Anti-war songs that pierce the heart: Japan’s masterpieces conveying prayers for peace
Music sometimes has the power to move people’s hearts and exert a great influence on society.
Among such works, anti-war songs imbued with wishes for peace have appealed across generations, conveying both the horrors of war and the preciousness of peace to many.
The anti-war songs etched into Japan’s musical history contain profound messages that we who live today must never forget.
In this article, we highlight Japanese anti-war songs—focusing mainly on popular Japanese music—and explain the backgrounds of the tracks and the sentiments embedded in their lyrics.
We invite you to take this opportunity to reflect anew on war and peace.
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Anti-war songs that pierce the heart: Prayers for peace conveyed by Japanese masterpieces (91–100)
Soul Dier feat.SORASANZENOZROSAURUS
A track by the hip-hop band OZROSAURUS, who have overcome challenges such as the departure of original members and switching labels, and are now active as a six-piece.
The song features SORASANZEN, an alias of JESSE from the rock band RIZE, and many listeners will likely be captivated by its wistful track and relentless rap.
The lyrics depict the two sides of the same coin—war and peace—and a vivid realism that conjures imagery in your mind, which can also be read as a message to prevent the outbreak of horrific wars.
It’s a hip-hop number that throws a stone into the ongoing conflicts of our time, compelling everyone to think about war as stakeholders.
Prayersadamasashi
A song by singer-songwriter Masashi Sada, who made his major debut as part of the folk duo Grape and has captivated fans for many years with his lyrical compositions and witty talk.
Included on his 8th album, “Kaze no Omokage” (“Traces of the Wind”), this number is a prayer for Nagasaki Prefecture—his hometown and also a city devastated by the atomic bombing.
Carried by his clear, transparent vocals, the message of peace is filled with the authentic feelings of someone who was born and raised in a place once sacrificed to war.
It is an anti-war song that only a Japanese artist could sing, prompting reflection on the precious futures that war steals away.
Message — kotodute —Porunogurafiti
It’s a song with a gentle rock sound imbued with deep prayers and wishes.
The 55th single by Porno Graffitti, created with Hiroshima—marking 80 years since the atomic bombing—as its theme, it was released digitally in April 2025.
The track was used as the ending theme for NHK Hiroshima’s documentary program “Connect: Messages to the Future — Porno Graffitti Connects Through ‘Song.’” The program featured the background of the song’s production and conversations with atomic bomb survivors.
Give it a listen when you want to feel a commitment to peace or to quietly calm your mind.
War & PeaceSakamoto Ryuichi
In March 2023, Ryuichi Sakamoto sadly passed away, much to the sorrow of many.
During his life, Sakamoto participated in various activities, especially those related to environmental conservation and peace—many of you have likely heard his words on these topics.
War & Peace, a song that confronts the opposing concepts of “war and peace” as the title suggests, is included on his 2004 album Chasm.
The lyrics of this song pose questions about peace and war, voiced from the depths of the heart.
Please listen to it together with the Japanese translation.
Grandma’s TearsCojaco
Cojaco’s “Grandma’s Tears” is imbued with prayers for peace.
It is said to be a song based on the story of someone who bore the sorrow of the Battle of Okinawa.
It’s a beautiful piece, but reading the lyrics makes it impossible to hold back tears.
Listening to this song will surely make you feel how painful and heartbreaking war truly is.
I believe it is a song that should be passed down so we never repeat the same mistakes.
All Quiet on the Far Eastern FrontSōru Furawā Yunion
The 11th single by Soul Flower Union, a band energetically active with a sound that fuses a wide range of musical styles, including folk songs from Japan’s indigenous peoples.
Its straightforward antiwar statement, calling out the powers of the day by name, offers a cathartic sense that it’s singing on behalf of feelings we all share to some degree.
The melody’s traditional atmosphere and the cynical message carry a persuasive force that makes you believe in the power of music.
It’s an antiwar song with a nostalgic air, distilling the realities brought by war and the cries of people’s hearts.
RussiansSting
Sting, the English musician who formed the rock band The Police and released numerous classic songs, included the track “Russians” on his 1985 solo debut album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles.
The song quotes the second movement of Lieutenant Kijé, a suite by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, and is an anti-war piece born out of the East–West Cold War of the 1980s.
Its lyrics resonate by asking us to think beyond the simple perspective of perpetrator and victim, and instead reflect on our shared humanity and the universal love we have for our children.
Listening to this song makes one consider even more deeply the importance of approaching others with such compassion, despite our differing positions.
