In this article I want to present my list of favorite Japanese songs. Most are songs that probably passed in some anime or game. I want to talk about all the songs, artistic and share a full ranking that helps you find what to hear.
When it comes to songs I’m kind of different from most people, it’s usually instrumental touches, rhythms and soundtracks that catches my eye on a song and not the singer’s lyrics or voice. One of the main reasons for liking Japanese music so much, where they exaggerate in instrumentals different from repetitive everyday life.
Take any popular Brazilian or international music, you will always have the same instruments and same rhythms. Japanese songs are far from the traditional and use large mixes of rhythms and even classical music instruments.
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Favorite Japanese singers, songwriters and bands
I usually don’t usually like just a singer, songwriter or musical group. Usually I like only one or two songs from each random band, because kind of this song was part of crucial moments of my life.
Quickly listing favorite Japanese bands, composers and singers in ranked order. I can’t accurately say my taste, I usually listen to 3 songs at most, but the first ones on the list are usually more songs.
- Hiroyuki Sawano;
- Goose House;
- Yuzu;
- LiSA;
- ClariS;
- MISIA;
- Mai Kuraki;
- Hikaru Utada;
- Rimi Natsukawa;
- Sayuri;
- Mika Kobayashi;
- Mika Nakashima;
- 7!!;
- SID;
- ReoNa;
- May.J
- Aimer;
- ayaka;
- Pornographic Graffiti;
- Yui;
- Yui Horie;
- Good
- Yoko Takahashi;
- CHiCO;
- Mashiro Ayano;
- GReeeeN;
- ASCA;
- Eir Aoi;
- Miura Jam;
My favorite Japanese songs
I always find a song and listen to it about 1, 000 times until I get sick. There are songs I can’t get sick and are forever marked as the closures and openings of the 2011 Hunter x Hunter anime, all of which are epic, especially those of Yuzu.
HitoriGoto and Irony from Claris are also in my Playlist for a long time. Da Sayuri listened thousands of times Heikousen and Sore wa Chiisana Hikari no Youna. The closure of Shigatsu Wa Kimi in Use, Orange 7!! it’s another one who creeps.
The music I’ve been listening to most lately is Lisa’s Unlasting, closure of Sword Art Online Alicization 2. Previously I also listened enough Niji in Kanatani and also of the same anime.
2 other very popular songs I love and have always found among the most sung karaoke are Zankoku na Tenshi in evangelion teeze and Sekai wa koi ni ochiteiru from Ao Haru Ride.
In 2018 during my trip to Japan I met two songs I constantly listen to today. It is ai no katachi [アイノカタチ] by MISIA and also the traditional music of Okinawa Shima Uta [島唄] by the voice of Rimi Natsukawa.
Before these songs I love most of the SONGS and TRACKS OST composed by Hiroyuki Sawano, mainly those sung by Mika Kobayashi and Mizuki, mainly those of the animeal x.zero and the game Xenoblade X.
Goose House is another band i liked a lot, does several Covers and has perfect original songs like Oto no Naru Houe de Silver Spoon and Hikaru Nara from Shigatsu wa Kimi in The Use.
Japanese songs from my Playlist
Of course there are many other Japanese songs that are or have been in my playlist for some time and that marked me somehow. I’ll list below some songs that have been left out and i recommend listening strongly.
Remembering that they are not in order of favorites or anything, I just put the ones I found in the apps I use, or the ones that came in my head. There may be more songs I haven’t remembered T.T — Sad…
| Name of music | Band/Singer | Anime/Media |
| ALIEz | Feat. mizuki mZk | Aldnoah.Zero |
| A little pain | Olivia Lufkin | Nana |
| Fantastic Future | Tamura Yukari | Henneko |
| Oh! Rival! | PornoGrafitti | Detective Conan |
| Try Again | May Kuraki | Detective Conan |
| Chikai, New District | Hikaru Utada | Kingdom Hearts 3 |
| Yuki no Hana | Mika Nakashima | ReLife, New Life |
| Kiss of Death | Mika Nakashima | Darling in the Franxx |
| Friendship, New Friendship | Okazaki Ritsuko | Sukitte Ii na yo |
| Again, New | Yui | Fullmetal Alchemist |
| Blue Bird | KOBUKURO District | Bakuman |
| Period | Chemistry, New York | Fullmetal Alchemist |
| Love Dramatic | Masayuki Suzuki | Kaguya-Sama District |
| Ref:rain | Aimer | Koi wa Ameagari |
| Kiseki | GReeeeN | Classical |
| NatsuMatsuri District | Whiteberry, New,000 | Traditional |
| Departure, New Departure | Masatoshi Ono | Hunter x Hunter |
| Ichiban no Takaramono | Yui | Angel Beats |
| My Dearest | supercell | Guilty Crown |
| unravel | TK from Ling | Tokyo Ghoul |
| Guren no Yumiya | Linked Horizon | Shingeki No Kyojin |
| Rain | Sid | Fullmetal Alchemist |
| Use | Sid | Fullmetal Alchemist |
| the WORLD | Nightmare, New Year | Death Note |
| Brave Heart | Miyazaki Ayumi | Digimon |
| Moonlight Densetsu | Moon Lips | Sailor Moon |
| God knows | Aya Hirano | Haruhi Suzumiya |
| Nandemonaiya District | RADWIMPS | Kimi no na wa |
| Todokanai Koi | Uehara Rena | White Album 2 |
| Bouken Desho Desho | Hirano Aya | Haruhi Suzumiya |
| Flavor of Life | Hikaru Utada | Hana Yori Dango (D) |
| Sorairo Days | Saenai Heroine | Gurren Lagann |
| Only my Railgun | FRIpSide NAO | Railgun |
| Yuukyou Seishunka | Ali Project | Code Gearse |
| Chasing the World | may’n | Accel World |
| Unfinished, United | KOTOKO District | Accel World |
| Kanade District | Sukima Switch | Famous |
| Let Me Hear | Las Vegas, LA | Kiseijuu |
| Kanashii Ureshii | Frederic | Koi to Use |
| Fukashigi no Carte | Various Artists | Seishun Buta |
| Sparkle | RADWIMPS | Kimi no na wa |
| Uragiri no Yuuyake | Theatre Brook | Durarara |
| Fatima, Texas | Kanako Ito | Steins Gate |
| Bravely You | Read | Charlotte |
| Days of Dash | Suzuki Konomi | Sakurasou, New District |
| Oracion, Pennsylvania | Ai Kayano | In the Game in Life |
| This Game | Konomi Suzuki | In the Game in Life |
| B.b | The Yatou | Uchuu Kyoudai |
Ranking of the best Japanese songs
To finalize this article, we will share a Ranking of favorite Japanese songs according to a survey by international voting sites such as ranker.
- 366 nichi – HY · 2008
- Ayaka Hirahara · 2004
- Ai no Katachi – Misia · 2018
- Aiuta – Greeeen · 2007
- anata ni aitakute – Dreams Come True · 1989
- Arigatou – Ikimono-gakari · 2010
- Aruiteikou-Piano Intro Version- – Ikimono-gakari · 2012
- Ashitaga Kurunara – JUJU · 2009
- Beginner – AKB48 · 2010
- Best Friend – Kiroro · 2002
- Clock Strikes – One Ok Rock · 2013
- Futatsu no Kuchibiru – Exile · 2009
- Hana – Orange Range · 2004
- Hanaha Saku – Kiroro · 2018
- Hitohira No Hanabira – Stereopony · 2009
- Hotaru – Maiko Fujita · 2019
- Hyakuman-kai no ‘I Love You’ – Rake · 2011
- Ijime, Dame, Zettai – BABYMETAL · 2013
- jun-ai rhapsody – Mariya Takeuchi · 1994
- Kataomoi – Aimer · 2016
- KETSUI NO ASA NI – Aqua Timez · 2006
- Kimi No Subeteni – Spontania · 2008
- KIMINIUTATTARABUSONGUKARAOKE – Lil’B · 2008
- Kiseki – Greeeen · 2008
- Koi Suru Fortune Cookie – AKB48 · 2014
- Koibito yo – Mayumi Itsuwa · 1980
- Koko ni shika sakanai hana – Kobukuro · 2005
- Konayuki – Remioromen · 2005
- Love Forever – Miliyah Kato · 2009
- Love so sweet – Arashi · 2007
- Lovers Again – Exile · 2007
- Mirai E (letra E Tradução) – Kiroro · 1998
- Nandemonaiya – Radwimps · 2016
- Nokoribi – Mayumi Itsuwa · 1989
- Obokuri – Eeumi – Ikue Asazaki · 2008
- Please Stay With Me – Yui · 2010
- PONPONPON – Kyary Pamyu Pamyu · 2011
- Sakura Anatani Deaete Yokatta – RSP · 2009
- Sakurairo Mau Koro – Mika Nakashima · 2005
- Soba ni Iru ne – Thelma Aoyama · 2008
- Sparkle – Radwimps · 2016
- Sukiyaki – Kyū Sakamoto · 1962
- Sunao Ni Naretara – JUJU · 2008
- Tomorrow never knows – Mr. Children · 1994
- Towa ni Tomo ni – Kobukuro · 2004
- Uchiagehanabi – Daoko · 2017
- WINDING ROAD – Kobukuro · 2012
- Yuki no Hana – Mika Nakashima · 2003
- 心の友 – Mayumi Itsuwa · 1991
- 抱いて – Tatsuya Ishii · 1998