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[2026] Popular in America! A Collection of Japanese Anime Songs

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

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 the U.S.! A Collection of Japanese Anime Songs (11–20)

Love CirculationNEW!Hanazawa Kana

Love Circulation

Love CirculationNEW!Hanazawa Kana

How about an irresistibly cute pop tune that has anime fans around the world hooked? “Ren’ai Circulation,” sung by popular voice actress Kana Hanazawa, was released in 2010 as the opening theme for Nadeko Snake in the anime Bakemonogatari.

Her whispery vocals, performed as the heroine Nadeko Sengoku, mesh perfectly with the bouncy rhythms crafted by Satoru Kousaki.

In recent years, it has sparked a massive boom overseas—including in the United States—through platforms like TikTok, becoming an anthem that transcends borders.

Its world that portrays the innocent feelings of a girl in love cleanses the heart every time you listen.

When you’re feeling down, it will wrap you in a gentle softness and surely lift your spirits.

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In conclusion

Behind the rising popularity of Japanese anime songs across the ocean in the United States lies the sheer energy of the music itself and its deep connection to the stories.

The power of music to leap effortlessly over language barriers is truly something special.

If a song catches your interest, be sure to experience it alongside the anime it comes from.

In the moments when the work and the music overlap, you’re sure to find a new kind of excitement waiting!