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

We’ve put together the latest hit songs you’ll definitely want to check out if you’ve been wondering, “What tracks are trending right now?” From classic tunes by popular artists to those buzzy songs that lit up anime and TikTok—this playlist captures the sound of “now” in Japanese music.

Find tracks that match your taste and hit repeat.

It’s perfect not only for trend-chasers, but also for those who don’t usually listen to much music and just want to keep up a little!

[2026] Must-Listen! This Year’s Japanese Hit Songs Best (21–30)

Ride the windNEW!Ryokushokushakai

Ryokuoushoku Shakai 'Riding the Wind' Official Video / Ryokuoushoku Shakai – Riding the wind
Ride the windNEW!Ryokushokushakai

This song is striking for its dramatic development.

Released in March 2026 as their 11th single, it was specially written as the theme song for the theatrical anime Etoile Blooming in Paris, which premieres around the same time.

With a universal message, it embraces not only the excitement of moving toward your dreams, but also the delicate emotions of anxiety and inner conflict that come with change.

And Haruko Nagaya’s resolute, clear voice reaches straight to the listener’s heart.

Give it a listen when you’re facing a turning point in life, feeling uncertain, or needing the courage to leap into a new environment.

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ALL DAYNEW!BE:FIRST

BE:FIRST / BE:FIRST ALL DAY -Official Audio-
ALL DAYNEW!BE:FIRST

This is a luxurious hip-hop track.

Created to mark the fifth anniversary of BE:FIRST, the boy group formed through an audition, this work showcases their fiery determination to remain a group for life.

It was released in March 2026.

The track overflows with an energetic vibe as they head toward new challenges.

Give it a listen when you want to charge forward with all your might or lift your spirits.

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layersNEW!yuzu

This song was created to accompany the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Produced as NHK’s 15th Anniversary Earthquake Remembrance Song, it is included on the album “Kokone,” released in March 2026.

Its expansive sound—layered voices, strings, and the resonance of piano—moves the heart.

This solemn ballad sound gently embraces emotions such as the pain of loss and the hope that looks toward the future.

When you want to quietly face memories of the past or think of someone dear to you, please give it a listen.

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oarNEW!Yorushika

Yorushika – Kai (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
oarNEW!Yorushika

Yorushika is a musical duo that paints a unique world with literary storytelling and a translucent singing voice.

Centered on the theme of an answer to anger, this song is the track that closes out the latter part of the album “Second Person,” released in March 2026.

Without quoting from literature, it expresses emotion and the will to move forward in their own words.

The gentle tone of the acoustic guitar and breath-inflected vocal work create a resonant finish.

Give it a careful listen when you’re in an introspective mood.

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vivariumNEW!Ado

[Ado] Vivarium (Official Audio)
vivariumNEW!Ado

A singer who continues to lead the scene with overwhelming vocal prowess, Ado.

This digital single, which she wrote and composed herself, is a track created based on the semi-autobiographical novel “Vivarium: Ado and Me,” published in February 2026.

Takayoshi “CO-K” Kokei, who serves as bandmaster at her live shows, participated in the arrangement, delivering a band sound brimming with the headlong drive of Vocaloid-inspired rock.

The lyrics, which link to the story chronicling half of her life, lay bare inner conflicts and pain, and are sure to strike listeners to the core.

Also drawing attention for featuring her first live-action cover art, this emotionally charged rock tune stands beside everyone living through these troubled times.

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