Memorable masterpieces. Recommended popular songs.
A timeless tune suddenly comes to mind, its melody casually playing in your head.
I believe everyone has had that experience.
That is the music flowing through your heart.
Regardless of when it was composed.
Even now, many people still listen to songs from the past without them ever losing their color.
In this article, we researched and carefully selected popular songs based on the voices of music fans shared with our site.
We’ve aimed to cover a wide range—from relatively new tracks to hall-of-fame classics.
Dive into this parade of masterpieces and find your favorites!
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Memorable masterpieces: Recommended popular songs (21–30)
Ms. Hanako on a high pedestalback number
Back Number, a three-piece band from Gunma Prefecture, has become hugely popular, especially among younger generations.
Their song Takane no Hanako-san is supported as one of their signature tracks.
The chorus, which uses a dance beat, is incredibly catchy and sticks in your head.
The lyrics, depicting a somewhat timid love from a male perspective, are also noteworthy.
lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE
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.
SolaninASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
This classic is my top recommendation when you want to get sentimental.
It’s a song featured in the film Solanin, and it made waves when Aoi Miyazaki delivered a passionate performance.
The sense of aching just explodes… Doesn’t your heart feel tightly squeezed by that intro, with its moody, trembling guitar standing out? The lyric, “Because happiness numbs me, let’s say goodbye,” is painful yet conveys a forward-looking resolve.
Everyone might encounter a moment in life like the one this song captures.
When that time comes, this is a track that will surely stay by your side.
together; along with; bothWANIMA
A signature song by WANIMA, a three-piece rock band that gives you tons of energy.
The uptempo, high-speed guitar sound is a must-hear! The lyrics, which tell you to just keep moving forward as yourself, have won overwhelming support for giving listeners a push.
The racing sound pairs perfectly with the lyrics packed with relentlessly positive words.
By the time the song ends, you’ll no doubt feel motivated—Alright, let’s do this!—making it a true classic.
Be sure to check out the music video, which lets you feel both the heat and coolness of summer at the same time!
A Long, Short FestivalShiina Ringo
Rhythm is important as an element that sticks in your ear, isn’t it? For a song that really shows attention to rhythm, I recommend Ringo Sheena’s “Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri,” which became popular across generations! She performed this song on the year-end NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen in 2015.
The rhythmic melody and her sexy vocals really linger, don’t they? The slight use of effects also creates a mysterious vibe.
TOMORROWMayo Okamoto
It’s a classic that has encouraged many Japanese people with its energetic vocals, bright worldview, and the beautiful lyrics of its chorus.
Its dazzling melody and concrete storytelling draw you into a rich world, and the song is so powerful it loops endlessly in your ears.
A Little Love SongMONGOL800
This classic, with lyrics that express the feeling of being in love straight from the heart, is included on MONGOL800’s 2001 album “MESSAGE.” Despite never being released as a single, it spent 14 consecutive weeks at No.
2 on the karaoke charts and achieved legendary status with sales exceeding 2.8 million copies.
Its exhilarating melody and universal message about cherishing the people close to us have been loved across generations, and it was even adapted into a film in 2019.
It’s the perfect song for when you want to bask in the bittersweet memories of your youth or reaffirm your feelings for someone special.