Top 10 Japanese Songs to Help You Learn Japanese

The best and only way to learn languages is to be consistent in learning. Without consistency, you will not be able to get to the level you dream.

One way to consistency is to love what you are learning. Just imagine how hard it is to learn something you don’t like and you will be doing that for the rest of your life. Even if you are learning something that you like, it is still hard to keep your momentum and motivation up, putting yourself into the habit of learning. Once you fall out of it, you are out forever. That is why being consistent is extremely difficult. BUT not impossible.

Especially, Language learning is not just something that you can stick to. It is nothing but a habit. So the key here is to make it a habit. But “How can I make it a habit?”, there are a million ways to learn languages, right!? But do not worry because it is actually easier than you may think.

Let me ask you one question. “What is the most fun and enjoyable thing about language learning?” If you have the answer right away, you know what to do, but if you don’t know, I will tell you mine. Mine today is watching movies and tv series, but it used to be listening to English songs. Do you know the reason why? Because it was fun and easy for a person like me who just started learning English.

It usually takes about a month to form a habit, but listening to music for 1 month is just too easy, isn’t it!? Once it becomes your habit, you just keep listening to it or progress to something else like watching movies or reading books. But the hardest part is always the start.

In this post, I will introduce the top 10 Japanese songs that help you learn Japanese better and faster.

GReeeeN – キセキ (Kiseki)

The first recommended Japanese song to help you learn Japanese is「キセキ」 (Kiseki) by GReeeeN. The term「キセキ」(Kiseki) has two meanings「奇跡」(Kiseki) which means “Miracle”, and「軌跡」(Kiseki) which means “Track”.

This song is about two people who are in love and grow older together which represent the word「軌跡」, and how these two people met and fell in love is described as「奇跡」.

I chose and recommend this song is because I have such a memory of this song. As you can see in the music video above that this song relates to baseball since this song was the theme of one of the most popular Japanese dramas called “rookies”. “rookies” is a high school baseball drama and aired when I was playing baseball in high school. As well as my baseball coach was a huge fan of “rookies” and on our way to the last summer baseball tournament game, he played this song endlessly on the bus. We lost the game and that was the last time I wore the baseball uniform. Every time I listen to this song, it just reminds me of this time.

秦基博 (Hata Motohiro) -「鱗（うろこ）」 (Uroko)

「鱗」(Uroko) is the second single released by 秦基博 (Hata Motohiro).

This song is a straightforward but also a very passionate love song. Hata sings about how people get scared and worried to tell someone that they love them. But at the same time, everyone knows that they have to do it.

The song’s title 鱗 (Uroko) means “fish scales”, and this is a figure of speech on how you can be like fish and swim upstream in a romantic relationship.

Mr. Children – HANABI

The next recommended Japanese song is「HANABI」by Mr. Children. Mr. Children is one of the best-selling artists in Japan. If you want to explore Japanese pop music, you cannot avoid Mr. Children.

The song title「HANABI」means “Firework”, and was used as the theme song of the Japanese drama “Code Blue” where Tomohisa Yamashita played the main role.

Mr. Children sings about how people lose their loved ones and think “what would they say? if they were here”. A moment cannot be caught and one day this will end just like “firework”. Some people already lost someone or having a hard time at work, but this moment goes just like “firework”. So, take a deep breath and everything is going to be alright.

あいみょん (Aimyon) – マリーゴールド (Marigold)

マリーゴールド (Marigold) is the fifth single of あいみょん (Aimyon). This song took first place in the Oricon Streaming Chart for 20 weeks in a row.

The lyrics of this song got very cheesy lines, but the rhythm is just perfect that brings you to the 90s J-Pop which is known as the best music era of all time.

I just love this song even though it was released in 2018. At this time I had been committed to English learning and stopped listening to J-Pop since 2014 until I accidentally discovered it on YouTube. I could not just resist it and I binge listened to this song for weeks.

サザンオールスターズ (Southern All Stars) – TSUNAMI

The fifth song that I recommend for you to study Japanese with is “Tsunami” by サザンオールスターズ (Southern All Stars). This song is the fourth best-selling single on the Oricon chart of all time. There are only three songs that were sold more than “Tsunami”.

Even though the lyrics of “Tsunami” have nothing to do with the actual meaning of “tsunami”, the tidal waves, this song refrained from all the TV programs and radio after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami occurred due to the disaster was catastrophic and many people have suffered since then. However, this song has such a deep message that empowers those victims. One tv show decided to air “Tsunami” six months after the incident and received 99% positive feedback.

サザンオールスターズ is my favorite and the most famous rock band in Japan, so if you haven’t checked them out, you should. They had 44 songs that occupied the Oricon Top 100 weekly single chart at the same time. That’s just crazy.

MISIA – 逢いたくていま (Aitakute Ima)

The next recommended Japanese song is「逢いたくていま」(Aitakuteima) by MISIA. This song was the theme song to the Japanese drama Jin.

MISIA is known as one of the best female singers in Japan. Her voice is just amazing! The lyrics, the melody, and MISIA’s voice and singing technique is just work of art.

「逢いたくていま」is best for learning Japanese because there are no slangs or any difficult phrases that you won’t use in daily life.

西野カナ (Nishino Kana) – トリセツ (Torisetsu)

The seventh recommended song is「トリセツ」(Torisetsu) by 西野カナ (Nishino Kana). 西野カナ is now on hiatus since February 2019, however, she produced many hit songs during her active years.

All of her songs are very catchy and won’t get out of your head easily. If you liked「トリセツ」, that means you will like the other songs as well.

The title トリセツ is short for 取扱説明書 (Toriatsukaisetsumeisyo) which means “instruction”. The lyrics of this song is something like you see in the instruction when you buy something. But this instruction is for 西野カナ which is the singer and probably this song was made for her husband.

This song is very unique and there are many cute expressions that you can use unless you’re a man. I will use this song to make a Japanese lesson one day.

AKB48 – 恋するフォーチュンクッキー (Koi Suru Fortune Cookie)

The next song is「恋するフォーチュンクッキー」(Koisuru Fortune Cookie) by AKB48.

I hate to admit but this song is my guilty pleasure song. It is, indeed, a good song, so just watch the music video and enjoy!

嵐 (Arashi) – Love so sweet

The ninth recommended Japanese song is「Love so sweet」by 嵐 (Arashi). 嵐 is arguably the most famous and popular Japanese boy band. However, they are on hiatus starting from 2021.

This song was used as the theme song to one of the most successful drama『花より団子2』(Hana Yori Dango2) in which the member Jun Matsumoto played the main role.

SMAP – 世界に一つだけの花 (Sekai Ni Hitotsu Dake No Hana)

The last song is「世界に一つだけの花」(Sekai ni hitotsu dake no hana) by SMAP. SMAP was another boy idol group that was, without doubt, the most successful boy band in Japan.

SMAP was regarded as an icon group in Japan achieving extraordinary success in every genre in the entertainment industry including television, films, and music until they officially broke up in 2016.

「世界に一つだけの花」is now the third best-selling single in Japan. The lyrics of this song are so powerful that I really want you to understand these lyrics in Japanese.

There you have it!

These top 10 songs are my favorite and I recommend you to listen every single day to enhance your Japanese learning and make them more enjoyable!

Other posts you may like are down below.

➡ Let’s Learn Japanese With Anime (あたしンち EP 37 New Year’s Day)

➡ 7 Best Japanese Movies To Learn About Japanese Culture

➡ How to Make Long-Distance Relationships Work (How I Failed)

Let me know what you think about my post in the comment below or you can reach out to me on my Twitter account. Thank you!