Kobukuro (J-Pop)

Sakura - Arguably Kobukuro's biggest single and still one of the 10 favorite Karaoke songs in Japan years after it's release.

Kobukuro is a band made up of two members, Kentarō KOBUchi and Shunsuke KUROda (thus the name). Kentaro is the taller man (he's 6'4'') and Shunsuke is the one playing the guitar. They were primarily an indy band from 98-2001 (prior to 98 and being signed they were street performers, and they were found and signed after being seen performing in Shibuya). In 2001 they have their first hit single, YELL. But they really hit big in 2005 with a string of hit singles, the most notable being Sakura which was one of the most popular songs of the year, and a Karaoke staple. Since then they have had a string of huge hits, and are now one of the most popular pop acts in Japan. They are primarily a rock band (acoustic at times) although they are heavily into ballads, and most of their popular songs are ballads. They are one of my favorite groups, and since 2005 they really have the magic touch, releasing great song after great song. Below are a few of my favorite songs from them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobukuro - Their Wikipedia page.

AKAI ITO w/ Yui Aragaki (I also like Yui but not for her singing. She's a pretty good young actress and really likeable and her parts so far, singing wise, not so much.

TSUBOMI - Another of their hit singles - one which is also very popular in karaoke.