Popular Japanese pop karaoke. Latest rankings [2025]

Naughty SunORANGE RANGE22rank/position

ORANGE RANGE – Naughty Sun (Reiwa ver. Music Video)

For men in their late twenties and older, ORANGE RANGE is likely a particularly nostalgic band.

They have many great songs, but the one I especially recommend is “Ikenai Taiyō.” It’s a rap-rock track with a slightly comical touch, and both the chorus and its hook phrase deliver an outstanding lift.

It’s generally an easy song to sing, but since there’s a key change from the intro to the first verse, those who feel unsure should practice it a few times.

broad daylightKing Gnu23rank/position

King Gnu – Hakujitsu

With a heavy, low-end beat interwoven with shouts and rap, this track delivers a visceral sound that shakes you to your core.

Human frailty, regret over the past, and the resolve to move forward are depicted through vivid imagery, with deep emotions carefully expressed via a snow motif symbolizing innocence and purity.

Released in February 2019 as the theme song for Nippon TV’s Saturday drama “Innocence: False Accusation Lawyer,” the piece became a signature track from King Gnu’s major-label debut album, “Sympa.” It was also performed at the 70th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in December 2019, helping to lift the band’s profile nationwide.

As a song that faces past mistakes yet stands beside those who keep walking toward tomorrow, it has soothed the hearts of many listeners.

Hated by LifeIori Kanzaki24rank/position

Hated by Life Itself / Hatsune Miku

This is a signature song of the Vocaloid scene that sets views on life and death and conflicts with society to an intense rock sound.

Released by Kanzaki Iori in 2017 using Hatsune Miku, it has surpassed 100 million total plays.

From the very beginning, the driving rhythm and lyrics that feel like an outpouring of the contradictory emotions deep within are overwhelming.

It depicts doubts about living and the struggles within relationships with others, striking deeply at the listener’s heart.

It also garnered attention when Mafumafu performed it on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

It’s included in the rhythm game Project Sekai, so many people may have discovered it through the game.

It’s a masterpiece that makes you project your own life onto it and want to sing it with raw emotion at karaoke.

cherrySpitz25rank/position

Spitz / Cherry

A coming-of-age song named after a seasonal fruit.

Released in April 1996, this work sets the resolve to move forward after heartbreak to a fresh, vibrant melody.

With delicate word choice and a clear, translucent vocal, it beautifully balances sorrow and hope, making it one of Spitz’s finest masterpieces.

It’s a track you’ll want to hear from spring into early summer, carried by a refreshing breeze.

Whether you’re suffering from love or ready to take a step toward your dreams and hopes, this is a song you should definitely listen to.

silhouetteKANA-BOON26rank/position

KANA-BOON “Silhouette” Music Video

The anime NARUTO, which became a worldwide hit, is widely known for its opening theme used in the Shippuden arc focusing on the characters’ youth, and it attracts many overseas comments on platforms like YouTube.

Popular among Naruto fans, this song is characterized by its bright and uplifting melody.

In the A section, there’s a phrase that repeatedly switches between falsetto and chest voice; while this is largely due to Maguro Taniguchi’s vocal style, it’s perfectly fine to carry it through in chest voice.

Although the overall pitch is on the higher side, the range itself is narrow, making it a relatively easy song to sing.

Senbonzakurakuro usagi P27rank/position

"MV" Senbonzakura WhiteFlame feat. Hatsune Miku

A classic that anyone who spent their youth on Nico Nico Douga is sure to know.

Composed by Kurousa-P and released on Nico Nico Douga in September 2011, it stands as a milestone of Japanese-style rock.

Its Taisho-romance-inspired worldview blends perfectly with a driving, exhilarating melody.

The lyrics capture the chaotic atmosphere of modern Japan as Western culture flows in, weaving in satire of society behind the glittering surface.

It was featured in a Toyota Aqua commercial and drew attention when Sachiko Kobayashi performed it on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

In karaoke rankings, it became the first Vocaloid song to place third overall in 2012, and it remains a beloved standard to this day.

It’s the perfect track for getting hyped with friends at karaoke or for sharing memories of those days.

LemonKenshi Yonezu28rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Lemon

A song by Kenshi Yonezu notable for its melancholic melody and distinctive chord progression.

Written specifically as the theme for the TV drama “Unnatural,” it drew widespread attention immediately upon release and is also known for becoming a historic long-running hit.

Released in March 2018, the track came to represent 2018–2019, and many will still remember the performance on the Kohaku Uta Gassen.

Overall, the key is low and it’s easy to sing, but you should take care with the high notes in the chorus.

If you can feel the rhythm as you sing, you can set yourself apart at karaoke—so be sure to give it a try.