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 masterpieces (111–120)
Pigeons of the RuinsZa Taigāsu
Known by his nickname “Julie,” Kenji Sawada continues to be active as a musician and actor, and this is the seventh single by The Tigers, the group he fronted.
The lyrics, carried by the distinctive melancholy and airy feel of Group Sounds, poignantly depict the darker sides of human nature.
They convey both the folly of war—which can destroy in an instant what people have built—and a sense of hope that we can learn from our mistakes.
In acknowledging human frailty while believing in our strength, the song can be heard as a kind of prayer.
With its memorable message that anyone can start over as many times as it takes, it’s an anti-war song the whole world should know.
Anti-war songs that pierce the heart: Prayers for peace conveyed by Japan’s masterpieces (121–130)
ReplyTakeuchi Mariya
This is the 32nd single by singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi, an emblem of Japanese city pop that’s being rediscovered around the world.
Written as the theme song for the film “Sea Without Exit,” it was released as a double A-side single together with “Synchronicity (A Wonderful Coincidence).” Its lyrics, which resolve to carry the memories of lives lost in war into the future, vividly portray the grief and strength of those left behind.
It’s a medium-tempo ballad that tightens the chest as you listen, conveying both the senselessness of wars that bring happiness to no one and the aching realization that we must keep moving forward nonetheless.
Waist Deep in the Big MuddyPete Seeger
Pete Seeger’s 1967 release “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy” is a song based on a tragic accident that actually occurred during a U.S.
Army training exercise.
Told from the perspective of a young trainee, the lyrics depict how lives were lost due to reckless actions.
Its powerful portrayal sparked widespread reaction and has been covered by many famous artists around the world.
In Japan, a translated version has been released under the title “Koshi made Doromamire” (“Muddy Up to the Waist”).
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.
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.
What’s Going OnMarvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye wrote “What’s Going On” as an anti-war song after hearing about the battlefield from his brother, who had returned from the Vietnam War, collaborating with Al Cleveland and Renaldo Benson.
With its memorable melody and strong message, the song has been covered by many artists.
In Francine’s CaseShintani Noriko
It is an anti-war song about Francine Lecomte, who self-immolated on the streets of Paris in protest against the Vietnam War—an event that deeply shocked many Japanese people.
While the death of a single person may not change the world, the song carries a powerful message that her act continues to live on in people’s hearts.