The Top 50 J-Pop Songs of 2024: 50-31

Now that we’ve got K-pop ranked for the year, it’s time to turn the blog’s attention to other music markets. First up is J-pop — a scene I write about every week on Sundays (and occasionally other days if a track catches my attention). Compared to last year’s excellent slate of music, I found J-pop pretty underwhelming overall this year. As with K-pop, there are a few persistent trends I’m not particularly fond of at the moment. However, while compiling this list I realized just how many great tracks came out in 2024. My list feels more rock-focused than normal, with even many of the pop tracks having strong guitar influence. I hope you’ll browse the selections and find something new to obsess over!

SONGS 50-31
SONGS 30-11
SONGS 10-1

2024 YEAR-END MASTERPOST

50. Ryugujo – ZeroZero

This music video is literally hours old, but the song has been around for longer. Its off-kilter showtunes-meets-traditional sound is beguiling.

49. ICEx – Bilimi

They call their genre “toy pop,” but Bilimi also incorporates harder-edged tones that see ICEx take on a trendier sound. The blend works well for them on this addictive single.

48. Novelbright – Empire (ft. Novel Core)

Rap and rock are old bedfellows and the combination rarely misses. Empire brings plenty of drive and energy to the mix, making it a killer workout track.

47. White Scorpion – Hijou Shudan

At their best, White Scorpion have a slightly mysterious, edgy sound best represented on tracks like Hijou Shudan. I love that chorus.

46. OHL – 「0」

A slavish use of vocal effects can be distracting, but it can also give a track an otherworldly appeal that compliments an equally forceful instrumental. 「0」is a mammoth sledgehammer of a dance banger.

45. Fantastics – Break Line

Fantastics had an underwhelming year in music, but my favorite single surprisingly sees them trying on a new guise as angsty rockers.

44. Wolf Howl Harmony – Frozen Butterfly

Rookies Wolf Howl Harmony borrow Y2K tropes but make them their own on the stately Frozen Butterfly. The chorus has a bit of a musical theater touch — always a good thing!

43. Ae! group -《A》BEGINNING

Ae! group finally made their debut with this blazing rocker. Everything’s turned up to “eleven,” including a few well-placed shots of vocal firepower. (full review)

42. Stereo Dive Foundation – Katawara

Stereo Dive Foundation continues to bring the ultra-complex electronic-meets-rock-meets-everything anime anthems we need. This is another fantastic notch in his belt.

41. BABYMETAL x @ElectricCallboy – RATATATA

This is probably the closest to screamo music I’ve ever featured on a countdown (thanks, @ElectricCallboy!), but that noise is counteracted by an addictive club beat. RATATATA is an absolute explosion of energy from start to finish.

40. RIIZE – Lucky

RIIZE make their Japanese debut with a breezy funk track perfect for the summer. It’s not as iconic as their Korean material, but its easy charm played well throughout the year. (full review)

39. XG – Something Ain’t Right

I tend to prefer XG’s clubbier side over their hip-hop throwdowns, and Something Ain’t Right boasts their stickiest hooks yet. (full review)

38. Wild Blue – First Light

Newbies Wild Blue followed their anthemic, self-referential debut track with a much more subdued energy. First Light is relentlessly gorgeous, immaculately produced and beautifully performed.

37. Sakurazaka46 – Bokuha bokuwo sukininarenai

There are so many Sakamichi Series singles released each year and many feel somewhat interchangeable. But when a song hits, it hits big. Bokuha‘s sweeping chorus hits all the pleasure centers.

36. XY – YG

XY released singles under their “band” and “dance” formations this year, with the former scoring the best release. YG is a super-solid rock anthem down to its searing guitar solo. (full review)

35. SixTONES – Anthem

For the first two thirds of its existence, Anthem is quite good. Then, it amps up to an unbelievable double-time climax and becomes an absolute monster. It’s so satisfying (and unfortunately not captured well in this shortened YouTube edit).

34. Psychic Fever vs. Wolf Howl Harmony – Yin Yang

Jr.Exile’s summertime match-ups were largely forgettable this year, but two of its youngest groups came together to deliver this polished — surprisingly pop-forward — banger.

33. Wednesday Campanella – Charlotte

Wednesday Campanella can be disarmingly quirky, but they can also create a straightforward summertime anthem like this. The beat is so contagious.

32. Daichi Miura – Pixelated World

Daichi Miura’s voice has such a natural sense of theatricality and pairs perfectly with icy synthpop. Pixelated World‘s chorus is downright majestic.

31. One Love One Heart – Monogatari wa koko kara

I’d love nothing more than for One Love One Heart to revisit the rock-flavored sound of their debut era. This single gets them a little closer, fueled by the dual vocal powerhouses I-CHI and Miu.

NEXT: SONGS 30-11