The “Love Saves the Earth” song beloved on the 24-Hour TV program
The 24-Hour TV charity program is held every year.
It’s a long broadcast, but once you start watching, many of you probably can’t stop.
When it comes to music from 24-Hour TV, “Saraba” (Sarari) and “Makenaide” are likely the first songs that come to mind.
But in fact, many other songs are also used and performed on the show! So we’ve gathered songs related to 24-Hour TV, including long-standing staples and theme songs, as well as tracks performed during the program.
We’re introducing familiar classics, recent hits, and nostalgic tunes alike—be sure to give them all a listen!
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“Love Saves the Earth” songs beloved on 24-Hour Television (21–30)
I want to see you.sawada chikako
This is a signature song by Chikaco Sawada, known as the original queen of tear-jerker ballads.
Sung with rich emotion, it conveys an unbearably heartrending longing for a beloved person who has passed away, touching listeners deeply.
The background—that the lyricist wrote it in memory of his late mother—also gives the piece a universal sense of love and the pain of loss.
Originally included on the June 1990 album “I miss you,” the song caught on after being used as the ending theme for TV Asahi’s program Tonight.
It ultimately sold over a million copies and spent 87 weeks on the Oricon charts, truly earning its status as a classic.
Performed on 24-Hour Television in 2022, it perfectly matched that year’s theme: “I want to see you!”
Becoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashi
This is a song that could be called tenor singer Masafumi Akikawa’s signature piece.
Its poetic worldview—where the departed become wind and light to keep watching over their loved ones—is powerfully delivered through a majestic tenor voice.
The track was originally included on the 2005 album “Pomp and Circumstance,” and was released as a single in May 2006.
Its performance at the 2006 NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen sparked a huge response, and in 2007 it topped the Oricon annual singles chart.
The song also served as the theme for the 2007 documentary drama “A Thousand Winds: Drama Special.” It’s a staple number that has been performed multiple times on the 24-Hour TV charity program.
The Beloved “Love Saves the Earth” Songs from 24-Hour TV (31–40)
Mail of LoveKisugi Takao
This is the theme song written by Takao Kisugi, a singer-songwriter known for his urbane style, for the program “24-Hour Television.” It was performed during the 11th broadcast of “24-Hour Television” in 1988, where he appeared and collaborated with the Tokyo Boys and Girls Choir.
Unfortunately, no recorded version exists, so the drawback is that it cannot be heard on CD or vinyl.
At all times.Makihara Noriyuki
One of the defining and biggest hit songs by Noriyuki Makihara, a singer-songwriter who represents Japan.
It has been covered by many artists and continues to be sung as a timeless classic.
Its straightforward message cheering on those who are doing their best makes it a perfect fit as a theme for “24-Hour Television.” By the way, when it was released, it was used as the theme song for the film “No Problems on the Employment Front,” starring Yūji Oda.
Runnerbakufū suranpu
This 1988 release was a massive hit and is Bakufu Slump’s signature song.
In 2018, thirty years after its release, vocalist Sunplaza Nakano performed a self-cover.
Alongside ZARD’s “Makenaide,” it remains one of the most iconic cheer songs and continues to be sung even now in 2020.
Naturally, it’s a perfect fit for 24-Hour TV and is a standard number played during the program.
Let’s give it a tryWANIMA
Anyway, bursting with energy and going all out—WANIMA’s signature song “Yatte Minayo” (“Give It a Try”).
Stripping away anything complicated, it delivers a straightforward, simple message that’s easy for everyone to understand.
It’s an uplifting anthem you can enjoy with a smile, combining the satisfying pulse of a rock band’s beat with exhilarating freshness and moving emotion!
Nile in BlueKikuchi Momoko
This was Momoko Kikuchi’s 11th single and the theme song for the 10th “24-Hour Television” broadcast in 1987, for which she served as the charity personality.
It’s a hidden gem that reveals a different side of her at the height of her popularity as a “pure” idol.
That said, I doubt anyone could have imagined that she would soon go on to form a rock band called RA MU…