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 Japan’s classic masterpieces (101–110)
cobalt blueThe Back Horn
THE BACK HORN’s anti-war themed song features profound lyrics centered on the fragility of life and the possibility of renewal.
The expression of becoming the wind at dawn and becoming one symbolizes unity and solidarity among people.
Included on the album “Headphone Children,” released in March 2005, and used as an insert song in the film “CASSHERN,” the track is marked by powerful guitar riffs and melodic vocals.
While chafing against the absurdity of the world, it depicts a determination to carve out proof of one’s existence, making it a song that resonates with those struggling in life.
No more warGReeeeN
GReeeeN is a four-member vocal group that has released numerous hit tunes since their debut, including “Ai Uta” and “Kiseki.” The song “no more war,” included on their second album “Ah, Hello Again,” leaves a lingering impression with its intro of melancholic guitar arpeggios.
The message, which weaves together sorrow and anger over innocent children losing their lives because of a few foolish adults, prompts us to reflect on the weight of the future that war steals away.
It’s a lyrical pop tune whose rap over a rich, layered ensemble and a driving, soaring chorus stirs the heart.
The crested ibis cries.Porunogurafiti
Pornograffitti’s “Abi ga Naku” is a quintessential anti-war song imbued with a spirit that longs for peace.
Its gentle tone and melody convey the terror and sorrow of war, expressing a resolve never to repeat past mistakes.
Modeled after the former landscape of Innoshima City, the song communicates a powerful message of peace, and its strong anti-war lyrics carry a weight unique to Pornograffitti, who hail from Hiroshima.
It was also chosen as a support song for the G7 Hiroshima Summit 2023.
Give it a listen and feel the wish for peace woven into the music.
For Whom the Alchemist ExistsMr.Children
Mr.Children, who have sung many widely beloved classics in the J-pop scene, also have powerful message songs like this one.
It’s a track from the acclaimed 2004 album “Shifuku no Oto.” Alongside fierce anger that depicts the folly and lament of destroying children’s futures with our own hands, it also sings of the truth of human connection and standing by one another—confronting the listener with sharp clarity.
Positioned just before the album’s final track, “HERO,” it feels like a song that ultimately leads to thinking about a single, cherished person.
I don’t know war.The Folk Crusaders
A song by the music production collective The Folk Crusaders—also known by the abbreviation “Folkru”—who released numerous classics, beginning with their debut single ‘Kaette Kita Yopparai’ (Return of the Drunkards).
The lyrics poignantly portray how even those who have never known war itself can still have their lives darkened by its aftermath.
Even in the face of irreparable tragedy, the lines about grasping happiness convey a universal, fundamentally human desire for well-being.
While vividly depicting the negative impacts of war, it is an anti-war song that teaches the preciousness of carrying forward the lives bestowed upon us by those who came before, and passing them on to the future.
Anti-war songs that pierce the heart: Prayers for peace conveyed by Japan’s masterpieces (111–120)
Song of HopeMISIA
MISIA, who continues to captivate the public with her overwhelming vocals.
Her song “Kibou no Uta” (Song of Hope) is a masterpiece that sonically expresses her feelings against wars around the world.
The song was written by Akiko Yano, who entrusted it to MISIA with her passionate wish for peace.
Its lyrics resonate powerfully with an eternal hope: if we keep moving forward without giving up, a brighter future will surely come.
The introductory section that serves as the song’s prologue is filled with a solemn, divine grandeur, as if foreshadowing the opening of an opera.
Beloved by many, this song moves people beyond language barriers precisely because of the compelling message it conveys.
War and the Girl (Prod. Nujabes)ZORN
A deeply memorable track by rapper ZORN.
Created for the NHK Special “Songs Woven in a Time of War (Now): PASS THE MIC,” it was released in August 2025.
This collaboration sets rap over a track left behind by the late trackmaker Nujabes, who passed away suddenly in 2010.
The lyrics amplify the unheard voices of people who experienced war, conveying their messages to the present.
The lo-fi sound underscores the weight of the words.
Please give it a listen and reflect on world peace.