[2026] Must-listen! This Year's Best Japanese Hit Songs

My PrincessROIROM

ROIROM ‘My Princess’ Music Video

This is a love song, the second pre-debut release from ROIROM, the duo of Hiromu Honda and Michi Hamakawa.

Set against a Christmas backdrop, the lyrics are memorable for expressing feelings toward an irreplaceable person.

Winter motifs like candlelight and snowy scenery are woven throughout, creating a romantic world.

Sonically, warm melodies blend with a stylish beat, resulting in contemporary pop that avoids leaning too sweet.

It’s a song that gently stays by your side on a winter night spent with someone special.

trajectoryVaundy

trajectory

This work, Vaundy’s first full-fledged orchestral piece, possesses an overwhelming sense of scale that evokes the history of the Earth and the endeavors of humankind.

It carries a message that conjures the flow of time connecting the past to the future, and together with its weighty sound, it resonates deeply with listeners.

Chosen as the theme song for the TBS program “World Heritage,” it will be released digitally in November 2025.

The recording at London’s prestigious Abbey Road Studios also became a major talking point.

FakeNise Akira

Nise Akira – Fake (feat. Usono Haruomi, Miyabi Mamoru, Kamishiraishi Mane) [Official Video]

Nise-Akira, a character long loved as Gen Hoshino’s close ally, has been making waves with the news that he will finally make his major debut in 2025.

Released in June 2025, this track started as an April Fools’ project, but became a reality thanks to fervent fan demand.

Characterized by a groove-rich sound rooted in Black music, the song stands out for its lyrics that sift through the things and emotions around us to discern what’s fake and pursue the truth.

It’s a must-hear pop tune packed with Gen Hoshino’s entertainer charm.

bondKamenashi Kazuya

bond

The ballad that once played as an insert song in the second season of the drama Gokusen and left a deep impression on viewers is drawing attention again in 2025.

Written by Kazuya Kamenashi himself, the track was included as the B-side to Shuuji to Akira’s smash-hit single “Seishun Amigo” in November 2005.

Set to a distinctive folk-guitar arpeggio, the song carefully weaves a resolve to keep walking hand in hand despite misunderstandings and doubts.

Its universal message—equally resonant in romance and friendship—has remained in many listeners’ memories alongside the drama’s iconic scenes.

The track is also featured on the 2025 digital solo best-of album “Kame Best,” reaffirming its presence as a timeless classic passed down across generations.

It’s a song that gently stays by your side when you want to reaffirm the bond with someone important.

Sorry for singing.AKASAKI

[AKASAKI] Sorry for Singing / Utatte Gomen [Music Video]

This song was released for streaming in November 2025 as the TV commercial theme for NEC’s PC brand “LAVIE.” It’s the 18th single by AKASAKI, a singer-songwriter who rose to prominence on TikTok, and it’s marked by a passionate acoustic guitar sound reminiscent of flamenco.

The lyrics depict a boy charging forward without knowing right from left, and convey the protagonist’s inner conflict and resolve—he’s torn yet can’t stop singing.

From the anxiety over rusting talent to the friction with someone dear, there’s an irrepressible urge to raise one’s voice nonetheless.

It’s a powerful track that gives you a push when you need the courage to step into something new.