From Arcadia Issue 34 (March 2003). Rankings of the most popular songs and characters in the pop’n music series, as of the submission cutoff of 1/10/03. Includes reader-submitted comments.
Character Ranking
1. Ash (125.3 points)
– It was love at first sight with Ash. (Kanagawa, Hajime Toshi-san)
– He’s got both coolness and cuteness. And he’s a dog. (Saitama, Akatsuki Souma-san)
– I liked him from the first time I played pop’n. (Ibaraki, Rikugou Kaede-san)
– Of course he’s my favorite. (Kanagawa, Kurosaki Hina-san)
– He’s so cute. (Fukuoka, Iriko-san)
2. Yuli (118 points)
– It’s because of him I know pop’n. (Aichi, Gento Yahiko-san)
– The best. (Aomori, RED-san)
– My favorite in pop’n. (Kanagawa, ★aya★)
– He was the first character I knew, so it was love at first sight~ (Saitama, Kazuki Murasaki-san)
3. Smile (76 points)
– I don’t need a reason to like him. (Saitama, Hana-san)
– I like everything about him. (Kagawa, Sylt-san)
– He surprised me because he was a hidden character, but he’s cute. (Fukuoka, Sannomiya Ayako-san)
– I like his “heeheehee”-style laugh. (Chiba, Kuroeda Aka-san)
4. Roku (57 points)
5. Judy (36.7 points)
6. Kagome (32 points)
7. Poet (30 points)
8. MZD (28 points)
9. Timer (26 points)
10. Rie-chan (25.3 points)
11. Milk, Shishamo (22.7 points)
12. Sanae-chan, Mr. KK (22 points)
13. Zizz (21.3 points)
14. Yoshio (16.7 points)
15. Hayato (14 points)
16. Risette (10.7 points)
17. Belle, Tsurara (10 points)
Song Ranking
1. [POWER FOLK 6] Fashion ~Ver. 1~ / Atsushi Shindo (80.6 points)
– It’s easy to get into, I like it. (Hokkaido, Mutsuki Yukiya-san)
– Because it’s bursting with energy. (Wakayama, Fuzuki Atsuto-san)
– It’s easy to get into, and the melody is good. (Niigata, Tora-san)
– I like the mood of the song and the singer’s voice. (Fukushima, Mitsuboshi Teruyoshi-san)
– I love Shindo-san. (Yamanashi, Hoshi Wataru-san)
– Shindo-san’s voice is too cool. (Fukuoka, Karon-san)
– It’s powerful and super cool. (Kyoto, Rie♡)
– I like the rhythm, and the lyrics are good too. (Saitama, Takafumi)
– I play it every chance I get. (Yamagata, POOH-san)
– It’s easy to play to the time of the vocals. (Hyogo, Arata+15-san)
2. [VISUAL 3] Late Riser / good-cool (75.7 points)
– I’m totally in love with this song, it’s indispensable even in pop’n 9. (Kouchi, Rozari Oriku-san)
– I always save this song for last. (Osaka, Getsuryuu Anji-san)
– The lyrics are the best. (Hokkaido, Hibino Hayate-san)
– The singer’s sleepy voice really gets me. (Niigata, Digipunk Nozomi-san)
3. [HIP ROCK] Daikenkai / Des-Row Gumi
– It’s high energy and has a solid tempo. (Kyoto, Yamanashi Tomoko-san)
– I worked really hard to memorize the lyrics. (Tokyo, Nekoyanagi-san)
– I like Des-Row Gumi. (Aichi, Matsumoto Toshihiro-san)
– It’s so cool. (Osaka, Razatsu-san)
4. [SOFT ROCK LONG] Homesick PT2&3 / ORANGE NOISE SHORCUTS (53.3 points)
5. [POWER FOLK 2] Kimi o kowashitai / Atsushi Shindo (36 points)
6. [MELO PUNK] pure / Des-ROW+1 (33.7 points)
7. [POWER FOLK 5] Samurai Syndrome / Atsushi Shindo (30.1 points)
8. [EUROBEAT] ♡Love2♡ Sugar→/ TAKA feat. Noria (29.4 points)
9. [MISTY] platnic love / N.A.R.D (21 points)
10. [HIPUNK] cobalt / Des-Row (20.3 points)
11. [VISUAL 2] Cry Out / good-cool (19.6 points)
12. [DARKNESS 2] Kinjirareta chigiri / Freddy Hatae and Eleharmonica, [FRESH] Chase! Chase! Chase! / Parquets, [NEO ACO] (fly higher than) the stars / SUGI☆REO (18.2 points)
13. [NIGHT OUT] Toumei na manicure / Kiyomi+Seiya (17.5 points)