Tonchiki Songs Boom as Snow Man and M!LK Lead Billboard Charts
The male idol scene in Japan is seeing a surge in 'tonchiki songs'-nonsensical, addictive tracks.
1 source Jul 19
Reporting from 1 source: KAI-YOU.
Why it matters
The chart success of tonchiki songs reveals how male idol groups are using retro musicality and choreography to bridge domestic nostalgia with global ambitions.
M!LK's 'Suki Sugite Metsu!' and 'Bakuretsu Aishiteru' ranked No.2 and No.6 on the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 first half 2026, while Snow Man's 'Charismax' hit No.10. Both groups blend Showa/Heisei nostalgia, but Snow Man aims for overseas expansion.
The three tonchiki songs that cracked the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 first half top 10 share a common foundation in Showa and Heisei pop culture. M!LK's 'Suki Sugite Metsu!' incorporates microphone stand performance and big band sound, while Snow Man's 'Charismax' leans on Eurobeat and Para Para dance. Both evoke nostalgia for different eras, but the groups' strategies diverge. Snow Man, which topped Oricon annual sales in 2024 and 2025 and ranked sixth on Billboard's annual Top Artists chart in 2025, is using this retro appeal to push into overseas markets. M!LK's approach stays rooted in domestic idol traditions. The tonchiki boom reflects a calculated nostalgia play that works on multiple fronts.
Written with AI by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited. See our editorial policy.
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