Previously, Japanese Singer Noriyuki Makihara went viral in Indonesia due to the music video for his song Mou Koi Nante Shinai (もう恋なんてしない), where viewers noted that his appearance in the video closely resembled Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo. His virality even caught the attention of Japanese television, with Japanese TV station TV Asahi discussing the facial resemblance between Makihara and Joko Widodo on its program Tamori Station.
Turns out that because of this virality, Makihara’s song Mou Koi Nante Shinai has become the most popular Japanese song in Indonesia according to Billboard Japan. According to their data released on X (formerly Twitter), Makihara topped the 2026 first-half Japan Songs (Indonesia) chart, ranking above several contemporary Japanese artists.
Other Japanese songs that ranked highly in Indonesia include Yoru ni Kakeru by YOASOBI and the classic hit First Love by Hikaru Utada. Here are the top ten Japanese Songs in Indonesia in the first half of 2026, according to Billboard Japan:
- Mou Koi Nante Shinai by Noriyuki Makihara
- IRIS OUT by Kenshi Yonezu
- Shinu no ga Ii wa by Fujii Kaze
- Silhouette by KANA-BOON
- Yoru ni Kakeru by YOASOBI
- Tabun by YOASOBI
- TOKYO DRIFT (FAST & FURIOUS) by TERIYAKI BOYZ
- First Love by Hikaru Utada
- Ano Yume wo Nazotte by YOASOBI
- Orange by 7!!
Following the chart announcement, Makihara took to X to express his gratitude and delight at the song’s popularity in Indonesia.
As of the time of writing, the official music video for Mou Koi Nante Shinai has surpassed 116 million views on YouTube. Before the song went viral, the comment section was largely dominated by Japanese viewers. However, Indonesian comments have become far more prominent since Makihara became a meme. The song has become so popular that it includes official Indonesian subtitles.
The comments section reflects the song’s unique popularity in Indonesia. Some users joked that the song “appeared on its own” in their YouTube recommendations, while others claimed that “it’s the song that finds you.” One frequently repeated phrase is “Ah… maybe it’s just my imagination,” a phrase that also became a meme in Indonesia.
Japanese users have also taken notice of the phenomenon. One commenter remarked that it was fascinating to see the song gain popularity in Indonesia because the singer resembles a former Indonesian president, while another joked about the addition of Indonesian subtitles.
Born on 18 May 1969, Noriyuki Makihara is a Japanese pop singer, songwriter, and music producer, affectionately nicknamed “Mackey” by his fans. He made his debut in 1990 with the single NG after winning a music competition, and has since released numerous hit songs, including Mou Koi Nante Shinai.
Over the years, Makihara has established himself as one of Japan’s leading singer-songwriters and a defining icon of 1990s J-Pop, with total record sales reaching 21 million copies. In addition to Mou Koi Nante Shinai, he is also known for other popular hits such as Donna Toki mo and Fuyu ga Hajimaru Yo.
Also read:
Staff Picks: 10 Recommended Songs by Noriyuki Makihara Beyond “Mou Koi Nante Shinai”
The Indonesian Anime Times
