Hype Songs Recommended for People in Their 20s [Classic and Popular Japanese Hits]

lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Lilac” Official Music Video

Set to a lively rhythm and a catchy melody, this song vividly sings of the sweet-and-sour, bittersweet feelings of youth.

Its message—embracing even our imperfections and the pains of the past—resonates deeply.

Released in April 2024 and chosen as the opening theme for the TV Tokyo anime “Oblivion Battery,” the track won the Grand Prize at the 66th Japan Record Awards.

It marks the first-ever back-to-back win by a band in history.

While aiming to return to the roots of guitar rock, it shines with technical, standout riffs.

Brimming with positive energy, it’s a song that supports anyone who has experienced the struggles and growing pains of adolescence.

Love’s Melody and Rainy SkiesAAA

AAA / “Love Sound and Rainy Sky” Music Video

A co-ed performance group, AAA released this song as their 38th single in September 2013.

It’s also included on the album “Eighth Wonder.” The track won the Excellence Award at the 55th Japan Record Awards and was performed twice on the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, becoming one of the group’s signature hits.

It portrays feelings that are hard to express honestly, yet a sincere desire to stay together forever—a slightly bittersweet love song that overlays a pining heart with the early autumn rainy sky.

The frustration of wanting to say “I love you” but not being able to take that step will resonate deeply, and the lyrics are sure to strike a chord with anyone in love.

With both male and female vocal parts, it’s also great for a karaoke duet!

Kawasaki DriftBAD HOP

BAD HOP / Kawasaki Drift (Official Video)

This is a track released in June 2018 by BAD HOP, an eight-member hip-hop crew from Kawasaki City, Kanagawa.

Over a trap sound woven with heavy bass and dark synths, each of the eight members spits the raw reality of life on the streets of Kawasaki.

The appeal of this song lies in its sharp rhymes that depict their rise from the streets to stardom.

The must-see music video, set in industrial zones and underpasses, sparked buzz with its exhilarating pace.

It was also performed at their Tokyo Dome show in February 2024, which served as their breakup concert, and it’s cherished as an anthem symbolizing their come-up story.

Give it a try when you want to fire up the vibe with your crew or get the crowd going at karaoke.

THE HERO !!JAM Project

[Official Video] JAM Project – THE HERO !! – “One Punch Man” Opening Theme ワンパンマン

This track delivers overwhelming power and a sense of speed, giving you that blood-boiling rush the moment you hear it.

Released by the superstar anime-song unit JAM Project in October 2015, it was used as the opening theme for season 1 of the anime One-Punch Man.

From the intro, the explosive shouts and tight band sound feel like the protagonist Saitama’s overwhelming strength turned directly into music.

While the lyrics depict a classic hero figure, they also weave in unique themes like the boredom and frustration that come with being the strongest, striking an irresistible balance where blazing intensity and humor coexist.

Crimson Lotus FlowerLiSA

LiSA – Gurenge / THE FIRST TAKE

This is the song that was chosen as the opening theme for the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and sparked a social phenomenon.

It’s LiSA’s 15th single, released in 2019.

The song’s structure, which exquisitely weaves together intense rock sounds with quiet sections, is captivating.

The lyrics, which sing of the protagonist facing a harsh fate and an unyielding will that won’t bend to any hardship, are sure to stir listeners’ hearts.

The chorus, where her high-tone vocals explode, is nothing short of breathtaking.

It’s guaranteed to get everyone pumped if you sing it at karaoke.

Crimson Bow and ArrowLinked Horizon

Crimson Bow and Arrow

This is Linked Horizon’s signature song that took the era by storm as the first cour opening theme of the TV anime Attack on Titan.

From the very start, the resounding German phrases fused with weighty orchestration create a symphonic rock sound that instantly draws listeners into the story’s world.

Perfect for a work depicting a fierce battle for humanity’s survival, its dramatic melodic lines and powerful guitar sound really set your heart ablaze.

Released in July 2013 as a track on the single Jiyuu e no Shingeki (Advancing Toward Freedom), it reached No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and earned the group their first appearance at the 64th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen that same year.

Belting out the chorus at karaoke is a great stress reliever, and it’s the perfect song to get everyone hyped with your friends.

PPAPPikotarō

PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen Official) “Long” ver. Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen ‘Long’ Version / PIKOTARO

Do you remember that one song that took the world by storm in 2016? Created by PIKO-TARO, this track is only 45 seconds long, yet it became the first song by a Japanese artist in about 26 years to enter the U.S.

Billboard Hot 100, and it was recognized by Guinness World Records as the shortest song ever to chart.

Its structure is minimal—just combining English words over a simple four-on-the-floor beat—but once you hear it, it’s impossibly catchy and sticks in your head.

Released digitally in October 2016, it was also included on the first album “PPAP.” The choreography is easy, making it perfect for hyping up a karaoke session or warming up the crowd at a get-together with friends.