[2026 JOYSOUND Karaoke First Half Ranking] Kenshi Yonezu Tops Song Chart, Mrs. GREEN APPLE Leads Artist Chart!

EXING Inc. (Headquarters: Mizuho-ku, Nagoya; President: Yasushi Mizutani), part of the USEN & U-NEXT GROUP, announces the "2026 JOYSOUND Karaoke First Half Ranking," compiled based on singing data from "JOYSOUND," a commercial communication karaoke system boasting over 440,000 songs, the largest in the industry (*1). This report not only presents the standard overall rankings (by song and artist) but also provides a multifaceted analysis of the hits from the first half of the year by examining trends in genre-specific rankings that symbolize contemporary trends, including the latest songs released in 2026, boy and girl groups popular for fan activities and viral consumption, anime, and enka.

(*1) As of June 2026, surveyed by our company.

▽2026 JOYSOUND Karaoke First Half Ranking Feature Page:

https://www.joysound.com/web/s/karaoke/feature/ranking/2026-half

Kenshi Yonezu Takes Top Spot in Song Ranking, Mrs. GREEN APPLE Ranks First in Artist Ranking – Two Giants Make a Strong Showing.

Kenshi Yonezu Mrs. GREEN APPLE

This half-year ranking shows a notable coexistence of "real-time hits" and "cross-generational revivals." In the Top 5 song rankings, Kenshi Yonezu's "IRIS OUT," which showcased overwhelming presence with its anime tie-in, secured the top position. M!LK's "Suki Sugite Metsu!," which garnered explosive support on social media, surged to second place. Meanwhile, songs by Vaundy, Yoko Takahashi, and Porno Graffitti, including contemporary classics and mega-hits from the Heisei era, solidified the Top 5, demonstrating their enduring popularity across a wide range of demographics.

In the Top 5 artist rankings, Mrs. GREEN APPLE, with the most songs (4) in the top 30, was crowned number one. The list was dominated by leading artists in the current music scene, including back number, Kenshi Yonezu, Aimyon, and Vaundy.

Overall Karaoke Ranking (By Song)

The Top 30 this time proved to be a testament to "rediscovery of classic songs" by the digital native generation and the "overwhelming strength of anime tie-ins." Anime-related songs, accounting for approximately one-quarter (7 songs) of the total, showed tremendous momentum. Led by Kenshi Yonezu's "IRIS OUT" (from "Chainsaw Man - The Movie: The Reze Arc") at number one, related songs from popular works, such as AiNA THE END's "Kakumei Douchuu - On The Way" (from "DanDaDan" Season 2), ranked 11th, are being passionately sung in karaoke.

On the other hand, Heisei mega-hits like Yoko Takahashi's "Zankoku na Tenshi no Thesis" and Porno Graffitti's "Saudade," a prime example of a revival song sung by younger generations, maintained their high positions.

The rise of Mrs. GREEN APPLE, with four songs in the top 30, exemplifies the contemporary hybrid singing trend where users actively choose and enjoy songs they encounter daily across their "personal timelines," transcending generational boundaries.

【Latest Karaoke Trends】 2026 Song Release Ranking (Overall)

Led by M!LK's "Bakuretsu Aishiteru" at the top, "overwhelming diffusion power through social media" is a key factor in hits on the latest charts. Songs like =LOVE's "Gekiyaku Chuudoku" and MONA's "Boku no Kawaiiko-chan" also saw explosive popularity sparked by viral trends on social media, becoming passionately sung in karaoke, especially among younger, trend-conscious generations.

Meanwhile, looking at the overall share, anime-related songs account for 40% (8 songs) of the total, further accelerating the recent "anime-centric hit trend." Particularly, tie-in songs from popular sequel series with fervent fan bases, such as Mrs. GREEN APPLE's "lulu." (from "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" Season 2) at second place and King Gnu's "AIZO" (from "Jujutsu Kaisen" Season 3 "Shibuya Incident Arc - Part 1") at third, demonstrated overwhelming strength.

Artist Ranking

In the artist ranking, Mrs. GREEN APPLE, which also showed unparalleled strength in the song chart, took the top spot. Their songs, from recent hits to past representative works, are sung by a wide range of generations, underscoring their national popularity. A significant characteristic of the top rankings is the dominance of bands and artists with overwhelming support in the music scene, such as back number at second place, Vaundy at fifth, and Official HIGE DANdism at sixth.

Furthermore, the enduring popularity of "Heisei hit artists" is noteworthy. Legends like Mr. Children (14th), Spitz (17th), and Southern All Stars (20th) maintained their high positions. The phenomenon of younger generations discovering these timeless classics through social media and singing them alongside real-time fans has become commonplace, indicating that the karaoke scene is simultaneously witnessing the "rise of new artists who will lead the next generation" and the "inheritance of timeless masterpieces."

【Featured】 Boy Group Ranking (Songs Released in 2026)

M!LK

Looking at the songs released by boy groups this period, the rise of groups with multiple songs charting simultaneously is striking. The characteristic of this period is the enthusiastic popularity of groups like M!LK, Snow Man, SixTONES, and Aぇ! group, which extends beyond single-hit songs to their overall group appeal.

Behind this is the overheating of "oshi-katsu culture" (fan activity culture). When new songs are released, many fans enjoy not only the title track but also other included songs, and this fervent support manifests in karaoke as multiple songs ranking simultaneously.

【Featured】 Girl Group Ranking (Songs Released in 2026)

=LOVE

In the girl group charts, cases where viral trends on social media lead to major hits are taking the lead. Led by =LOVE's "Gekiyaku Chuudoku" at the top, trend songs originating from social media timelines, such as those by HANA, CUTIE STREET, and FRUITS ZIPPER, lined the top ranks.

In recent years, there has been a trend where not only the quality of the music but also the members' "cuteness" and unique worldview garner strong support. Fans drawn to the groups' characters are passionately singing their songs in karaoke, fully embracing the distinctive worldviews.

▽Comment video from =LOVE members here

Anime/Game Ranking (Overall)

The first half of 2026 anime song karaoke rankings saw a mix of old and new popular works. While the top positions were dominated by recent hits like Kenshi Yonezu's "IRIS OUT" from "Chainsaw Man - The Reze Arc" and songs by Mrs. GREEN APPLE, timeless classics such as "Zankoku na Tenshi no Thesis" and "Sekai ga Owaru Made wa..." also maintained strong popularity.

Anime/Game Ranking (Songs Released in 2026)

Looking at the latest trends, Mrs. GREEN APPLE's "lulu." at the top showed overwhelming presence. Meanwhile, songs related to the major hit movie "Super Kaguya-hime!" occupied five of the top 10 spots. This indicates a listening trend that goes beyond the traditional model of only the theme song becoming a hit, where fans of the work create playlists of "in-movie songs" and enjoy the entire worldview, which is reflected in karaoke singing trends. Additionally, five tie-in songs from popular sequel series also ranked. Because these works already have a solid fanbase, their popularity skyrockets upon broadcast, leading to explosive power that directly translates to karaoke.

Enka/Kayokyoku Ranking (Overall)

In enka and kayokyoku,定番 songs with unwavering strength, led by Sayuri Ishikawa's "Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyu Keshiki," dominated the top ranks. While the lineup has remained largely unchanged from last year, the classic duets "Ginza no Koi no Monogatari" and "Yukikuni" have climbed in rank. Notably, Yoshimi Tendo's "Tabiji" made a remarkable debut at 19th place, breaking through the strong wall of established classics.

Enka/Kayokyoku Ranking (Songs Released in 2026)

The 2026 enka and kayokyoku chart saw veteran and mid-career artists with proven track records, such as Yoshimi Tendo, who took the top spot with "Tabiji," Hiroshi Miyama, and Miyuki Kawanaka, demonstrating their continued presence. On the other hand, the emergence of younger artists is also noticeable, with Shin Aoyama's "Jusan-kagetsu" at 8th place, Kohei Kusunoki at 10th, and Monaki (5th), who is also gaining attention on social media. The characteristic is the emergence of new winds within the traditional stability.

▽Comment video from Yoshimi Tendo here

https://youtu.be/EjWP5ovZ6hg

Artist Interviews

Overall Karaoke Ranking (By Song) 1st Place "IRIS OUT"

Kenshi Yonezu Interview

-- What are your thoughts on your songs leaving your hands and being sung by countless people every day in karaoke spaces across the country as "my song," imbued with their emotions?

Kenshi Yonezu: I'm aware that I continue to create songs that are troublesome and difficult for me to sing myself, so I still find it strange that songs made by such a person are sung so much in karaoke. I'm very happy if they function well as a momentary diversion for everyone.

-- You've achieved a double crown, first in the Anime/Game category and then overall. How do you view the current situation where songs created in conjunction with the world of their respective works are being sung widely by the public beyond the scope of anime?

Kenshi Yonezu: I truly have no feeling other than gratitude. As a musician, I consider it a great honor.

-- To Kenshi Yonezu, who expresses works from multiple perspectives including music and visuals: When singing "IRIS OUT" in karaoke, what kind of "scene" or "color" do you imagine to immerse yourself more deeply in the worldview?

Kenshi Yonezu: I believe that's something each person who sings brings with them, so I don't want to impose anything specific. I'm perfectly fine with everyone putting something of their own into this song.

-- How do you feel about listeners actively engaging with your music, not just by "listening" privately through earphones, but by "singing out loud" in karaoke?

Kenshi Yonezu: I sometimes get asked to sing karaoke when I go to bars, and there's a fundamental sense of satisfaction in singing loudly. I'm inherently very happy to be chosen as the subject for that.

-- Please give us any tips or advice for singing "IRIS OUT" well in karaoke.

Kenshi Yonezu: It's perfectly fine not to sing well. Sing it however you like, and if you feel good, that's enough.

-- Please tell us about your own "karaoke roots" and any memorable songs you used to sing often in karaoke.

Kenshi Yonezu: Chihiro Onitsuka's "Watashi to Waltz wo" was a song that felt good to sing. I remember singing it often when I went to karaoke with friends in my student days.

-- If you were to go to karaoke with friends or acquaintances, would you sing your own songs if requested? (Or do you have any go-to songs by other artists that you "can't help but want to sing"?)

Kenshi Yonezu: I don't think I would try to sing my own songs myself. However, if it's put in without my consent, I'll brace myself and sing with all my might. The key is to give it your all without holding back any energy.

-- Please tell us about your future activities and your aspirations for 2026.

Kenshi Yonezu: Moving forward, I will continue to cherish what's in front of me, one by one, just as I have done until now. If something unexpectedly interesting emerges, that would be ideal. Above all, I want to create good music.

Karaoke First Half Ranking Feature Page

Featuring diverse rankings and artist comments!