Popular Japanese pop karaoke. Latest rankings [2025]

Sand PlanetBee36rank/position

Hachi – Sand Planet feat. Hatsune Miku, HACHI – DUNE ft. Miku Hatsune

Kenshi Yonezu, now a leading figure in Japan’s music scene, once worked as a Vocaloid producer.

Under the name Hachi, he released this track in 2017 to commemorate Hatsune Miku’s 10th anniversary.

It portrays a figure walking on through a desolate, desert-like world, blending electro and rock with Hatsune Miku’s vocals soaring over the sound.

The song hit one million views in just six days after release, setting a new speed record in Vocaloid history.

If you were a fan of his Hachi era, it’s guaranteed to get the crowd going at karaoke!

SaudadePorno Graffitti37rank/position

Pornograffitti “Saudade” MUSIC VIDEO

When it comes to Porno Graffitti’s go-to hype song, doesn’t “Saudade” come to mind? The overall vocal range of the song is G3–G#4, so it’s quite narrow.

However, as anyone who knows the song will sense, the tricky parts are the high notes and the speed of the lyrics.

The chorus is relatively easy to sing calmly, but in the A and B sections, if you haven’t memorized the lyrics, you’ll struggle to keep up with the tempo and get left behind.

Also, the key gradually rises, so your stamina will be tested.

For the fast lyrical parts, try not to articulate every word crisply; instead, aim to let the words flow smoothly along the melody.

In the final chorus, the song modulates and the key goes up even further.

If you pull your voice backward while singing, it may crack, so try to project forward with a clean attack.

It’s also important to keep your core (tanden) engaged at all times.

Plant your feet and sing it out!

Romantic FlightKome Kome Club38rank/position

JAL Okinawa Campaign Summer Rikyu 1990 Theme Song: "Kome Kome Club - Roman Hikou"

Songs that continue to be loved across generations often have melodies with a universal appeal that anyone can sing.

Kome Kome Club’s signature song “Roman Hikō” is truly a timeless classic passed down through the ages.

Released in 1990, it was a massive hit that boosted the band’s mainstream recognition, and for those now in their mid-to-late 40s, it’s likely a nostalgic tune that brings back memories of their elementary or middle school days.

When singing it at karaoke, be mindful of the contrast between the low notes in the verse and the soaring high notes in the chorus, and take care not to go off pitch when the key changes in the final chorus.

A Cruel Angel's ThesisYoko Takahashi39rank/position

“Cruel Angel’s Thesis” MUSIC VIDEO (HD ver.) / Zankoku na Tenshi no Te-ze “The Cruel Angel’s Thesis”

The anime tie-in song performed by Yoko Takahashi, whose charismatic vocals are captivating, tells a grand story of a boy’s growth and his challenge toward a new world.

It’s a compelling track filled with dramatic expression and a determined drive to move forward.

Released in October 1995, the song was used as the opening theme for the TV anime Neon Genesis Evangelion and caused a major sensation.

It consistently ranks high on karaoke popularity charts, making it a song that bridges generations without creating a gap, even in mixed-age gatherings.

It’s a masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of anime songs—one you should definitely sing at karaoke.

Time Goes ByEvery Little Thing40rank/position

Time goes by – Every Little Thing (Full)

A gemlike love ballad that embraces everyone’s sense of incompleteness and loneliness with universal kindness.

Released by Every Little Thing in February 1998, this song beautifully portrays how lovers may hurt each other yet grow together through the experience of love.

Chosen as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Thursday 10 p.

m.

drama “Amai Kekkon” (“Sweet Marriage”), it went on to sell over 1.

4 million copies.

It has since become familiar as a commercial song for numerous brands, including Toyota and SoftBank.

With its gentle melody and lyrics whose depth resonates more and more with life experience, it’s sure to move you.

The Howling of the Lost OneNeru41rank/position

Neru – The Wail of the Lost One (Lost One’s Weeping) feat. Kagamine Rin

The suffocation of the classroom, the anxiety of not seeing any answers, the loneliness of being understood by no one.

There may be no other song that captures the pains of adolescence this vividly.

Released by Neru in 2013, the track later surpassed 10 million views.

Its edgy guitar sound and Kagamine Rin’s emotional vocals intertwine perfectly, giving voice to a cry from the heart.

Included on the major-label album “Seikaisefuku,” the song is still sung by many to this day.

Belt it out at karaoke, and the haze you carried back then will blow away.

Recommended for those who want to revisit their school days and for anyone still fighting their own battles now.

cloudy skyDOES42rank/position

DOES – Overcast Sky / THE FIRST TAKE

Released on June 18, 2008, it’s the fifth opening theme song for the TV anime Gintama.

At just three minutes long and with a repeating melody, it’s extremely easy to remember.

I think it’ll be a big hit with fans of anime songs, rock, and bands! The vocal range is C3–F4, which is comfortably within the range for many male singers.

If you’re good with high notes, you might find it a bit lacking, so try raising the key when you sing! By the way, songs with a narrow range that are easy to sing can sometimes feel a bit dull and less enjoyable.

In those cases, try adding exaggerated dynamics to each phrase, emphasizing the initial accents, or making small tweaks to build excitement.

If you avoid sounding too flat and learn to sing it with a pleasant flow, you’ll enjoy it even more!