![[2026] Popular in America! A Collection of Japanese Anime Songs](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/ZRtdQ81jPUQ/maxresdefault.webp)
[2026] Popular in America! A Collection of Japanese Anime Songs
Do you know which songs have captured people’s hearts where Japanese anime has washed ashore? Beyond the shows themselves, the anime songs that color their openings and endings are passionately discussed by fans overseas, especially in the United States.
Videos of people humming the lyrics spread on social media, and massive sing-alongs break out at live events—the excitement is beyond imagination.
Effortlessly leaping over language barriers, resonating through melody and emotion—that’s the mysterious power of anime songs.
In this article, we’ve gathered a rich selection of Japanese anime songs beloved in America, from the latest hits to timeless classics.
Give them a listen, and you’ll surely feel the heat for yourself!
[2026] Popular in America! A Roundup of Japanese Anime Songs (1–10)
idolNEW!YOASOBI
YOASOBI, a duo that has been captivating the world with their unique style of turning novels into music.
Released in April 2023, this song was created as the opening theme for the TV anime Oshi no Ko.
Based on the novel “45510” written specifically for the project by original creator Aka Akasaka, it expresses, through rapidly shifting musical motifs, the lights and shadows of the entertainment industry and the inner conflict of an idol who weaves love out of perfect lies.
It became a beloved hit across borders, including becoming the first Japanese-language song to top Billboard’s Global Excl.
U.S.
chart.
With its dazzling sound intersecting with earnest emotion, this track is perfect for immersing yourself fully in the story’s world.
It’s also included on the EP THE BOOK 3, so be sure to give it a listen.
IRIS OUTNEW!Yonezu Kenshi
This is a Kenshi Yonezu track whose overwhelmingly intense energy and driving rock sound grab listeners’ hearts in an instant and never let go.
Crafted while poring over the pages of the original manga, the song brilliantly captures the story’s world, where fierce battles and aching emotions collide.
Written as the theme for the theatrical feature “Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc,” released in September 2025, it drew worldwide attention, debuting early at events in the United States.
Following the TV anime, this work also made waves as a renewed collaboration with MAPPA.
It’s the perfect song for boosting your mood with its energetic sound or for lingering in the afterglow of the story.
far awayNEW!ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
That exhilarating sense of speed that hits top gear right from the start is irresistible! It’s a signature track packed with the raw early impulse of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, a band that has continued to lead Japan’s rock scene.
Included on their indie-era mini-album Houkai Amplifier, released in November 2002, it propelled them straight into the major scene with that same momentum.
Chosen as an opening theme for the globally popular anime NARUTO, it gained overwhelming support from overseas fans, especially in the U.S.
Transcending language barriers, it has become an anthem that shakes live venues, and a re-recorded version was produced in 2024.
When you want to break through the status quo or fire yourself up, give it a listen—you’ll feel that burning energy rise within you!
Bling-Bang-Bang-BornNEW!Creepy Nuts
If we’re talking about the song that took the world by storm in 2024, it has to be this one by Creepy Nuts.
Released in January 2024 as the opening theme for the second season of the TV anime “Mashle: Magic and Muscles,” the Divine Visionary Candidate Exam arc, its achievement of topping the Billboard Japan year-end charts needs no further explanation.
The lyrics, which portray a protagonist overturning common sense in a world where magic is the norm by wielding a rigorously trained, flesh-and-blood body as his weapon, overlap with the duo’s own from-the-ground-up career and are truly stirring.
The chorus has an addictive, incantation-like quality that will make you want to move your body the moment you hear it.
Transcending language barriers and beloved worldwide, this track is the perfect party tune to hype up crowds together with overseas fans.
GO!!!NEW!FLOW
An energetic rock tune packed with a message to boldly carve out your own future.
The lyrics portray challengers cutting through anxiety and doubt as they charge toward greater heights, igniting the hearts of listeners.
The driving band sound and the interplay of twin vocals make it nothing short of an explosive catalyst for live shows.
Released in April 2004 as FLOW’s fourth major-label single, it was used as the opening theme for the globally popular anime Naruto.
In April 2024, a special 20th-anniversary 8cm CD edition was released, generating major buzz.
It’s a soul-stirring number that’s perfect for anyone seeking courage when they’re down or looking to go wild with friends.
SPECIALZNEW!King Gnu
This track by King Gnu, a four-piece band known for their uncompromising hybrid style, was written as the opening theme for season 2 of the anime Jujutsu Kaisen, the “Shibuya Incident” arc.
Its chaotic, heavy sound and raw, impassioned vocals mirror the anime’s world and seize listeners’ hearts.
The lyrics carry a powerful message: in the labyrinth of a life with no clear path, believe in your own uniqueness and charge forward on impulse.
Released as a CD single in September 2023, it reached the remarkable milestone of 100 million streams in just twelve weeks.
It’s an energetic number that fires you up without overthinking—perfect before a make-or-break moment or when you want to boost your mood on a drive.
BattlecryNEW!Nujabes
This is a masterpiece crafted by Nujabes, who profoundly influenced beatmakers around the world and is known as a pioneer of lo-fi hip-hop.
The harmony woven by Shing02’s sharp English rap and the wistful, jazzy track is a must-hear.
It exquisitely fuses the rugged spirit of period dramas with a modern beat, quietly yet passionately stirring the listener’s heart.
It was included on the soundtrack album “samurai champloo music record ‘departure’,” released in June 2004, and was used as the opening theme for the TV anime Samurai Champloo.
The sonic landscapes Nujabes created remain beloved and unfaded even after his passing.
It’s the perfect track for the stillness before dawn, or when you want to confront yourself and stoke your fighting spirit.