Autumn anime songs: iconic tracks for the deepening fall

Togetsu Bridge ~Thinking of You~Mai Kuraki

Mai Kuraki “Togetsukyo ~Kimi Omou~” Music Video (Short Ver.)

A ballad released in April 2017 as the theme song for the film Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter, set in autumnal Kyoto.

Its lyrics, woven with distinctly Japanese imagery such as the Togetsukyo Bridge, flowing rivers, and autumn foliage, perfectly suit the season and tenderly depict the aching feelings of someone pining for a loved one.

With this song, Mai Kuraki marked her 21st musical contribution to the Conan series, earning a Guinness World Record.

The arrangement incorporating traditional Japanese instruments and the music video featuring junihitoe robes, among other Kyoto-inspired touches, are also captivating.

Why not listen to it on a long autumn night and reminisce about your school days watching Conan?

Moonlight FlowerJanne Da Arc

Moonlight Flower

It became very popular at the time as the opening theme for the anime Black Jack.

Part of the lyrics was newly written to evoke Black Jack’s past injuries and the death of his mother.

Vocalist yasu’s beautiful voice, the grand strings, and the distorted guitar all seem to express the serious theme of “saving lives.”

Moonlight's GuidepostStereopony

[Japanese-Chinese Lyrics] STEREOPONY – Tsukiakari no Michishirube (Live)

This is a classic song by the all-girl band Stereopony, used as the opening theme for BONES’ “Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor,” which aired from October 8 to December 24, 2009.

Its somewhat bluesy melody, along with lyrics that depict groping through the dark and pressing forward by following a shaft of moonlight, evokes the feeling of autumn.

rememberUru

[Official] Uru “remember” × “Natsume’s Book of Friends the Movie: Tied to the Temporal World” Collaboration MV YouTube ver.

It was chosen as the theme song for the film Natsume’s Book of Friends the Movie: Tied to the Temporal World, which had a nationwide theatrical release in 2018, and it was released on September 26 of the same year.

With Uru’s beautifully clear vocals and, perhaps because it was intended to be played through movie theater sound systems, it features unusually powerful low frequencies for a Japanese ballad.

Autumn Leaves—an anime song that truly colors the fall season.

The seasons die one after another.amazarashi

amazarashi “Seasons Die One After Another” — Tokyo Ghoul √A ending theme

This is the ending theme of the anime Tokyo Ghoul √A, which became a huge topic thanks to its music video featuring a woman continually eating song lyrics cut from raw meat with a laser cutter.

Despite the pessimistic lyrics, the strings and piano melody are beautiful and hint at an epic unfolding story, and it’s a fine track brimming with the distinctive sense of drive and worldview characteristic of amazarashi.

SKETCHKiro Akiyama

Akiyama Kiro 'SKETCH'

Singer-songwriter Kiro Akiyama wrote “SKETCH” as the ending theme for season 6 of the anime My Hero Academia.

Centered around piano tones with a city-pop vibe, the song’s lyrics liken communication to showing each other sketchbooks, expressing the frustration of things not going smoothly.

As you listen, pay attention to the conclusion the song’s protagonist reaches.

It’s sure to leave you with a warm feeling.

Glow of FirefliesIkimonogakari

Ikimono-gakari “Hotaru no Hikari” Music Video

Ikimono-gakari’s works are the kind that make your chest tighten when you listen to them in autumn, as summer memories slowly fade.

This song was released in July 2009 as their 14th single and was used as the opening theme for the anime Naruto Shippuden.

It was later included on the album Hajimari no Uta.

The lyrics sing of a bittersweet longing for days gone by and a strong resolve to move forward into the future while carrying those feelings.

Listening to this piece might be a nice way to immerse yourself in your summer memories.