Autumn songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic fall tunes and recommended popular tracks.
From the 1990s, when CDs sold like hotcakes, into the 2000s, when the shift to digital gradually took hold.
As more people began enjoying music on digital music players, cell phones, and YouTube, the music industry truly entered a turning point.
In this article, we’ll introduce hit autumn songs from the 2000s, a time when the way we listened to music began to change.
We’ve gathered a variety of tracks—from songs that evoke the slightly wistful mood of fall to tunes many people downloaded to their phones.
You might just reunite with the songs that colored your youth.
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Autumn songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic autumn tracks and recommended popular songs (31–40)
YELLikimonogakari
In the clear autumn air, you find yourself wanting to listen to a melody that’s somehow wistful yet powerful.
This classic ballad by Ikimono-gakari is a perfect match for that sentimental mood.
Released as a single in September 2009, the song is also known for being selected as the set piece for the NHK National School Music Competition’s junior high division.
Although it’s now established as a graduation song, reading the lyrics reveals that it’s actually set in autumn.
It seems to tell us that parting is not an end, but the beginning of a new future.
Even while holding onto anxieties, moving forward with the bond of friends in your heart brings a warm courage to those reflective autumn nights.
Late summer vacationTwenty-Four
A masterpiece by Twenty-Four that captures the bittersweet feelings at summer’s end with a delicate melody.
Riding on a refreshing rock sound, it paints nostalgic memories of summer.
Released in September 2000, this work was also featured in a maxell CLUB WONDER commercial, leaving a lasting impression on many.
It’s recommended for those who want to savor the afterglow of summer vacation or tend to feel sentimental during seasonal changes.
Why not take some unhurried time to look back on the summer that has passed while listening to this song?
Samurai of oldElefanto Kashimashi
This is a song that stands out for its distinctly Japanese sense of melancholy and lyricism, delving deeply into the samurai spirit.
Included on the 1997 album “Hashire Asu ni Mukatte – Tsukiyo no Uta -,” it strongly reflects Elephant Kashimashi’s unique musical style.
Highlighted by Hiroji Miyamoto’s emotionally rich vocals, the piece blends elements of rock and ballad with exquisite balance.
While portraying the rigor and resolve of the samurai, its profound lyrics also evoke a sense of mourning for what is being lost to the passage of time.
It’s a recommended track for those who, feeling the chill of autumn, want to reflect on life and how to live it.
OrangeSMAP
A song by the five-member idol group SMAP, a national sensation whose immense popularity endures even after their breakup, with devoted fans constantly hoping for a reunion.
The track is included as the B-side to their 32nd single “Lion Heart” and is known for being as popular as, if not more than, the A-side.
Its melody and arrangement evoke the feel and colors of autumn, carrying a sense of nostalgia that makes listeners perceive it as an autumn song—even though the word “autumn” never appears in the lyrics.
It’s a sentimental number worthy of being called “the most well-known SMAP B-side in Japan.”
KanadeSukima Suichi
This is the second single by the two-piece music unit Sukima Switch, whose down-to-earth songs—filtering a wide range of influences from rock, pop, and jazz—have captivated fans.
The ballad is widely known as one of their signature tracks, featuring numerous tie-ins, including a placement in the film “Rough.” Its lyrics, which evoke a farewell scene where a fleeting moment feels eternal, are heartbreakingly poignant.
It’s a song that will likely make you feel sentimental as you listen with the autumn breeze, a number that has etched its name into the J-POP scene since the 2000s.
Autumn songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic autumn tunes and recommended popular tracks (41–50)
SaudadePorunogurafiti
Thanks to the hit of their debut single Apollo, the two-member rock band Porno Graffitti drew immediate attention from the start.
This is their fourth single.
In addition to being used as the theme song for a short drama segment within the variety show Wonderful, it had multiple tie-ins and is known as one of Porno Graffitti’s signature songs.
As the title suggests—with meanings like “nostalgia,” “melancholy,” “painful memories,” and “a longing for what has been lost”—the arrangement is suffused with a nostalgic atmosphere that, while passionate, perfectly suits the wistfulness of autumn.
With a Latin-flavored sound that has now become their trademark, it’s a quintessential Porno Graffitti number that feels wonderfully true to their style.
The goldfish that was dreamingYano Maki
Maki Yano’s song expresses the fragility of life and the loneliness of existence through the motif of goldfish.
Released in September 2000 as her fourth single, it was produced by Seiji Kameda.
Its delicate melody and heartrending lyrics left a strong impression, resonating with many listeners.
The work is acclaimed as a J-pop classic and holds an important place in Yano’s discography.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to on long autumn nights, lost in thought.
It’s especially recommended for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one or who feel an emptiness in their hearts.