[2026] A roundup of popular Japanese songs currently playing on the radio
Do you usually listen to the radio?
Maybe you hear it as in-store background music, or if you drive for work you might have the car stereo on, and these days you can even listen on smartphone apps.
It may be the age of the internet, but I think radio is still very much a part of our daily lives.
This time, we’re introducing popular Japanese songs that have been getting airplay on recent radio shows!
If you want to check the latest trends or find out which tracks are on power play, this is for you!
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[2026] Summary of Popular Japanese Songs Recently Playing on the Radio (81–90)
plumnishina
Nishina captivates with her sweet, ephemeral voice and addictive melodies.
This song symbolically portrays luscious fruit and complex emotions.
It’s striking how she refuses to settle for mere sweetness, instead pursuing her own individuality.
Amid the cool, distorted soundscape, Nishina’s distinctive vocals stand out.
Released as a digital single in September 2024, the track was produced with arranger Yaffle.
A Zepp tour, “SUPER COMPLEX,” is also scheduled to kick off in November of the same year.
It’s the perfect song for those who want to bare their true feelings or who love stylish, urban pop tunes.
A.Y.AYogee New Waves
Not only in Japan but also overseas, A.Y.A has been attracting attention.
It’s the title track of the album released by the rock band Yogee New Waves, featuring a warm, spring-like sound and lyrics.
Many listeners have said it’s soothing, and radio programs have aired interviews with Kengo Kakudate.
Some of these shows are also available online, so be sure to check them out—you’ll likely come to love the band and the song even more.
pyramid[Alexandros]
![pyramid[Alexandros]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QKrNZmyNCQg/sddefault.jpg)
A track has arrived where powerful rock resonance intertwines with a poignant vocal! [Alexandros]’s new song portrays people who keep challenging their own limits.
It conveys the importance of moving forward step by step and the strength to overcome hardship.
Set for CD single release in February 2025, it’s also the theme song for a TV Asahi drama.
The story, set in the financial industry, perfectly matches the song’s message.
It’s a must-listen for anyone striving toward their dreams or looking to take on something new!
Sunday Morningneguse.
Formed in 2020, Neguse is a four-piece rock band that became so popular that entry was restricted at a circuit festival they joined the following year.
Their digital single “Sunday Morning,” released on October 25, 2023, was written as the theme song for the film “The Former Idol Who Hit Rock Bottom Chose to Live with a Complete Stranger Middle-Aged Man.” The lyrics, which evoke the feeling of having a place to rest even amid a hectic life, help ease everyday stress and fatigue.
It’s a slightly nostalgic rock tune with a brisk sound and a bouncy shuffle-beat rhythm that feels great.
Stop that nightTeranishi Yūma
This is a song by Yuma Teranishi that portrays a heartrending love.
It’s a ballad reflecting on a special night that has passed, resonating with regret over lost love and a wish to reunite.
Released as a digital single in November 2024, it was chosen as the theme song for the BS Fuji drama “Kazuhiro Teranishi Mystery: SPELL – Revenge of the Green Monkey.” Teranishi himself wrote, composed, and arranged the track, infusing it with a message that respects diverse forms of love.
It’s a recommended listen for those sensing the end of a romance or feeling nostalgic about memories with someone special.
voiceHitsuji Bungaku
This work features a poignant yet powerful sound centered on acoustic guitar, paired with a hopeful vocal that resonates deeply.
It gently portrays someone listening to their inner voice and striving to move forward, even while confronting the urge to run away.
Written as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.
drama “119 Emergency Call,” airing in January 2025, the track stands as proof of Hitsujibungaku’s exceptional expressive power.
While the band is known for the ending theme of the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen, this marks their first time handling a Monday 9 p.m.
drama theme.
It’s a warm song that quietly stays by the side of those standing at a crossroads in life, trying to face forward even amid uncertainty.
jabbermuque
With beats reminiscent of UK garage and Miami bass entwined with tension chords on acoustic guitar, muque’s latest is a mid-tempo tune that captures vivid yet nostalgic memories of student days through music.
Released digitally in September 2024 and included the following month on the album “Dungeon,” it was also selected for FM802’s Heavy Rotation for September, receiving extensive airplay across many programs for an entire month.
Recommended for anyone seeking special moments within the everyday.
Its worldview—like a space between reality and dreams—is sure to linger in your heart.
First KO victoryshiina ringo to nocchi
A long-awaited collaboration between Ringo Sheena and Nocchi from Perfume has come true! It’s a funk-rock track included on Ringo Sheena’s album Houjoue, released in May 2024.
The powerful lyrics, themed around challenge and self-transformation, leave a strong impression.
It conveys the brilliance of living to the fullest without fearing failure.
With its dynamic, energetic sound and the two artists’ personalities blending seamlessly, it’s a one-of-a-kind song.
It made its full-size TV debut on the music show CDTV Live! Live!, generating plenty of buzz.
Perfect for when you want to take on something new—a piece that gives you courage and energy.
IdentifyPenthouse
Penthouse is a six-member city soul band formed in the University of Tokyo’s music club, with most members balancing music activities while working as company employees.
Their digital single Identify, released on October 25, 2023, also drew attention when a live performance video was published as part of the YouTube video series Suite Room.
The lyrics, which emphasize the importance of discovering a sense of self that goes beyond mere words, may free the hearts of those who feel constrained by the idea of being themselves.
It’s a stylish track with an urban, comfortably textured ensemble.
my kilogramALL IN
ALL IN delivers a passionate, straight-from-the-heart anthem of support.
Crafted by Kenichi Maeyamada, this song powerfully expresses a drive for self-transformation and urges listeners to break free from the vanity and pretense overflowing on social media to face their true selves.
With its exhilarating melody and compelling message, it’s a standout work that strikes a chord.
Chosen as the ending theme for the Fuji TV anime “Run for Money: The Great Mission,” the track is drawing attention as their major-label debut release in March 2025.
It’s a song that will give you a push when you feel like you’re losing your sense of self or want to take a bold new step forward.