How to learn with these songs
A chorus repeats the same few words again and again, and the melody does the memorising for you. Every song here is slow to mid tempo, sung mostly in Japanese, with short, clear lines built on everyday words: famous ballads, film songs and pop, plus a few classics every Japanese speaker grew up with.
How to use this list: tap Sing this (or search the title in a room) and pick a lyrics video that shows Japanese with romaji or furigana. Read the "Words you'll learn" first, sing just the chorus two or three times, then the whole song. Learn hiragana early: every song becomes easier to read.
This is the Beginner level. Intermediate and Advanced lists, with faster songs and longer lines, are coming soon.
The list
Tap Sing this to open a free room and search for that song on your phone, ready to add to the queue.
- 上を向いて歩こう (Ue o Muite Arukō · Sukiyaki)Kyu SakamotoSing thisThe most famous Japanese song abroad: slow and easy to follow.Words you’ll learn
- 上を向いてue o muitelooking up
- 歩こうarukōlet's walk
- 涙namidatears
- 一人ぽっちhitoripotchiall alone
- レット・イット・ゴー～ありのままで～ (Arinomama de · Let It Go)Takako MatsuSing thisFrozen in Japanese: a tune you already know.Words you’ll learn
- ありのままarinomamaas I am
- 姿sugatafigure, self
- 見せるmiserushow
- 自由jiyūfreedom
- さくら（独唱） (Sakura · Cherry Blossoms)Naotaro MoriyamaSing thisA graduation classic: slow, with long, clear vowels.Words you’ll learn
- さくらsakuracherry blossom
- 友tomofriend
- 旅立ちtabidachisetting off
- 笑顔egaosmiling face
- 涙そうそう (Nada Sōsō · Tears Flow)Rimi NatsukawaSing thisGentle Okinawan ballad, sung slowly and softly.Words you’ll learn
- 涙namidatears
- 笑顔egaosmiling face
- 雨の日ame no hirainy day
- 想い出omoidememories
- 世界に一つだけの花 (Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana · The Only Flower in the World)SMAPSing thisA song every Japanese person knows; simple words and a steady beat.Words you’ll learn
- 世界sekaiworld
- 花hanaflower
- 一つだけhitotsu dakeonly one
- 種taneseed
- 君をのせて (Kimi o Nosete · Carrying You)Azumi InoueSing thisCastle in the Sky theme: slow, with short lines.Words you’ll learn
- 地球chikyūthe Earth
- まわるmawaruturn, spin
- 瞳hitomieyes
- 出会うdeaumeet
- 糸 (Ito · Thread)Miyuki NakajimaSing thisA wedding favourite: slow, with a very simple chorus image.Words you’ll learn
- 糸itothread
- 縦tatevertical
- 横yokohorizontal
- 布nunocloth
- ハナミズキ (Hanamizuki · Dogwood)Yo HitotoSing thisCalm, slow and very popular at karaoke.Words you’ll learn
- 君kimiyou
- 百年hyakunena hundred years
- 夢yumedream
- 続きますようにtsuzukimasu yō nimay it continue
- 365日の紙飛行機 (365-nichi no Kamihikōki · 365 Days of Paper Planes)AKB48Sing thisNHK drama theme: mid tempo and full of everyday words.Words you’ll learn
- 人生jinseilife
- 紙飛行機kamihikōkipaper plane
- 願いnegaiwish
- 風kazewind
- LemonKenshi YonezuSing thisUnnatural theme and a huge karaoke hit; the chorus is steady and clear.Words you’ll learn
- 悲しみkanashimisadness
- 匂いnioiscent
- 雨amerain
- 光hikarilight
- マリーゴールド (Marigold)AimyonSing thisRelaxed summer pop with a clear, story-like chorus.Words you’ll learn
- 麦わらの帽子mugiwara no bōshistraw hat
- 夏natsusummer
- 空sorasky
- 抱きしめてdakishimetehold tight
- やさしさに包まれたなら (Yasashisa ni Tsutsumareta nara · Wrapped in Kindness)Yumi AraiSing thisKiki's Delivery Service song: unhurried, all Japanese, with short, clear lines.Words you’ll learn
- 神さまkamisamaGod
- 夢yumedream
- 奇蹟kisekimiracle
- メッセージmessējimessage
- 雪の華 (Yuki no Hana · Snow Flower)Mika NakashimaSing thisA winter karaoke standard: slow, with long notes.Words you’ll learn
- 雪yukisnow
- 華hanaflower
- 一緒にissho nitogether
- キミkimiyou
- 見上げてごらん夜の星を (Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o · Look Up at the Night Stars)Kyu SakamotoSing thisShort, gentle lines sung very slowly.Words you’ll learn
- 夜の星yoru no hoshinight stars
- 見上げてmiagetelook up
- 小さなchiisanasmall
- 幸せshiawasehappiness
- 未来予想図II (Mirai Yosōzu II · Future Forecast II)Dreams Come TrueSing thisMid-tempo love song; conversational, easy lines.Words you’ll learn
- 未来予想図mirai yosōzupicture of the future
- 愛してるaishiteruI love you
- ブレーキランプburēki ranpubrake lights
- 笑顔egaosmiling face
- となりのトトロ (Tonari no Totoro · My Neighbour Totoro)Azumi InoueSing thisThe Totoro theme: playful, repetitive, loved by all ages.Words you’ll learn
- となりtonarinext door
- 森moriforest
- 不思議fushigiwonder, mystery
- 出会いdeaiencounter
- 故郷（ふるさと） (Furusato · Hometown)Japanese school songSing thisA slow school song: classic vocabulary, sung very clearly.Words you’ll learn
- ふるさとfurusatohometown
- 山yamamountain
- 川kawariver
- 忘れがたきwasuregatakiunforgettable
- 幸せなら手をたたこう (Shiawase nara Te o Tatakō · If You're Happy)Japanese children's songSing this"If You're Happy and You Know It" in Japanese.Words you’ll learn
- 幸せshiawasehappy
- 手tehand
- たたこうtatakōlet's clap
- 足ashifoot
Frequently asked questions
Can you really learn Japanese by singing songs?
Songs won't replace grammar study, but they are excellent for vocabulary, pronunciation and listening. Choruses repeat the same words many times, so beginners pick up common Japanese words quickly and remember them for longer.
Romaji or kana?
Start with romaji if you must, but switch to lyrics with furigana (small kana over kanji) as soon as you know hiragana. Japanese vowels are short and pure, which makes songs a good pronunciation model.
How should I practise with a karaoke song?
Listen once while reading the lyrics, learn the chorus words, sing only the chorus a few times, then sing the whole song. Say each new word out loud in the gaps and come back to the same song a few days later.
Will there be intermediate and advanced Japanese lists?
Yes. This is the Beginner level. Intermediate and Advanced lists with faster songs and longer lines are coming soon.
More languages to sing
- ✦ Sing to Learn: all languages
- Chinese 中文: beginner songs
- Korean 한국어: beginner songs
- French Français: beginner songs
- Spanish Español: beginner songs
Karaoke song lists
- ✦ All karaoke song lists
- Easy karaoke songs for beginners
- Best duet karaoke songs
- Best 80s karaoke songs
- Best 90s and 2000s karaoke songs
- Best K-pop karaoke songs
- Chinese KTV songs (Mandarin and Cantonese classics)
- Karaoke songs for kids and family
- Funny karaoke songs and crowd-pleasers
- Diwali party songs for karaoke
- Thanksgiving karaoke songs
- Christmas karaoke songs
- Lunar New Year karaoke songs
Charts and guides
Ready to sing?
Create a free room on your TV. Guests scan the QR code and queue songs from their phones. No app, no sign-up.