Recommended Japanese pop songs for karaoke for men in their 40s

MiracleGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Kiseki

GReeeeN, who recently changed their name to “GRe4N BOYZ” from 2024 onward, are well known as a group whose members all have careers as dentists and continue their musical activities alongside their medical work.

Since the late 2000s, they have released one hit after another on the J-pop scene, and their songs are hugely popular at karaoke.

Among them, “Kiseki,” released in 2008, is one of their signature tracks and a Heisei-era classic covered by many artists.

Its melody line is simple and easy to sing, and the vocal range is narrow, so if you’re aiming for a high score, definitely give this song a try.

Hide-and-seekYuri

Yuuri “Kakurenbo” Official Music Video

For men in their 40s who are looking for recent hit songs that are easy to sing, I recommend Yuuri’s Kakurenbo.

Yuuri originally made his major debut as the frontman of a rock band, but after the group disbanded, his street performances drew attention, and he re-debuted in 2020 as a singer-songwriter.

While he’s especially popular with Gen Z, his novel-like lyrics and carefully woven melodies resonate deeply even with listeners in their 40s.

Kakurenbo is one of his signature songs, and among Yuuri’s tracks it’s arranged in a relatively lower key.

Although the chorus does reach slightly higher notes, the overall range is narrower, making it easy to sing.

The parts sung with power carry a captivating nuance that reflects his rock background, so if you enjoy ballads, definitely give it a try.

For loveTamio Okuda

“For Love” from the live film tamio okuda TOUR “29-30”

Since debuting as UNICORN in 1987, Tamio Okuda has maintained a unique position throughout his long career, continuing to exert a tremendous influence on subsequent artists.

For many people now in their 40s who spent their youth in the 1990s, it’s likely that Okuda’s songs from around his solo debut—rather than his work with Unicorn—were the soundtrack of their adolescence.

Okuda’s milestone solo debut single, “Ai no Tame ni,” was released in 1994 and became one of his signature tracks, achieving million-seller status.

While it’s hard to capture the nuanced atmosphere that Okuda himself brings, the melody has a relatively narrow range and gentle interval leaps, making it genuinely easy to sing.

If you’re aiming for a high score at karaoke, definitely consider adding it to your repertoire.

SakurazakaMasaharu Fukuyama

Masaharu Fukuyama – Sakurazaka (Full ver.)

Masaharu Fukuyama is undoubtedly one of Japan’s most iconic figures, both as a singer-songwriter and as an actor.

It’s truly remarkable that he has continued to release hit songs from the 1990s through the Reiwa era.

While each generation likely has its own “Fukuyama songs,” Sakura-zaka, released in 2000, is a quintessential Heisei-era classic that achieved a record-breaking double million in sales.

Some may find ballads challenging, but the simply crafted melody line makes it easy to sing, and the relatively low key makes it approachable for those with lower voices.

If you carefully follow the scale, you can definitely aim for a high karaoke score; at the same time, the song’s charm lies in its lower register, so if you’re not confident with low melodies, this is a great piece to practice with.

TRUE LOVEFumiya Fujii

TRUE LOVE / Fumiya Fujii

For those of you now in your 40s who spent your teenage years in the 1990s, you might associate Fumiya Fujii more with his work as a solo artist than with The Checkers.

Fujii is active in many fields beyond music, but his most famous song as a solo singer is TRUE LOVE, released in 1993 as his solo debut single.

It’s fascinating that there are many anecdotes surrounding the song’s creation—such as the fact that Fujii had no prior experience composing before writing it, and that the odd time signature in the intro came from a mistake he made while recording the demo, which was kept as is.

It’s a massive hit so iconic it appears in textbooks and remains a karaoke favorite, yet it’s based on classic chord progressions and features a straightforward melodic development, making it very easy to sing.

One point to note: in the first chorus he sings certain parts in falsetto, while in the second chorus he sings those parts in chest voice—so keep that in mind and deliver it with strength.

DiscoveryFLYING KIDS

FLYING KIDS – Discovery (Music Video)

The FLYING KIDS song that depicts winter’s chill and the loneliness of the heart was released in November 1996 and was featured in a Sapporo Beer “Fuyu Monogatari” commercial.

Through the image of the protagonist chasing footprints erased by a blizzard, it expresses the longing for lost love and the strength to face it.

Blending funk with pop rock, the track showcases FLYING KIDS’ signature style, with upbeat lyrics and dynamic, well-defined instrumentation.

Takashi Hamazaki’s steady vocals are another highlight.

It’s a song that resonates—perfect for singing at a get-together with friends or on a winter night spent with someone special.

Linda LindaTHE BLUE HEARTS

PARANMAUM 'Linda Linda'

Released in May 1987 as the major-label debut single by THE BLUE HEARTS, a band emblematic of Japan’s punk rock scene, this track features simple lyrics and a powerful melody, expressing a strong determination to protect what’s important no matter the circumstances.

In 2005, a film featuring this song was released, and it has had a wide cultural impact, being covered by various artists.

It’s a perfect pick for belting out at karaoke to blow off steam or for getting hyped with like-minded friends.