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

PlaysicYorushika

Play Sick

Many people may have first discovered it through the commercial that aired in the summer of 2025.

It’s a track released digitally in December 2025 by Yorushika, the rock band composed of n-buna (composer) and suis (vocal).

Chosen as the song for the Daihatsu Move Canbus Stripes commercial, it’s also included on the digital album “Second Person,” released in March 2026.

Within its light, airy band sound, everyday motifs like sun and rain, or a slightly feverish body temperature, are scattered throughout, creating a distinctive listening experience where freshness and languor coexist.

The conversational, emotionally wavering lyrics resonate even more delicately through suis’s transparent vocals.

It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone who finds themselves stopping in their tracks in the small moments of everyday life.

Song of dawnNEW!jo0ji

jo0ji “Yoake no Uta” Music Video | TV Anime Jujutsu Kaisen “The Shibuya Incident: Culling Game Part 1” Ending Theme

Released for streaming in January 2026, this song was selected as the ending theme for the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen: Culling Game Part 1.

With arrangement contributions from Ayatake Ezaki of WONK and others, the sound has a rich finish that evokes a quiet hope leading from night into morning.

The lyrics, which gently encourage each listener while aligning with the feelings of the protagonist, Yuji Itadori, are also compelling.

It’s recommended not only for anime fans, but also for anyone feeling a bit worn out by daily life.

XTCNEW!Nakajima Kento

Kento Nakajima “XTC” Music Video

You’ll be drawn into a thrilling world where fabricated masks and the truth behind them intersect.

This is a track in which Kento Nakajima candidly expresses his own view of what it means to be an idol.

Released in January 2026 as the lead single from the album “IDOL1ST,” it stirred major buzz for sampling Shonentai’s “Kamen Butokai” (Masked Ball).

The arrangement is danceable yet tinged with a certain seductiveness, making it perfect for nights when you want to forget the everyday.

A powerful song that conveys the pride of an idol.

AdrenaNEW!YOASOBI

Adrena

This work vividly captures the slapstick chaos of school life and the flutter of first love through Ayase’s signature high-speed, whirlwind sound.

Released in January 2026, it was selected as the opening theme for the TV anime “Hana Zakari no Kimitachi e.” Based on Fuyu Tsuyama’s newly written original novel “Magical,” it’s a delightful track where ikura’s vocals shift expression to match the comical tone.

An energetic uptempo tune perfect for mornings when you want to instantly lift your mood or for flipping on your motivation switch.

Sensation SeasonNEW!Suda Masaki

Masaki Suda “Sensation Season”

Masaki Suda is an artist who has secured a solid position as an actor while continuously expressing his unique sensibility through music.

The lead track “Sensation Season” from his concept EP “SENSATION CIRCLE,” released in January 2026, is striking for its fast-paced, emotional band sound.

The lyrics, which weave thoughts for a loved one alongside images of falling snow, reveal different shades with each listen and resonate deep within the heart.

It’s a song where strength and warmth coexist—one you’ll want to hear when you’re worn out by hectic days or when you want to reconnect with your own feelings.

The color of happinessNEW!Onda Masanori

The color of happiness

Masamori Onda, a singer-songwriter who gained attention after posting on TikTok, released “The Color of Happiness.” It’s a ballad that blends tenderness with heartbreak, expressing lingering feelings for a former lover.

The song was chosen as the ending theme for the drama “Kimbap and Onigiri: Two Lovers Alike Yet Different.” There’s also a moving backstory: Onda reworked a chorus he originally wrote at 19, completing it for the first time in about three and a half years.

It’s a perfect track for those freshly heartbroken, those who can’t quite let go, or anyone who wants to reflect on a past love.

Intro “Soul Quake”NEW!watson

Watson – Intro “Soul Quake” (Official Video)

Rapper Watson, who wins support with unadorned, real words as his weapon.

This track, whose music video dropped in January 2026, blends soul-stirring intensity with a quiet resolve.

It reflects where he stands as he heads toward his Nippon Budokan show in March 2026, and the power of words rising from within really stands out, drawing you in for a deep listen.

It’s a richly layered hip-hop piece for those moments when you want to steel yourself for a big goal or stoke your fighting spirit.