[Latest/Trending] A roundup of popular Japanese songs among teens and people in their 20s

Tiger BoyHOKUTO

HOKUTO – Tiger Boy (Official Music Video)

HOKUTO’s track “Tiger Boy,” notable for its funky band sound, is the lead song from the EP “LOVE PARADOX, LOVE MYSELF,” released in July 2025.

Written and composed by singer-songwriter Noboshi, the piece humorously portrays the hectic daily life of a pop star.

The lyrics are peppered with words that reflect HOKUTO’s own image, sure to make fans grin.

It’s a cool, slightly sexy track packed with all kinds of appeal.

room for growthCreepy Nuts

[MV] Creepy Nuts – Nobishiro (Room to Grow)

Creepy Nuts is a duo made up of R-Shitei and DJ Matsunaga, two artists who excel in their respective fields of MCing and DJing, and who interestingly share the trait of having once been intimidated by the MCs and DJs around them.

This song is included on Creepy Nuts’ album “Case.” It primarily layers vocals over a track where the same phrase loops, but the guitar and bass used in the track leave a strong impression, giving it a light, band-like feel.

The lyrics are also distinctive, packed with a powerful message about growing into adulthood—realizations like “I still have room to grow,” and the resolve that follows.

Youth ChocolateStrawberry Prince

[MV] Youthful Chocolate / Strawberry Prince

Seishun Chocolate by the group Sutopuri—who are mainly active on video-sharing platforms and popular among teens and people in their twenties—was released in 2022 and written for the Meiji confectionery collaboration project “Happy Strawberry Memory!” Centered on Valentine’s Day, the song portrays a boy nervously wondering who the girl he likes will give her chocolate to.

Determined not to lose her to another guy, the protagonist flips the script and gives her chocolate himself.

It’s a heart-fluttering track overflowing with feelings of love.

KarmaSKE48

SKE48 「Karma」 Music Video / 2025.9.24 on sale

This is the theme song for the drama “IDOL OF THE DEAD: The Person Beside You Has Died,” featuring SKE48 members and distributed on the short drama app BUMP.

It will be released as their 35th single in September 2025, and the double-center lineup of Haruka Kumazaki and Kaho Sato—who have supported the group for many years—has become a hot topic.

With “karma” and “cause and effect” as its themes, the lyrics depict a protagonist harboring a forbidden romantic feeling.

Combined with the song’s serious tone, you can’t help but be drawn into its world.

You're crazy.WurtS

WurtS – I'm Going Crazy (Official Audio)

A song that captures the inexplicable impulses and confusion of the very moment you fall in love! Crafted by WurtS, this track was released in July 2025 and chosen as the ending theme for season 2 of the TV anime “Dandadan.” It poppily expresses that uniquely youthful, dewy sense of restlessness—the kind that makes you so preoccupied with your crush that you want to drop everything just to tell them how you feel.

The way the narrator is thrown off by their own change—thinking about the other person no matter what they’re doing—comes across as incredibly endearing, doesn’t it?

MatatabiWANIMA

WANIMA “Matatabi” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO – Ending theme of the anime “Night of the Living Cat”

A heavy, fast-paced rock track from WANIMA.

Chosen as the ending theme for the anime “Night of the Living Cat,” the song’s lyrics embody a ‘catful horror’ world where cats rule over humans.

It portrays a dangerous thrill—surrendering to irresistible instincts and desires.

In the music video, Kazuko Kurosawa from Morisanchu dances intensely with leopard-print hair, brilliantly expressing the song’s message.

Put it on during a night when you want to let your emotions burst, and it might just blow away your everyday frustrations!

DropHANA

HANA / Drop -Performance Video-

@3jinoheroine

Drop Dance Cover#3 o'clock heroine#Drop#HANA#I tired dancing

♬ Drop – HANA

HANA’s pre-debut track stands out with its heavy-hitting beat and bold rap.

It was also the final assignment song in their audition, and you can feel the determination of the members who have overcome adversity.

The powerful message—“Even if it’s not perfect, I’ll bloom in my own way”—resonates deeply, especially when paired with their energetic dance performance.

It’s a top pick when you want to showcase a cool, stylish dance for a skit or stage act! If you dance while feeling the story embedded in the song, you’re sure to capture the audience’s hearts.

Give it a listen when you need to fire yourself up, too.