On karaoke and popularity polls

Everyone knows karaoke is Japan's gift to the world. But the question that keeps us up at night is, in the Land of the Rising Sun itself, what is the Top Karaoke Song, like, ever? Japanese Afternoon TV finds out and shares the thrilling results.

First, let's create some suspense by revealing the Top 19th song:

"Sekai Ni Hitotsu Dake No Hana" ("The Only Flower Of Our Kind In This World"), by "boy" band SMAP, 2003.

One point of appeal, no doubt, is that karaoke-goers whose voices are nowhere near stellar (or, let's face it, are completely off-key) can take comfort in the fact that they have good company in Nakai-san (and most of the rest of SMAP), and are thus Not The Only Flower Of Their Kind In This World.

Skipping the rest of the non-important numbers, here we are at No. 2:

"Nada Sou-sou" ("Never-ending Tears", or, according to Wiki, "Great Tears Are Spilling") by Natsukawa Rimi (originally written by Begin and Moriyama Ryoko), 2001.

Well, who could resist a song about never-ending tears, especially one that accompanied a tearjerker movie starring Tsumabuki Satoshi? Extra: watch Hayley Westenra sing it in English! On Japanese TV!

Since the suspense is killing us all, here's No. 1:

"Hanamizuki" by Hitoto You, 2004

And if you thought the Japanese were the only ones who loved this song, check out this exclusive, non-JAT-endorsed music video.

If this poll was any indication, seems like the Japanese don't always choose dumplings over flowers (or tears).

Ijyou desu!