Popular R&B. Japanese Artist Rankings [2026]

Midnight CruiseWONK22rank/position

WONK – Midnight Cruise (Official Music Video)

This is a song by the four-piece band WONK.

You can clearly see the influence of soul music—it’s a very mature track.

It’s included on their 2017 album Castor.

It evokes beautiful natural scenery in your mind.

SOULSbird23rank/position

bird Bootleg Archives 『SOULS』LIVE 99.3.27

Recently, the opportunities to see her on TV have decreased dramatically, but she is still active, mainly performing live.

By the way, she is actually the wife of the well-known Jun Miura.

I was surprised because I couldn’t find any connection between them.

I hear they now have a child and go to live shows together.

Boogie RideToshinobu Kubota24rank/position

Toshinobu Kubota – Boogie Ride [Official Video]

It’s a refreshing funk number that feels like you’re sprinting under an endlessly wide blue sky.

Toshinobu Kubota created it with a positive message: “Let’s live gently in a new era.” It has a powerful energy that blows away the stifling mood of everyday life and frees your heart.

The song was released in October 2020.

It was also featured in a Suzuki Escudo commercial, with Kubota himself appearing—a memorable touch.

It’s the perfect track for switching gears or for a weekend drive.

Let the comfortable beat carry you, and you’ll find yourself feeling optimistic, as if your worries never existed.

No, that's not it.Masayuki Suzuki25rank/position

Masayuki Suzuki - No, That's Not It - Music Video

This is the 17th single by singer Masayuki Suzuki, who made his major debut as a member of the chorus group Rats & Star and has been hailed as the King of Love Songs since the 2000s.

The track was used in a commercial for Mitsutaka’s “Boutique JOY” and was released as a double A-side single together with “Shibuya de 5-ji,” making it one of his signature songs.

Despite its straightforward Japanese lyrics, his soulful vocals elevate it brilliantly into Black music.

When you think of Black music within J-POP, this is likely the first emotional number that comes to mind.

StoryAI26rank/position

AI – Story

This is a heartwarming ballad that captures life’s precious moments.

AI’s powerful yet delicate vocals deliver a message to those of us caught up in the busyness of daily life: cherish the here and now.

Released in May 2005, the song reached No.

8 on the Oricon chart, resonated with many, and became a major hit with over two million downloads.

It was also selected as the Japanese ending theme for the film Big Hero 6, making it a beloved track both in Japan and abroad.

It’s perfect for times when you want to savor moments with someone special or take a closer look at yourself.

AI’s warm voice will surely be by your side and touch your heart.

Without youAYANE27rank/position

AYANE / Without You (Lyric Video)

Singer-songwriter AYANE, whose down-to-earth songs rooted in hip-hop and R&B have won strong support from many listeners.

Her digital single “Kimi ga Inai to,” released in November 2025, portrays a dependent kind of love where overwhelming feelings for the other person make you lose sight of yourself.

Lyrics that trace the anxiety of time spent apart and the conflict of being unable to end the relationship, paired with a mid-tempo mellow sound, hit you right in the heart.

It’s a bittersweet yet beautiful R&B number you’ll want to play on nights spent struggling with unrequited love.

Dancing FighterAwesome City Club28rank/position

Awesome City Club – Dancing Fighter (Music Video)

As the title suggests, it’s a danceable, upbeat tune.

It’s a track included on the five-piece band Awesome City Club’s 2018 EP “TORSO.” A positive anthem that sings of the resolve to walk firmly through a once-in-a-lifetime journey.