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[2026] Popular Songs Among Today’s Youth [J-Pop]

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.

Now that we live in an era where anyone can broadcast on the internet and information is overflowing, music trends are emerging differently than before.

These days, it’s completely normal for Vocaloid producers to thrive as singer-songwriters, or for a song posted online to spark widespread popularity.

What’s more, trends—especially among younger generations—are shifting at a tremendous pace.

So in this article, our editorial team, which regularly researches a wide range of music, will carefully select and introduce tracks that are currently hot among young people.

It’s become a must-hear playlist where you won’t want to miss a single song, so be sure to read to the end!

[2026] Popular Songs Among Today’s Youth [Japanese Music] (481–490)

Like the beginningRen

[PLANJ] ORIGINAL: 'Like the Beginning' – REN

Like the beginningRen

This is a solo ballad written by REN of the global boy group JO1.

Set for release in July 2025, it’s his fourth solo track.

With a delicate vocal delivery, it captures the unease toward kindness that’s become routine and the premonition of a relationship’s end.

You can clearly feel the protagonist’s poignant resolve in lines like, “This way will be better for both of us.” It’s a song that will sink deep into your heart when you’re struggling with a cherished relationship or quietly reflecting on a breakup at night.

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I want to become a ghost.Yuika

I Want to Become a Ghost / “Yuika” [MV]

I want to become a ghost.Yuika

Sung over a breezy sound, it’s a devoted—if a little heavy—love that wishes to become the ghost of the one they adore.

Yuika, whose realistic emotional expression resonates with many, delivers complex feelings of love with a clear, translucent voice.

Lyrics that express the ache of wanting to be close but unable to touch through unique metaphors are sure to make many listeners’ hearts skip a beat.

Released in July 2025, this track was chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime “Wataru-kun no XX ga Hōkai Sunzen.” If straight love songs leave you wanting more, this might fit perfectly with that frustrating, bittersweet feeling.

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Sangenjaya Storiesyangusukinii

Young Skinny – Sangenjaya Story [Official Music Video]

Sangenjaya Storiesyangusukinii

A warm love song by Young Skinny that vividly brings the real scenery of Sangenjaya to mind.

It portrays a stubborn, headstrong man’s clumsy yet straightforward love for his partner, and its true-to-life lyrics will capture listeners’ hearts.

Released in July 2025, this piece is sure to make anyone who cherishes the little everyday moments with their loved one think, “I know exactly how that feels!” Why not listen to it together with someone special and lose yourselves in your own story?

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rainy sceneryrokudenashi

Rokudenashi “The Shape of Rain” / Rokudenashi – The Shape of Rain [Official Music Video]

rainy sceneryrokudenashi

A striking track by Rokudenashi, built around a structure that shifts from gentle piano lines into a danceable sound.

Featured on the EP “Hikage,” released in July 2025, the song was written and composed by DUSTCELL’s Misumi.

Carrying pain in the heart yet moving forward with someone precious, the theme meshes perfectly with vocalist Ninzin’s emotional delivery.

It’s a song that will quietly stay by your side when you’re feeling sentimental.

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Blue Motionmeiyo densetsu

Blue Motion

Blue Motionmeiyo densetsu

This is a track by Meiyo Densetsu that was selected as the opening theme for the TV anime “The Water-Attribute Magician.” Its pleasant rock sound and the warm vocals of Kotani-san leave a strong impression.

The straightforward message—“Don’t stay in the same place like an ornament; forge ahead without hesitation”—stirs the listener’s heart.

It’s the perfect song to hear when starting a new challenge, giving you the power to step into the future.

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I wish I could cut it with a beam sword.soshina

Soshina – I wish I could cut it with a beam sword.

I wish I could cut it with a beam sword.soshina

This is a track by comedian Soshina that sweeps you away with its impulsive rock sound.

Released in July 2022 as his second single and also included on the album “Naoto Sasaki,” the song follows in the footsteps of the popular track “I Wish I Could Shoot Beams,” delivering the same driving energy.

Over a gritty, hard-hitting performance, it voices an earnest desire to protect someone important.

If you’re looking to break through your current situation or rekindle your inner passion, listening to it will surely give you strength!

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Joined handsFunatsu Mahiro

Joined hands

Joined handsFunatsu Mahiro

This is a ballad by Masato Funatsu that gently weaves the warm happiness found in everyday life with an acoustic touch.

The song was written as a CM theme for the Shimane Denkō Group, centered on the theme of human connection.

Unchanging feelings that endure for decades and bonds that deepen when we join hands are expressed through vocals that slowly seep into the heart.

It’s a heartwarming love song that makes the ordinary days spent with someone special feel even more precious.

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