In this article I want to present my list of favorite Japanese songs. Most are songs that probably played in some anime or game. I want to talk about all the songs, arts and share a complete ranking that will help you find what to listen to.
When it comes to music, I am somewhat different from most people; generally, it is the instrumental touches, rhythms, and soundtracks that catch my attention in a song, not the lyrics or the singer's voice. One of the main reasons I enjoy Japanese music so much is that they exaggerate in instruments different from the repetitive everyday sounds.
Take any popular Brazilian or international song, they will always have the same instruments and same rhythms. In contrast, músicas japonesas stand out from the traditional and use great mixtures of rhythms and even classical music instruments.
Table of Contents
Favorite Japanese singers, songwriters and bands
I usually don't like just one singer, songwriter or musical group. I usually just like one or two songs from each random band, because that song kind of played a part in crucial moments in my life.
Quickly listing favorite Japanese bands, songwriters and singers in ranked order. I can't say precisely my taste, I usually listen to 3 songs of each 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;
- RheNa;
- May.J
- Amer;
- ayaka;
- PornoGraffiti;
- Yui;
- Yui Horie;
- Good
- Yoko Takahashi;
- CHiCO;
- Mashiro Ayano;
- GREeeN;
- ASCA;
- Eir Aoi;
- Miura Jam;
My Favorite Japanese Songs
I always find a song and listen to it like 1,000 times until I get sick of it. There are songs I can't get enough of and are forever marked as the endings and openings of the 2011 Hunter x Hunter anime, all of them are epic, especially Yuzu's.
Hitori Goto e Irony Claris has also been in my playlist for a long time. I've listened to Sayuri thousands of times. Heikousen e That is Like a Small Light. The conclusion of Your Lie in April, Orange from 7!! is another one that gives you chills.
The song I've been listening to the most lately is Unlasting by Lisa, the ending of Sword Art Online Alicization 2. Previously, I also listened a lot to Niji no Kanatani from the same anime.
Two other very popular songs that I love and have always found among the most sung at Karaoke are Zankoku na Tenshi no teeze from Evangelion and Sekai wa koi ni ochiteiru from Ao Haru Ride.
In 2018 during my trip to Japan, I came across two songs that I constantly listen to to this day. They are ai no katachi [アイノカタチ] by MISIA and also the traditional Okinawan song Shima Uta [島唄], sung by Rimi Natsukawa.
Before these songs, I love most of the songs and OST tracks composed by Hiroyuki Sawano, especially those sung by Mika Kobayashi and Mizuki, especially those from the anime Aldnoah.Zero and the game Xenoblade X.
Goose House is another band that I really liked, they do several Covers and have perfect original songs like Oto no Naru Houe from Silver Spoon and Hikaru Nara from Your Lie in April.
Japanese songs from my Playlist
Of course, there are many other Japanese songs that are or have been on my playlist for some time and that marked me in some way. I will list below some songs that were left out and that I strongly recommend listening.
Remembering that they are not in order of favorites or anything, I just added the ones I found in the apps I use, or the ones that came to my mind. There may be more songs that I didn't remember T.T -- Sad...
Responsive Table: Scroll the table to the side with your finger >>
| Name of the song | band/singer | Anime/Media |
| ALIEz | feat. mizuki mZk | Aldnoah.Zero |
| A little pain | Olivia Lufkin | Nana |
| Fantastic Future | Tamura Yukari | HenNeko |
| Oh! Rival! | pornograffiti | Detective Conan |
| Try Again | Mai Kuraki | Detective Conan |
| Chikai | Hikaru Utada | Kingdom Hearts 3 |
| Yuki no Hana | Mika Nakashima | ReLife |
| Kiss of Death | Mika Nakashima | Darling in the Franxx |
| Amizade | Okazaki Ritsuko | Sukitte Ii na yo |
| Again | Yui | Fullmetal Alchemist |
| Blue Bird | KOBUKURO | Bakuman |
| Period | Química | Fullmetal Alchemist |
| Love Dramatic | Masayuki Suzuki | Kaguya-Sama |
| Ref:rain | amer | Koi wa Ameagari |
| Kiseki | GREeeN | classical |
| Natsu Matsuri | Whiteberry | Traditional |
| Partida | Masatoshi Ono | Hunter x Hunter |
| Ichiban no Takaramono | Yui | Slice of Life |
| My Dearest | supercell | Guilty Crown |
| unravel | TK from Ling | Tokyo Ghoul |
| Guren no Yumiya | Linked Horizon | Attack on Titan |
| Chuva | SID | Fullmetal Alchemist |
| Lie | SID | Fullmetal Alchemist |
| the WORLD | Nightmare | Death Note |
| Brave Heart | Miyazaki Ayumi | Digimon |
| Moonlight Densetsu | Moon Lips | Sailor Moon |
| God knows | Aya Hirano | Suzumiya Haruhi |
| Nandemonaiya | RADWIMPS | kimi no na wa |
| Todokanai Koi | uehara reindeer | White Album 2 |
| Bouken Desho Desho | Hirano Aya | Suzumiya Haruhi |
| Flavor of Life | Hikaru Utada | Hana Yori Dango (D) |
| Sorairo Days | Saenai Heroine | Gurren Lagann |
| Only my Railgun | fripSide NO | Railgun |
| Yuukyou Seishunka | Ali Project | Code Geass |
| Chasing the World | may'n | Accel World |
| Unfinished | KOTOKO | Accel World |
| Kanade | Sukima Switch | famous |
| Let Me Hear | Las Vegas | Kiseijuu |
| Kanashii Ureshii | Frederic | Koi to Uso |
| Fukashigi no Carte | Many artists | Seishun Buta |
| Sparkle | RADWIMPS | kimi no na wa |
| Uragiri no Yuuyake | Theater Brook | Durarara |
| Fatima | Kanako Ito | Steins;Gate |
| Bravely You | read | Charlotte |
| Days of Dash | Suzuki Konomi | Sakurasou |
| 君が夢を連れてきた | Various Art artists | Sakurasou |
| prayer | Oh Kayano | No Game no Life |
| This Game | Konomi Suzuki | No Game no Life |
| BB | The Yatou | Uchuu Kyoudai |
Ranking of the best Japanese songs
To end this article, we are going to share a Ranking of Favorite Japanese Songs of All Time by Popular Opinion. We're not going to put them in order of most popular, but in alphabetical order.
- 366 nichi - HY · 2008
- Ayaka Hirahara · 2004
- Ai no Katachi - Misia 2018
- Ayuta - Greeeen · 2007
- I want to see you - 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
- Firefly - 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
- The flowers bloom only here - Kobukuro · 2005
- Konayuki - Remioromen · 2005
- Love Forever - Miliyah Kato · 2009
- Love so sweet - Arashi 2007
- Lovers Again - Exile · 2007
- Mirai E (letter E Translation) - 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
- Heart Friend - Mayumi Itsuwa · 1991
- Embrace - Tatsuya Ishii · 1998
