Karaoke Ranking of Popular Songs by Yumi Matsutoya [2026]

No-sideMatsutōya Yumi8rank/position

Yumi Matsutoya – No Side (Audio/Lyric)

Written and composed by Yumi Matsutoya, arranged by Masataka Matsutoya, the song was first released as a track on Reimy’s album “REIMY,” and later included as a self-cover on Yumi Matsutoya’s original album “NO SIDE.” For reference, it was released in December 1984.

At the time of its release, it attracted attention for being a song themed around rugby.

Musically, it’s medium-slow in tempo and the melodic range isn’t very wide, so as long as you set a key that suits your own voice when singing it at karaoke, it’s likely a song that almost anyone can sing without difficulty.

Try to sing it while cherishing each word of the lyrics, and be careful not to let the rhythm rush ahead.

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Kei Takahata

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Hello, my friendMatsutōya Yumi9rank/position

Yumi Matsutoya – Hello, my friend

As one of the most important artists in Japanese music history, Yuming—Yumi Matsutoya—is a name that invariably comes up.

Each generation has songs by Yuming that hold special meaning, but many women in their 40s today will likely think of her hits from the 1990s.

From the standpoint of being easy to sing at karaoke, I recommend Hello, my friend.

Released in 1994 as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama Kimi to Ita Natsu (A Summer with You), it was a massive hit that sold over a million copies.

While it’s packed with that quintessential Yuming flavor, the melody unfolds very straightforwardly and is easy to sing.

There are no particularly challenging high notes or sustained long notes, so with a bit of practice, you can probably expect a high score at karaoke.

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KOH-1

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Graduation PhotoMatsutōya Yumi10rank/position

Graduation Photo – Yumi Arai (Yumi Matsutoya) (Full)

There are also easy-to-sing recommended songs among iconic J-POP hits! The key rises a bit in the chorus, but the pitch changes aren’t drastic, so it’s great even for people who aren’t confident at karaoke.

With a relaxed tempo, you can sing while checking the rhythm and pitch!

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Hane Keisuke

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A Happy New YearMatsutōya Yumi11rank/position

A Happy New Year / Yumi Matsutoya [Matsutoya Yumi] Unplugged cover by Ai Ninomiya

Yumi Matsutoya’s “A HAPPY NEW YEAR” expresses the feeling of putting the one you love first in the new year.

It was included as the B-side to the single “Yūyami o Hitori,” released in 1981, and was featured in the film “Take Me Out to the Snowland.” The song portrays the longing to see your beloved as soon as the new year begins, and the wish that they will be happy throughout the year.

For New Year’s karaoke, why not go with someone important to you and sing this song while wishing for their happiness?

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SAKI

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Chuo FreewayMatsutōya Yumi12rank/position

Yumi Matsutoya – Chuo Freeway (Yumi Arai The Concert with old Friends)

Among Yumi Matsutoya’s signature songs, this one is especially beloved.

Its exhilarating, fast-paced melody pairs perfectly with lyrics that depict lovers on a drive.

The words are striking for the way they convey both a desire to escape reality and the fragility of that feeling.

Released in 1976 as a track on the album The 14th Moon, it is an enduring classic that also appears on many of her best-of compilations.

It’s a song I highly recommend as background music for a drive with someone special.

As you take in the scenery along the way, it might be nice to reminisce about the memories you share.

BLIZZARDMatsutōya Yumi13rank/position

Blizzard

A winter masterpiece included on NO SIDE, the landmark album released in December 1984 by Yumi Matsutoya, who has long led Japan’s music scene.

The sharp synthesizer tones that ring out from the intro evoke a taut, frigid atmosphere, as if you were on a snowbound mountain.

Depicting a love swaying in a raging blizzard, the song was used in the 1987 film Take Me Out to the Snowland, and—together with the unprecedented ski boom—left a deep impression on many.

It has since been featured in JR SKISKI commercials and continues to be loved across generations.

In the bitter cold of February, it’s a towering winter anthem you’ll want to hear on the way to pristine white slopes or when huddling against the city’s icy winds.

I want to go back to that day.Matsutōya Yumi14rank/position

Yumi Arai – I Want to Return to That Day (from “Love in Japan, and Yuming.”)

This song, from before her name change and currently credited to Yumi Matsutoya, was the theme for the drama “Family Secrets” starring Kumiko Akiyoshi.

Released when she had only just entered her twenties, it’s a track that reminisces about the radiant days of youth.

Around the time you turn twenty, you often feel caught between being an adult and a child, and your heart can become unstable.

Looking at these lyrics, I can’t help but feel that Yumi Matsutoya must have experienced the same thing.

I want to go back to those joyful days of youth and meet the cheerful version of myself from back then.

Haven’t you ever felt that way, too?

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SAKI

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