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[2025] Japanese karaoke songs you’ll want to sing at year’s end: A roundup of popular hits and classics

[2025] Japanese karaoke songs you’ll want to sing at year’s end: A roundup of popular hits and classics

Last updated:2025/10/15

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICSasashina
Deputy Editor of the web media RAG MUSIC. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. In my student days, I studied broadly at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, covering sound, lighting, and video technology, and acquired skills from comprehensive stage production to the fundamentals of creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, and have consistently built my career on the production side, taking on diverse tasks centered around music. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting in my own way, as well as insights and discoveries from interacting with my kids every day. I hope I can be of help to you, even just a little!

As December comes around each year and the end of the year approaches, chances to sing karaoke at year-end parties and company gatherings tend to increase.

Since it’s a special time, you might be thinking of singing the perfect year-end song to get everyone excited.

In this article, we introduce classic J-pop songs about December scenery, the year’s end, and New Year’s Eve, spanning different eras and genres.

Whether you want to fire up the crowd with a group singalong for one last hurrah, or deliver a gentle performance to bid farewell to the year, pick a song that suits you and enjoy a wonderful year-end!

[2025] Japanese karaoke songs to sing at year’s end: roundup of popular and classic tracks (1–10)

Dance at my place (New Year’s Eve)Gen Hoshino

Let's Dance at My Place (New Year's Eve)

Let's Dance at My Place (New Year's Eve) by Gen Hoshino

A heartwarming pop tune that paints year-end scenes spent with loved ones.

Though born during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gen Hoshino’s warm vocals and melody perfectly capture a stay-at-home vibe you can still enjoy.

When it was performed at the 71st NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen on December 31, 2020, a newly added second verse gave the piece even greater depth.

Focusing on personal growth and new beginnings through everyday life at home, the song offers the courage to look forward even in difficult times.

With Hoshino’s signature playfulness and strong message shining through, it’s perfect for livening up year-end karaoke.

Let’s all dance and sing our hopes for the new year.

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1991NEW!Kenshi Yonezu

1991

1991 NEW! Kenshi Yonezu

Kenshi Yonezu, a singer-songwriter leading the Japanese music scene.

This song, written as the theme for the live-action film “5 Centimeters per Second,” bears the title 1991—the year he was born—reflecting his deep attachment to the original work.

The lyrics, woven around themes of memory and loss that trace personal emotions, convey a will to keep moving forward while facing the past, making it highly relatable for many listeners.

It’s an emotional number that will resonate deeply with those at a turning point in life or anyone wishing to confront precious memories.

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The Story of the Wind and MeNEW!Ado

The Story of the Wind and Me [Ado]

Wind and My Story NEW! Ado

This piece was written as the theme song for the film The Silent Service: The Great Arctic Sea Battle, released in September 2025.

It drew attention as the first song Hiroji Miyamoto has ever provided to a female artist, and for Mafumafu’s role as arranger.

The lyrics move from everyday scenes—like wind brushing your cheek and the sparkle of the city—to the preciousness of human connection, linking seamlessly with the film’s grand narrative.

It’s a beautiful rock ballad that stirs the heart with the contrast between Miyamoto’s characteristically lyrical melody and Ado’s richly expressive vocals.

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JANE DOEKenshi Yonezu, Hikaru Utada

Kenshi Yonezu, Hikaru Utada – JANE DOE

JANE DOE Kenshi Yonezu, Hikaru Utada

It’s a number that swells with a piercing sense of longing.

Written and composed by Kenshi Yonezu, with vocals by Yonezu and Hikaru Utada, this track sparks a one-of-a-kind chemical reaction.

It portrays a sorrowful yet beautiful kind of love—like a plea to follow the trail of blood left by one’s own wounds—that loosens your tear ducts the moment you listen.

Utada’s voice, sweeping through like the wind, deepens the song’s melancholic atmosphere even further.

Released in September 2025 on Yonezu’s single “IRIS OUT / JANE DOE,” the track served as the ending theme for the feature-length anime Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc.

Please let yourself sink into the lingering afterglow of the story.

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five mon coinsMOROHA

MOROHA “Five Mon Coins” Official Music Video

Gomonsen MOROHA

MOROHA is a duo known for their unique sound, where message-driven rap intertwines with acoustic guitar.

“Gomonzen” was included as the closing track on their 2019 album MOROHA IV.

The lyrics, which reflect on oneself while watching NHK’s year-end Kouhaku Uta Gassen, pierce the heart as if asking, “Is this really okay?” If you want to perform something outside the usual repertoire, definitely give “Gomonzen” a try!

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universal gravitationNEW!Masaharu Fukuyama

Banyuinryoku

Universal Gravitation NEW! Masaharu Fukuyama

Released digitally in September 2025, “Universal Gravitation” was written as the theme song for the Nippon TV information program DayDay.

The song explores the idea that even when we feel lonely amid the bustle of the city, people are drawn to each other by an invisible force.

Its lyrics contrast a heart bewildered by the buildings’ scattered reflections with stars that, though unseen, are undeniably there—gently revealing the warm connections hidden in everyday life.

It’s a supportive anthem that stays by your side during the busy morning rush and lifts you into a positive mood.

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CharismaxSnow Man

Snow Man “Charismax” Music Video

Charismax Snow Man

A striking track that blends para para—the dance craze of the 1990s—with rapid-fire rap and a modern dance sound.

It’s a song released by Snow Man, known for their acrobatic performances, in August 2025.

The lyrics depict people stuck in dull routines unleashing their hidden brilliance and stepping into the spotlight, delivering a positive message that listeners themselves can become “charisma.” The music video even features a breathtaking scene with 250 dancers taking over the Shibuya crossing, visually amplifying the song’s energetic appeal.

Released after the single “SERIOUS,” this track is guaranteed to lift your mood.

Give it a listen when you want to boost your energy during housework or a workout!

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