Billboard Japan’s 2025 Summer J-Pop Picks: See the List

This summer’s Billboard Japan Hot 100 song chart featured a diverse assortment of songs showcasing the multifaceted quality of Japan’s pop music. Mrs. GREEN APPLE, now a household name in the country, continues to dominate the tally with unprecedented momentum, while the new girl group HANA that debuted just this April has kept two summer anthems in the top 10 for weeks. Songs from the 2000s and 2010s, such as ORANGE RANGE’s “Ikenai Taiyo” and HALCALI’s “Otsukare SUMMER,” are also drawing significant attention for their respective return to the mainstream.

Below, check out five memorable J-pop numbers selected by Billboard Japan from among the myriad of hits that soundtracked the summer of 2025.

AiNA THE END “On The Way” 

The opener for the anime series Dandadan Season 2 has made great strides on the Japan Hot 100, charting for nine consecutive weeks since its release and peaking at No. 5 on the list released Aug. 20. AiNA’s husky, powerful voice grabs your attention from the very first note, while the chorus overwhelms with her aching vocals belting out lyrics expressing determination. Another highlight to listen for is how the song incorporates the anime’s title Dandadan as a phrase in the lyrics, linking it firmly to the show’s universe.

Fujii Kaze “Love Like This”

Fujii Kaze’s “Love Like This” was released ahead of the singer-songwriter’s long-awaited 3rd album Prema, due Sept. 5. The heart-tugging electric piano intro evokes a vast beach at sunset. Is this a song about having found the love of your life, or a song celebrating the partner in your heart (= yourself) who will stay with you for a lifetime? The answer lies within the listener’s imagination. The accompanying music video is set somewhere in sun-kissed Europe and depicts a mature, unrequited love affair reminiscent of the visuals for Gwen Stefani’s “Cool.” Whatever the outcome, someone who has found unwavering conviction is “cool” indeed. 

Official Hige Dandism “”Rashisa”

Official Hige Dandism’s latest release was written for the animated feature film 100 Meters to be featured as its theme song. Synchronizing with the anime’s universe depicting the 100m sprint track event, frontman Satoshi Fujihara’s resonant vocals unfold over the speedy band sound evocative of a sprinter hurtling towards the finish line. The meaning of the song’s title, “Rashisa,” is “the quality that makes you who you are” in the context of the lyrics. While this quality can sometimes weigh you down, the powerful anthem embraces even that inner conflict and gives you a push forward.

HANA “Blue Jeans”

HANA’s second single “Blue Jeans” depicts a girl lacking confidence who falls fatefully in love (or so she believes). Starting with a muffled guitar refrain, the sound gradually builds intensity, clearly expressing the soaring emotions. The appeal of each of the seven members’ vocals shines through in this compact number and it’s no surprise that it launched with the highest total weekly points for any song this year on the Japan Hot 100 song chart.

ORANGE RANGE “Ikenai Taiyo”

The current trend in Japan is “Heisei,” meaning a revival of the culture around the 2000s and 2010s. ORANGE RANGE’s “Ikenai Taiyo” from 2007 symbolizes this throwback to the era that officially began in 1989 and ended in 2019. The five-man band hailing from Okinawa dropped a new music video accompanying the summery bop, packed with 72 recognizable Japanese pop-culture references from the Heisei era. The comic visuals drew attention not only from the band’s loyal fans, but also from a new generation of listeners. Other Heisei summer hits like RIP SLYME’s “Nettaiya” (2007) and YUI’s “SUMMER SONG” (2010) are also going viral again, making this a particularly noteworthy trend this year.