I don’t write as many full J-pop reviews as I used to, mostly because I haven’t been as enamored with the industry as I was before, but I continue to spotlight new releases each and every Sunday. This countdown is a culmination of that feature, rounding up my fifty favorite singles (or promoted b-sides) of the year.
SONGS 50-31
SONGS 30-11
SONGS 10-1
2025 YEAR-END MASTERPOST
10. &TEAM – Run Wild
I’m cheating a little here because this wasn’t technically a single, but I couldn’t leave my most-played &TEAM song of the year out of this countdown. It’s so upbeat and exciting.
9. King & Prince – I Know
King & Prince have no right to be this groovy. It’s the rare dance track where less is more, harnessing a rhythmic minimalism over a dynamic electro beat. It might be their coolest sounding song ever.
8. Kep1er – Yum
Yum hits you over the head like a sledgehammer in the best way. Its verses are par-for-the-course charismatic sing-talk, but when the wall-of-sound chorus hits the song totally knocks you off your feet. (full review)
7. TXT – Can’t Stop
Yes, it’s an underdeveloped song. Yes, I had to make my own extended version. But even with those frustrations, Can’t Stop bops along the kind of sticky 80s synth-funk I live for. It’s TXT’s strongest single in ages.
6. STARGLOW – Moonchaser
STARGLOW haven’t even debuted yet, but they’ve set the bar high for themselves with this ambitious EDM anthem. The track doesn’t skimp on scope or scale, offering four minutes of highlights. (full review)
5. xikers – Up All Night
I don’t know what magic xikers are bottling for their J-pop material, but I wish they’d steal some of it for their Korean title tracks. This is such a fantastic slice of summertime pop, breezy and powerful in equal measure. (full review)
4. TWS – Hajimemashite
Hajimemashite fits alongside TWS’s debut-era highlights, coming across as a bit slight at first but improving steadily with each listen until it becomes impossible to resist. The bridge is an undisputed highlight, sweeping listeners away with a palpable sense of optimism. (full review)
3. Ryugujo – OSHIBAI
Ryugujo without Avu-chan seemed like a losing prospect, but the guys proved they could reinvent themselves without sacrificing what made them so dynamic in the first place. OSHIBAI gets everything right. It’s weird, dramatic and larger-than-life. (full review)
2. Kis-My-Ft2 – Glory Days
To be honest, I’d kind of given up on Kis-My-Ft2 ever releasing a killer single again. I’s still not sold on anything else from their 2025 album, but this song goes head to head with their many classics. It’s a surging rock anthem in the style they deliver best and this longtime fan was very happy (and relieved!) to hear it. (full review)
1. Genic – It’s Showtime
The past few years, my number one song has paved a new way forward or experimented with pop form. This year, It’s Showtime does the exact opposite by looking back at J-pop’s past and mining it for all its worth. What pulls everything together is Genic’s undisputed showmanship. Not only do they serve razzle dazzle with the best of them, but they SING as if their career depended on it. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to hear a group deliver a song with such panache, putting full spotlight on their performance rather than production gimmicks of TikTok virality. It’s showtime, indeed! (full review)