Hikaru Utada’s Most Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

cherry blossoms drifting awayUtada Hikaru11rank/position

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

The layered structure that begins with quiet piano and strings and gradually unfolds into a solid, surging band sound is truly moving.

The lyrics, themed around parting, loss, and prayer, are exquisitely crafted, resonating deeply with a sense of poignancy and fragility.

It was newly written as the theme song for the film Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, released in November 2012 while Hikaru Utada was on hiatus.

It also carries thoughts about the earthquake disaster, and later appeared on the album Fantôme, making it significant in her career.

Please give this song a listen when you want to keep moving forward despite a sense of loss, or on a quiet night when you want to reflect alone.

SAKURA DropsUtada Hikaru12rank/position

Hikaru Utada – SAKURA Drops

A classic by Hikaru Utada that layers the image of cherry blossoms scattering with the ache of love.

Released in May 2002 as a double A-side single with “Letters,” the song was used as the theme for the TBS drama First Love.

Over a supple beat rooted in R&B flows a melodious beauty reminiscent of traditional Japanese music, tightening the chest a little more with every listen.

While reflecting the sorrow of parting in the falling petals, the lyrics also exude a quiet inner strength that looks ahead, gently scooping up the raw emotions of love.

It reached No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly chart and also served as a centerpiece of the album DEEP RIVER.

When the spring breeze brushes your cheek and you find yourself wanting to revisit past loves and farewells, press play.

Hikaru Utada’s soaring voice will gently awaken feelings you almost forgot.

A midsummer passing showerUtada Hikaru13rank/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.

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.

Prisoner Of LoveUtada Hikaru15rank/position

Utada Hikaru – Prisoner of Love

A song by Hikaru Utada that delicately portrays the complex emotions of people captivated by love.

Released in May 2008 as the theme for the drama “Last Friends,” it moved many listeners.

It expresses the lament of those who live while hiding their true selves, as well as the human nature that keeps seeking more even when one is already fulfilled.

The lyrics seem to speak for the characters in the drama—which deals with domestic violence, stalking, and gender identity disorder—symbolizing loneliness, dependency, and mutually supportive relationships.

It is a track that resonates with those troubled by love and struggling with human relationships.

JANE DOEYonezu Kenshi, Utada Hikaru16rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu, Hikaru Utada – JANE DOE

Here is a work that realizes a dream collaboration between artists who lead the J-pop scene.

Written and composed by Kenshi Yonezu and featuring Hikaru Utada on vocals, this song is a dark and beautiful pop piece depicting missed connections and an emotional distance that defies full understanding.

The way their two distinct voices intersect under a quiet tension is so affecting it tightens your chest as you listen.

The track was written as the ending theme for the theatrical film Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, released in September 2025, and was included on a single that came out the same month.

It’s a masterpiece I hope you’ll listen to not only when you want to linger in the film’s lingering afterglow, but also when you want to savor complex emotions at your own pace.

Can You Keep A Secret?Utada Hikaru17rank/position

Hikaru Utada – Can You Keep A Secret?

Should I keep hiding these feelings of “love” as they are, or what should I do? This song by Hikaru Utada skillfully portrays a thrilling emotional state reminiscent of the push-and-pull of romance.

Released in February 2001, it was used as the theme song for the smash-hit drama “HERO” starring Takuya Kimura.

The single became the first million-seller of the 21st century and was later included on the acclaimed album “Distance.” Set to an R&B-inflected groove, the lyrics depict a precarious sense of distance with someone sharing a secret, hinting at the depth of her talent even as a teenager at the time.

It resonates when you want to feel the fluttering excitement of new love or the bittersweet frustration of a slightly more grown-up romance.

One Last KissUtada Hikaru18rank/position

Hikaru Utada 'One Last Kiss'

This song, which beautifully colors the afterglow of a series finale, is deeply compelling for its soft electronic sound that captures intimate, delicate emotional shifts and its theme that affirms parting not as utter despair but as the radiance of memory.

Written as the theme song for the film Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time and released in March 2021, it was later included on the album BAD Mode.

The anecdote that Hikaru Utada carefully read a nearly finished script and created the song while envisioning the final scene is also deeply moving.

It’s a masterpiece I hope people will listen to when they want to quietly soak in the end of a long story or take a new step forward while holding precious memories close.

A flower of no colorUtada Hikaru19rank/position

Hikaru Utada “A Flower of No Particular Color”

I’m deeply moved by Hikaru Utada’s voice as it explores the preciousness of love and the meaning of one’s existence.

Released digitally in February 2024 as the theme song for the drama “You Gave Me Your Heart,” this piece offers comfort to those grappling with loneliness and anxiety, evoking profound empathy.

The lyrics, woven over a gentle melody, feel like a letter to a lover.

Sing it at karaoke, and your feelings will surely resonate in the other person’s heart.

With Utada’s first nationwide tour in about six years now set, fans’ expectations are soaring.

Why not choose this song when spending time with someone special or when you want to express the feelings you’ve kept in your heart?

I am a bear.Utada Hikaru20rank/position

[Hikaru Utada] I Am a Bear

It’s a humorous, gentle song with a nursery-rhyme feel.

Even people who are tone-deaf might be able to sing it comfortably without trying too hard.

At just two and a half minutes, it’s short, so it could be nice to remember as a soothing tune.

The overall vocal range is A3 to C5.

It may be a bit high, but if you sing in a soft tone, your voice will naturally lean on falsetto, which suits the song’s atmosphere.

Swaying side to side as you sing makes it even cuter! The lyrics and music are by Hikaru Utada, and the lyrics sound like a child speaking—that’s part of what makes it so charming.

There’s even a section with a greeting in French, blending playfulness and sophistication for a fun touch.

Try adding it to your karaoke lineup when you want a little break!

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