[2026] Must-listen! This Year's Best Japanese Hit Songs
For those of you wondering, “What was trending this year?”, we’ve put together a roundup of the latest hit songs! From classic tracks by popular artists to those sensational songs that lit up anime and TikTok culture, it’s all here.
This playlist showcases the standout J-pop of the year.
Find the tracks that match your taste and put them on repeat! It’s perfect not only for people who love keeping up with trends, but also for those who don’t usually listen to much music yet want to check out what’s hot.
Playlist
| [2026] Must-listen! This Year's Best Japanese Hit Songs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1 | By the side on a moonlit nightUru |  play_arrow | Uru writes a new song for a film’s theme |
| 2 | TEST MEchanmina |  play_arrow | Chanmina’s “TEST ME” is overwhelming energy |
| 3 | AgainMr.Children |  play_arrow | A rock song themed around Mr.Children’s comeback |
| 4 | A Crescendo of Falling in LoveHinatazaka46 |  play_arrow | A coming-of-age pop song by Hinatazaka46’s 5th generation |
| 5 | When our eyes metFRUITS ZIPPER |  play_arrow | A new song by a band spreading Kawaii from Harajuku. |
| 6 | bashfulnessHey! Say! JUMP |  play_arrow | Hey! Say! JUMP’s love-support song |
| 7 | HARD WORKnaniwa danshi |  play_arrow | 10th single to be released in February 2026, theme song for a drama. |
| 8 | obsessive loveWEST. |  play_arrow | WEST new song drama theme song |
| 9 | Angel SeekAdo |  play_arrow | Ado releases new song 'Angel Seek' |
| 10 | DEAD CENTER feat. LiSAREOL |  play_arrow | A powerful song collaborated with LiSA, a fiery feeling |
| 11 | HYPNOTIZEXG |  play_arrow | A song that captivates listeners with its dreamy, ethereal sound |
| 12 | PuzzleIkuta Rira |  play_arrow | Rira Ikuta releases “Puzzle,” the theme song for a dating show |
| 13 | 3XLNumber_i |  play_arrow | Number_i's first love song, with pure lyrics and a groovy feel |
| 14 | PROVANTSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Jean-Ken Johnny & TAKUMA | ![PROVANTSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Jean-Ken Johnny & TAKUMA](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bQVMACYeCYs/default.jpg) play_arrow | New song from Hiroyuki Sawano's vocal project |
| 15 | The Story of Usmilet |  play_arrow | Sousou no Frieren Season 2 Ending Theme |
| 16 | PurikyukyuCUTIE STREET |  play_arrow | A song by an idol spreading “KAWAII” to the world |
| 17 | cliffhangerHinatazaka46 |  play_arrow | A song where Manami Ohno Center’s emotional expression shines |
| 18 | AIZOKing Gnu |  play_arrow | King Gnu’s intense, adrenaline-charged rock filled with a sense of urgency |
| 19 | faint noseKitanitatsuya feat. BABYMETA |  play_arrow | Masterpieces by Tatsuya Kitani and BABYMETAL |
| 20 | lulu.Mrs. GREEN APPLE |  play_arrow | The opening theme song of the anime “Frieren” is moving. |
| 21 | The world has ended.Yuuri |  play_arrow | A moving song that conveys love through Yuuri’s powerful vocals |
| 22 | Sensation SeasonSuda Masaki |  play_arrow | Masaki Suda’s music: timeless songs that resonate with the heart |
| 23 | PlaysicYorushika |  play_arrow | A heart-stirring song from Yorushika’s commercial |
| 24 | Song of dawnjo0ji |  play_arrow | The moving songs of the anime Jujutsu Kaisen |
| 25 | AdrenaYOASOBI |  play_arrow | Expressing love with the high-speed sounds of school life |
| 26 | XTCNakajima Kento |  play_arrow | A powerful song that depicts the truth behind the mask |
| 27 | The color of happinessOnda Masanori |  play_arrow | Masayuki Onda, a TikTok sensation, and his bittersweet love song |
| 28 | Intro “Soul Quake”watson |  play_arrow | A searing intensity that shakes the soul with real, down-to-earth words |
| 29 | favorite songfumino |  play_arrow | Debut of an uplifting pop-rock song |
| 30 | BABYYOASOBI |  play_arrow | A poignant love song about pure affection and wavering emotions |
| 31 | Lullaby (Prod. ALYSA)Reiko |  play_arrow | REIKO’s released track “Lullaby” is moving. |
| 32 | LOVE 2000tsuru and kame |  play_arrow | Movie theme song by Jutaro Yamanaka and Aloha Takamatsu |
| 33 | My respectNogizaka 46 |  play_arrow | A moving piece that portrays respect and history |
| 34 | Wimarma Sagashigure ui |  play_arrow | Shigure Ui’s genius song showdown |
| 35 | GaiaSiip |  play_arrow | The mysterious music of Siip resonates with the heart. |
| 36 | Slay! Mi AmoreJuice=Juice |  play_arrow | Latin-style dance tune, an upbeat love song |
| 37 | BRAVE GROOVEiLiFE! |  play_arrow | A fiery anime theme song that makes your body move |
| 38 | Crashing WinnersVOLTACTION×3SKM |  play_arrow | A VTuber collaboration track—an intense song that evokes the night before a revolution. |
| 39 | monologueOmoinotake |  play_arrow | The ending theme song of the anime “The Apothecary Diaries” |
| 40 | replicaVaundy |  play_arrow | A composition of selfhood, a song of conflict and will |
| 41 | Nobody Knowsmilet |  play_arrow | A song about finding oneself, a challenge piece for a movie theme song |
| 42 | Stay with meTele |  play_arrow | Singer Tele’s heartwarming song |
| 43 | exceed; surpass; go beyond; cross (over)[Alexandros] | ![exceed; surpass; go beyond; cross (over)[Alexandros]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WsEhSXH497I/default.jpg) play_arrow | Anime theme song, a rousing anthem that colors a passionate world |
| 44 | Bizarre DismantlingMURASAKI |  play_arrow | The popular theme song of an urban-legend game |
| 45 | Two People in a Fading CitySazan Ōrusutāzu |  play_arrow | The melancholy of dusk, feelings beyond words |
| 46 | PLAYER 1Ryokushokushakai |  play_arrow | An uplifting song that turns a crisis into an opportunity |
| 47 | Nebula RomancePerfume |  play_arrow | Perfume’s latest song, “Harmony of Space and Love” |
| 48 | ShareYU-KI |  play_arrow | Theme song that immerses you in the world of book thieves |
| 49 | FakeNise Akira |  play_arrow | Nise-Akira, Gen Hoshino’s alter ego, makes his major debut. |
| 50 | streetlightBE:FIRST |  play_arrow | A warm song of empathy echoing on a winter night |
| 51 | UnderdogEVE |  play_arrow | Expressing self-affirmation and emotional fluctuations in the age of social media |
| 52 | Midnight ReflectionNOMELON NOLEMON |  play_arrow | A grand insert song imbued with feelings for the cosmos |
| 53 | bondKamenashi Kazuya |  play_arrow | The moving ballad from Gokusen will be in the spotlight again in 2025. |
| 54 | Blue NoiseRyosuke Yamada |  play_arrow | Ryōsuke Yamada’s Japanese-style hip-hop track, an anime theme song |
| 55 | BaburinHIMEHINA |  play_arrow | A summer song by HIMEHINA, a life that pops like bubbles |
| 56 | Never Romanticnaniwa danshi |  play_arrow | A party tune that captures the thrill of love |
| 57 | A Lump of LoveDOMOTO |  play_arrow | A love ballad of warmth and wistfulness |
| 58 | loveUru |  play_arrow | A song of pain and love that lingers, seeping into the heart. |
| 59 | Sorry for singing.AKASAKI |  play_arrow | The passionate song by AKASAKI from the NEC LAVIE commercial |
| 60 | Welcome To Our Show TonightTravis Japan |  play_arrow | Travis Japan’s swing jazz makes you forget your fatigue |
| 61 | Fireworks in Augustmurasaki ima |  play_arrow | The changing seasons and thoughts for a loved one |
| 62 | trajectoryVaundy |  play_arrow | An epic musical and a moving depiction of Earth’s history |
| 63 | NON STOPHANA |  play_arrow | A song that expresses HANA’s dream and the journey of one year |
| 64 | MAKE IT, BREAK ITFLOW GLOW |  play_arrow | A boundary-pushing dance number that makes your heart leap. |
| 65 | SanitizerOfisharu Higedan Dism |  play_arrow | Message of self-growth and purification of human relationships |
| 66 | RIDEONE N’ ONLY |  play_arrow | A tropical summer dance number |
| 67 | Dead Or AliveGLAY |  play_arrow | GLAY’s powerful new song to be the theme for an anime |
| 68 | True LoveINI |  play_arrow | A coming-of-age pop-rock song for a movie theme |
| 69 | LAVALAVANumber_i |  play_arrow | A driving love song that’s both brisk and chill, transcending the suffocation of the city. |
| 70 | end creditsTakahashi Yuu |  play_arrow | A heartwarming 15th-anniversary ballad filled with gratitude for the fans |
| 71 | My PrincessROIROM |  play_arrow | A love song lit by winter candles |