The end of summer 2025 delivered some heavyweight releases in J-pop and beyond. Idol powerhouses contributed significantly. Anime tie-ins added to the excitement. K-pop crossovers also made an impact. The Billboard Japan Hot 100 saw multiple new tracks crash the charts this September. Here’s a breakdown of the key songs, the artists behind them, and how fans reacted.
📊 Chart Highlights
| Title | Artist / Band | Release Date | Peak Position | Notable Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asymmetry | Naniwa Danshi | Sept 10, 2025 | No. 1 | 358k+ first-week CD sales; dominated sales metric despite modest radio/video rankings |
| Iris Out | Kenshi Yonezu | Sept 15, 2025 | No. 1 | 23.95M streams in first week (record for a solo artist); anime tie-in with Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc |
| Jane Doe | Kenshi Yonezu & Hikaru Utada | Sept 22, 2025 | No. 2 | Part of double A-side single; tied to Chainsaw Man ending theme |
| Toki Yo Tomare | ILLIT | Sept 1, 2025 | No. 4 | First major Japanese single by K-pop group; strong debut for foreign act |
📝 Song Summaries & Public Reactions
Naniwa Danshi — “Asymmetry”
The 7-member idol group stormed to No. 1 with Asymmetry, powered mainly by physical sales: over 358,000 copies sold in its debut week. While airplay and video view rankings lagged (No. 19 and No. 63), their dedicated fanbase once again showed the power of bulk-buying idol releases.
Kenshi Yonezu — “Iris Out”
Yonezu’s Iris Out smashed records with 23.95 million streams in its first tracking week — the highest ever for a solo artist in Japan. As the opening theme for Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, it benefited from anime buzz and playlist exposure. The synergy of Yonezu’s reputation and franchise hype made it the defining hit of September.
Kenshi Yonezu & Hikaru Utada — “Jane Doe”
This collaboration brought together two of Japan’s most iconic artists. They worked on the Chainsaw Man ending theme. As the other half of the double A-side single with Iris Out, Jane Doe reached No. 2, driven by combined streams, downloads, and physical editions. The collaboration itself became a hot topic across Japanese social media.
ILLIT
The song is titled “Toki Yo Tomare”. ILLIT, HYBE’s newest girl group, released their first Japanese single and immediately cracked the top 5. Charting at No. 4, Toki Yo Tomare marked a rare feat for a non-Japanese act, reflecting growing crossover between K-pop and J-pop markets.
👥 Meet the Artists
Naniwa Danshi (なにわ男子)
- 7-member idol group under Starto Entertainment (formerly Johnny’s). Debuted in 2021 with Ubu LOVE. Known for bright, upbeat songs and Kansai humor.
- 🌐 Official Website
- 🐦 Twitter (X)
Kenshi Yonezu (米津玄師)
- Began as Vocaloid producer Hachi in 2009, then debuted under his real name in 2012. His 2018 hit Lemon became one of the best-selling digital singles in Japan’s history. Known for blending genres and creating striking visuals.
- 🌐 Official Website
- 🐦 Twitter (X)
- ▶️ YouTube
Hikaru Utada (宇多田ヒカル)
- One of Japan’s most influential artists, debuting in 1999 with First Love. The album remains the best-selling in Japanese history. Known worldwide for their Kingdom Hearts themes and bilingual artistry.
- 🌐 Official Website
- ▶️ YouTube
ILLIT (아일릿)
- 5-member girl group under Belift Lab (HYBE). Formed through the survival show R U Next?. Debuted in 2024 with Super Real Me, and expanded into Japan with Toki Yo Tomare in 2025.
- 🌐 Official Website
- 🐦 Twitter (X)
- ▶️ YouTube
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