[2025] Karaoke songs you’ll want to sing over New Year’s: Classic and popular Japanese hits
As we enter the latter half of December and the year-end approaches, opportunities to go to karaoke increase with year-end and New Year parties during the holiday break.
If you’re thinking, “Since it’s the end of the year, I want to sing karaoke songs that are perfect for ringing in the New Year,” this article introduces recommended Japanese songs for year-end karaoke.
We’ve put together a selection that includes beloved classics from the Showa era, recent masterpieces that capture the New Year’s mood, and even the latest songs performed on the quintessential New Year’s Eve program, the Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
Be sure to check it out!
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[2025] Karaoke songs you’ll want to sing to ring in the New Year: Classic and popular Japanese hits (21–30)
Happy Endingback number
Buck Number has Christmas songs like “Heroine” and “Christmas Song,” but in fact, this “Happy End” is also a Christmas song.
It’s a tearjerker, too: the girlfriend suddenly tells him they should break up for no good reason.
The word “winter” never appears, but it’s perfect for the season—highly recommended to sing at the end of a year when you’ve had your heart broken, with the mindset of “Next year I’ll show you.”
Tower (Empire Statement)People In The Box
It’s a grand composition set in cities around the world, portraying the rhythms of people’s lives.
It features scenes like the view from the roof of the Empire State Building and appearances by different cities—New York, Vietnam, and Shinjuku—woven together across various times of day.
It’s included on the album “Weather Report,” released in October 2013, and the CD has a unique structure in which all tracks are docked into a single track.
It’s a perfect song to listen to at the moment of the New Year, inviting you to reflect on New Year celebrations around the world.
Listening to it repeatedly while traveling might create a powerful association between your journey and the music.
New Treasure IslandSakanaction
This is a 2015 single that also became the theme song for the movie Bakuman.
Doesn’t the synthesizer in the intro make you think of New Year’s? It’s a feel-good, ’80s-style techno track that feels great to sing along with.
As we head into a new year, let’s set sail toward our destination!
White LoversKeisuke Kuwata
A gem of a ballad, richly expressing the bittersweet feelings of winter love, has been delivered by Keisuke Kuwata.
It’s a moving piece that looks back on warm memories of love, as if wrapped in snow, with a sense of blessing.
Rather than lamenting a past romance as a mere failure, it impressively celebrates the moments of that love from the heart.
Accompanied by a beautiful, resonant melody, it conveys a gentle warmth within the chill of winter.
Released in October 2001, the song was featured in a Coca-Cola commercial and sold 520,000 copies on the Oricon weekly chart.
It’s a perfect choice for winter karaoke with family and close friends when you want to share heartwarming memories.
Turning Upstorm
Speaking of Arashi, at some point they really became the face of year-end festivities, didn’t they? The release date, November 3, 2019, marked the 20th anniversary of their debut, and this was a digital-only single.
It’s an ambitious piece, even bringing in overseas songwriters.
The lyrics mix in English throughout and sound super cool, so it’s guaranteed to be a hit at year-end karaoke—definitely a recommended song to practice hard and nail.
broad daylightKing Gnu
King Gnu, who had a major breakout in 2019.
They even provided a song for Leo Ieiri, and with members from Tokyo University of the Arts, their quality is undeniably high.
“Hakujitsu” is the track that sparked their rise, and I’m sure it came as a real surprise—a genre and musicality unlike anything before.
I’m excited to see what’s next for King Gnu.
Tonight is a Hearty PartyJuice=Juice
This work, a cover of Mariya Takeuchi’s classic song, is brimming with fun and warmth.
It portrays how people forget their everyday worries and gain energy for tomorrow through parties with friends.
It’s included on a single set for release in February 2025 and has also been chosen as a TV program theme.
When it was first performed at the Nippon Budokan in November 2024, the Christmas party–themed production reportedly brought the house down.
It’s the perfect track for when you want to enjoy time with friends or when you need a boost of energy.