Kenshi Yonezu Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

M87Yonezu Kenshi31rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – M87

This song, produced as the theme for the film “Shin Ultraman,” portrays the feelings of chasing the light of distant stars and the desire to become stronger.

It is a work that shines with Kenshi Yonezu’s distinctive sensibility, delicately expressing hope, loneliness, and a longing for the future.

Released on May 18, 2022, it became a major hit, earning Platinum certification.

Because it’s a song open to many interpretations, it’s recommended that you sing it at karaoke with your own personal feelings.

Surely, the emotions you put into your voice will resonate in the hearts of those around you.

Go Go Ghost ShipYonezu Kenshi32rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu MV 'Go-Go Ghost Ship'

This track, included on the album diorama, is a landmark number released in 2012, the year Kenshi Yonezu began working under his own name.

Its unique sound blends experimental elements into a poppy, lively rhythm, giving it an addictive quality that makes you want to listen again and again.

The lyrics, which liken inner feelings of loneliness and alienation to ghosts, pair well with Halloween’s mysterious atmosphere.

The music video was released in February 2012 and has surpassed 38 million views on YouTube.

It’s a great pick not only as background music for a Halloween party, but also when you want to dress up and get hyped with friends.

canaryYonezu Kenshi33rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Canary

Released in August 2020, this gentle, heartwarming ballad closes out the landmark album STRAY SHEEP, which set the record of selling over two million copies.

It affirms the distance that unexpectedly came between people and the bewilderment of a changing everyday life, while portraying the resolve to keep moving forward through the image of birds letting their songs ring out.

The song was also chosen as the theme for NHK’s documentary program “Futari no Distance” (Two People’s Distance).

When you find yourself feeling a vague anxiety—wondering, “What’s going to happen from here?”—give it a listen.

It will surely wrap your heart in a softly glowing warmth.

Cinderella GrayYonezu Kenshi34rank/position

[Lyrics_Subbed] Cinderella Gray – Kenshi Yonezu

Cinderella Gray, which captivates listeners with its dark atmosphere, is also highly recommended.

It’s a track included on the album Bremen.

The title is a coined word that combines “Cinderella” with “gray.” In the song, while drawing parallels to the Cinderella story, it portrays the pent-up feelings of a woman who can’t be honest with her true emotions.

Although the vibe is dark, the Latin-style, rhythmic sound makes it energizing.

Another plus is that many of the same lyrics repeat, making it easy to sing along.

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yamamoto

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1991Yonezu Kenshi35rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – 1991

The theme song for the live-action adaptation of 5 Centimeters per Second.

Kenshi Yonezu created it as a work that overlaps with his own origins; he was born in 1991, the same year the film’s protagonists first meet.

Director Yoshiyuki Okuyama was born in the same year as well.

This coincidence—almost a kind of inevitability—imbues the song with deep symbolism.

Themes like memory and loss, regret for the past, and the will to live are woven into the lyrics.

It’s a track that supports the film’s worldview, one only Yonezu—who was profoundly moved by the original work in his teens—could have created.

I was looking at the moon.Yonezu Kenshi36rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – I Was Looking at the Moon / Moongazing

Written as the theme song for the popular RPG FINAL FANTASY XVI and released digitally in June 2023, this piece captivates with a profound immersion in the game’s world and a solemn resonance that stirs the heart—refined over roughly three years in collaboration with the game’s producer.

The weighty orchestral sound and Kenshi Yonezu’s emotionally wrung vocals leave a strong impression, making it the kind of song you’ll want to sit with alone on a quiet night.

Its dramatic melodic contours demand delicate expressive control, so it might be a bit challenging to sing at karaoke—but that only heightens the catharsis when you manage to carry it through.

It’s an emotional masterpiece, perfect for savoring the afterglow of an epic story or for quietly engaging with music on a deeper level.

Grim ReaperYonezu Kenshi37rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Grim Reaper

This is a song that gives a modern twist to the world of classic rakugo.

It portrays the story of a debt-ridden man and the Grim Reaper through Kenshi Yonezu’s distinctive lens.

The lyrics incorporate dialects, and the arrangement features elements of jazz and blues.

It was released in June 2021 as the B-side to the single “Pale Blue.” In the music video, Yonezu himself plays various roles—such as a rakugo performer and audience members—brilliantly recreating the world of rakugo.

With meticulous attention to detail, the production offers a new way to enjoy both music and rakugo.

It’s recommended for those who want to reflect on human desire and fate.

A track with a tasteful Japanese flair.

Blue JasmineYonezu Kenshi38rank/position

[Kenshi Yonezu] Blue Jasmine (Guitar Cover) [With Chord Chart]

It’s a heartwarming love song packed tight with the feeling, “As long as you’re here, I’ll be okay.” It’s a track by singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu, who has produced numerous hit songs like “Lemon” and “Kanden,” and it’s included on his third album, Bremen, released in 2015.

The straightforward words and a melody line that feels as if it’s pouring straight from the heart are striking.

Precisely because the arrangement is so unadorned, it makes you think, “He really means it.”

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Araki Jakkan

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POP SONGYonezu Kenshi39rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – POP SONG / Kenshi Yonezu

Kenshi Yonezu is a creator who not only works as a singer-songwriter but also handles illustration and video production.

Written specifically as a song for a PlayStation commercial, this track captivates with its distinctive sound—comical yet tinged with an unsettling atmosphere.

It was released digitally in February 2022 and was later included on the single M87 and the album LOST CORNER.

Over an extremely emphasized shuffle beat, the freely roaming melody line is nothing short of breathtaking.

In the commercial, Yonezu himself transforms into a character he designed, embodying a game-like world, which also became a major talking point.

Give it a listen when you want to add a bit of playfulness and excitement to your everyday life.

CampanellaYonezu Kenshi40rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Campanella

A track from Kenshi Yonezu’s album STRAY SHEEP, released in August 2020.

Known for his vocal prowess, Yonezu delivers an impressive performance in this song as well, skillfully employing mixed voice and falsetto.

In the D-melody section, he also uses high chest notes that verge on a shout.

I think it’s a difficult song to sing not just because it requires strong high notes, but that’s exactly why it’s worth the challenge.

Overall, it’s important to aim for a soft, non-aggressive high tone as the core of your delivery.

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Kei Takahata

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