Mutual love, unrequited love, familial love... classic songs that sing about affection

Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro

Stand by Me Doraemon theme song: “Himawari no Yakusoku” (Promise of a Sunflower)

Hata Motohiro’s “Himawari no Yakusoku,” used as the theme song for STAND BY ME Doraemon, became an unusually long-running hit for an anime song.

It achieved one million downloads via online distribution, making it one of the top records for an anime tie-in.

His gentle guitar tones and soft, warm vocals are soothing to the heart.

The song is sometimes sung as a choral piece at graduation ceremonies and is loved by a wide range of age groups.

The lyrics also convey a strong sense of affection.

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Love SongGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Love Song

Ai Uta by GReeeeN, released in 2007.

Since the song’s theme is love, the CD jacket itself is a special design that can be used as a love letter.

It was a long-running hit, remaining on the Oricon charts even a year after its release.

The song has been used in various TV shows and commercials, and many people especially remember hearing it in the drama ROOKIES.

With lyrics that convey the love between partners, it’s a perfect song to give on important occasions such as anniversaries.

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threadNakajima Miyuki

Thread – Miyuki Nakajima (Full)

Miyuki Nakajima’s 35th single.

It was released as a double A-side with Another Name for Life, and in the end this song, Ito, garnered the greater attention.

Since it was released in 1998, you could say it’s a song that has been loved for a long time.

Fabric is woven by interlacing warp and weft threads, and the lyrics express a wish for those fine threads to be you and me.

That delicate, poetic metaphor resonated with many people.

It goes on to say, “And if that fabric could come to help someone…” extending into a broad, unconditional love.

It’s a highly recommended track that even conveys something of the way of life of singer-songwriter Miyuki Nakajima.

clichéMr.Children

Mr.Children 'Stock Phrase' Music Video (Short ver.)

This is a song that lets you understand how a man feels.

I think girls will find it heart-fluttering.

Because he cherishes his girlfriend, his straightforward feelings of anxiety and loneliness are expressed, and it really resonated with me.

His voice is great too, so I keep listening to it over and over.

It’s okayRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – It's All Right [Official Music Video]

The smash-hit animated film Weathering With You.

RADWIMPS handled all of the main and insert songs.

Their track “Daijoubu” (It’s All Right) also plays in the film and serves an important role.

The word in the title, “daijoubu,” is like a magic phrase—so many people use it in so many different situations.

It’s a song filled tightly with kindness, a great love song that feels just right to anyone who hears it.

It’s a song for when you want to say “I love you,” or to give to someone close to you whom you’re worried about.

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Dream of the Trifoliate OrangeŌhashi Torio

Ohashi Trio / Karatachi no Yume (Music Video)

A number by Ohashi Trio that drew attention as the opening theme for TV Tokyo’s Drama 24 series What Did You Eat Yesterday? Season 2.

Released as an EP in November 2023, this song features a light acoustic sound and a warm, country-tinged feel that resonates pleasantly.

The drama carefully portrays the everyday life of a same-sex couple, and this track, aligning with that worldview, sings about the irreplaceable value of living fully in the present moment.

When you find yourself cherishing ordinary time with someone dear, or wanting to feel grateful for daily life, give it a listen.

copycatkankan

Copycat / Kankan

Even if you imitate someone else, you can never become your true self.

This is Kankan’s “Copycat,” a song that portrays that heartrending inner conflict.

Interweaving romantic feelings with wavering identity, it delicately depicts a protagonist weighed down by unfulfilled longing and the frustrating gap of never quite reaching the ideal person they try to emulate.

The ambiguous bond that may or may not be called love, and the mix of self-denial and yearning, are emotions many can relate to regardless of gender or the form their relationships take.

It’s a track I especially recommend to anyone grappling with complicated feelings of love.