru Utada, who continues to shine as one of Japan’s leading divas.

Released in August 2007 as the theme song for the film Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, the single’s lyrics capture a pure longing for someone while gently accompanying the protagonist’s loneliness and earnest wishes—tightening your chest every time you listen.

Its stylish, airy synth sound and whisper-like vocals blend exquisitely to envelop listeners in a mysterious sense of calm.

Also included on the 2008 album HEART STATION and the 2024 best-of collection SCIENCE FICTION, it continues to be loved across generations.

A classic that colored many people’s youth, it’s a song to enjoy at ease in comfortable settings—like a café or a drive.

travelingUtada Hikaru9rank/position

Hikaru Utada “traveling” Music Video (4K UPGRADE)

One of Hikaru Utada’s signature songs, this single was released in November 2001.

Its upbeat rhythm and distinctive lyrics made a lasting impression, and it was also used in NTT DoCoMo’s FOMA commercials.

The lyrics, which include a quotation from The Tale of the Heike, express a yearning for departure and freedom, resonating deeply with listeners.

It topped the Oricon Singles Chart and stayed on the charts for 21 weeks, enjoying immense popularity.

The dance-inducing rhythm and beat are irresistibly enjoyable.

The music video also drew attention, with the DVD ranking No.

1 on Oricon’s year-end DVD chart.

It’s a perfect song for anyone seeking new encounters and adventures.

I’m crazy about youUtada Hikaru10rank/position

Hikaru Utada “Kimi ni Muchū”

If you want to sink deeply into your emotions through a one-of-a-kind sonic world, Hikaru Utada’s piece is highly recommended.

It’s a song about that helpless, blind pull you can feel toward someone.

The pleasant, club-tinged beat layered with delicate, elegant synths creates a distinctive sense of weightlessness.

Released in November 2021, it was used as the theme song for the drama “Saiai,” perfectly mirroring the story’s heartrending atmosphere and generating a huge response.

Her light yet somehow wistful vocals gently steady the complex tremors of the heart.

It’s perfect for nights when you want to step away from the noise and face your own feelings.

cherry blossoms drifting awayUtada Hikaru11rank/position

Hikaru Utada “Sakura Nagashi” Music Video (4K UPGRADE)

Singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada, who continues to lead the J-pop scene with overwhelming vocal prowess and a unique sensibility.

“Sakura Nagashi,” suddenly released for download in November 2012 during her hiatus, was written as the theme song for the film Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo.

It was later included on her comeback album, Fantôme.

Beginning with tranquil piano and restrained vocals, it swells into a breathtaking finale where electric guitar and strings intertwine.

The lyrics, which overlay the fleeting cherry blossoms with the brilliance of life and eternal love, resonate with the emotions of March, when meetings and partings intersect.

This tender ballad is a perfect choice for a post-farewell-party gathering or as the closing number when you want to sing something heartfelt at karaoke.

A midsummer passing showerUtada Hikaru12rank/position

Hikaru Utada – Midsummer Shower

The piano quietly seeping into the gaps of the heart, like a sudden summer rain, leaves a striking impression.

This heartrending yet beautiful ballad is by singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada, whose singular musicality continues to captivate listeners.

Released in April 2016, it was included on the album “Fantôme,” which drew attention as her first major comeback work in about eight years.

The piece portrays a profound sense of loss at the passing of a loved one, alongside a love that never fades.

It’s as if unending rain can’t quench the heart’s thirst—an aching feeling that the refined sound gently embraces.

If you listen on a night when you want to reset your heart, it might tenderly loosen the tension you’ve been holding.

SAKURA DropsUtada Hikaru13rank/position

Hikaru Utada – SAKURA Drops

A signature song by Hikaru Utada, released in May 2002, that intertwines the season of falling cherry blossoms with the tremors of the heart.

Issued as a double A-side single with “Letters,” it was also used as the theme song for the TBS drama First Love.

The lyrics, which entrust the feelings of a lost love—and the inevitability of falling for someone new—to the coming of spring and the farewells it brings, resonate deeply.

With a delicate mid-tempo beat and Utada’s translucent vocals, the track carries both sadness and hope.

It’s a song you’ll want to hear as graduation and parting season arrives, or on a spring day when you find yourself reminiscing about a past love.

AutomaticUtada Hikaru14rank/position

Hikaru Utada – Automatic

Utada Hikaru’s debut single stylishly expresses the feeling of overflowing love that can’t be contained just by being near someone.

It portrays the pure emotions of waiting for the phone to ring and the sense of relief that comes from hearing the other person’s voice, vividly capturing the complex heart of a girl in love, where joy and anxiety intertwine.

Released in December 1998, the song was used as the ending theme for the variety show “Warau Inu no Seikatsu – YARANEVA!! -” and quickly became a social phenomenon, achieving double-million sales.

The gals of the time surely resonated with its raw, authentic emotions.