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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- Classic songs that sing about the past. Recommended popular tracks.
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Memorable masterpieces. Recommended popular songs (1–10)
New Treasure IslandSakanakushon
An ear-catching—or rather, highly addictive—song: Sakanaction’s hit number “Shin Takara-jima.” It has a rhythmic, steady feel, and the unique lyrics make you think, in a good way, “This is so Sakanaction!”—the kind of song that sticks with you.
Once you hear it, it’s guaranteed to stay in your head, and as a bonus, it makes you want to dance and hum along.
Also, the music video is wonderfully addictive, so it’s one I find myself wanting to watch regularly.
Stay GoldHi-STANDARD
It’s Hi-STANDARD—aka Hi-Sta—and their classic “Stay Gold,” a song that hardly needs any introduction anymore, right? Even during their hiatus, I’m sure many people held onto this track while waiting for their comeback.
And there must be tons of band kids who’ve covered it, too! The lyrics are in English since it’s Hi-Standard, but the Japanese translations really hit you in the heart—definitely a song you’d want as an anthem for life.
The intro riff is so cool it sticks in your head after just one listen.
Paradise Has No BorderToukyou Sukapara Daisu Ookesutora
When it comes to Japan’s representative ska bands, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra tops the list.
Their distinctive rhythms and horn-driven sound are instantly catchy.
Despite their unique style, they also have a strong pop appeal, making these songs easy for anyone to get into! Instrumental tracks without vocal melodies are especially recommended if you want to enjoy the pure sound of the instruments.
With so many different instruments featured, it might be fun to listen for and find your favorite one…
LemonYonezu Kenshi
It’s a song by Kenshi Yonezu that served as the theme for the drama “Unnatural,” and it’s said that there’s practically no one in Japan who doesn’t know it.
Loved by a wide range of generations, this track became a huge talking point thanks to its unusual performance on the Kōhaku music show, and it’s no exaggeration to say that this sparked his current explosive popularity.
You often hear it playing over in-store music while walking around town, and its distinctive lyrical phrasing makes it stick in your ears, giving it a quality that keeps it from getting old no matter how many times you listen.
STAY TUNESuchmos
Cool and stylish songs really stick in your ears, don’t they? Suchmos’s “STAY TUNE” is a masterpiece that perfectly embodies that cool and stylish vibe.
It was also used in a Honda Vezel commercial, so I bet many people heard it on TV and got curious.
Lose yourself in its groove that feels like Western music and its jazz-like chord progressions.
Sparkling Samurairekishi
Rekishi is the solo project of Takafumi Ikeda, which became hugely popular through collaborations with many of Japan’s top musicians, such as Ringo Sheena and Hiromi Uehara.
The lyrics revolve around themes from Japanese history, and this song, Kira Kira Bushi, also centers on samurai.
The lyrics are a bit quirky and laugh-inducing, but that actually makes them all the more memorable, doesn’t it?
phantom vibrationKyūso Nekokami
This is a song you should definitely listen to while watching the music video: Kyuso Nekokami’s “Phantom Vibration.” Smartphones—now essential for young and old alike.
The song pops along with all those smartphone “relatable moments,” and it’s insanely catchy, the kind that sticks in your head.
The chorus makes you want to belt it out, and at live shows everyone naturally joins in for a big sing-along.
From that anxious feeling when your battery’s about to die to other everyday moments, it’s a super fun track that’ll have you saying, “So true!”