Classic Japanese rock songs recommended for autumn
There are so many songs themed around autumn or that give off an autumnal vibe, aren’t there?
Unlike summer songs, which are often upbeat, autumn songs tend to carry a sense of wistfulness and nostalgia.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of autumn songs crafted by Japanese rock bands.
From the obvious hits that come to mind to hidden gems, we’ve picked out a wide variety.
Listening to these tracks while reading the lyrics might be perfect for those long autumn nights.
Take this opportunity to sit back and enjoy them to the fullest.
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Classic Japanese rock songs recommended for autumn (21–30)
Walk the wastelandASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
A refreshing yet slightly bittersweet power-pop track by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, a band that represents Japan’s rock scene.
This work vividly portrays the sweet-and-sour exhilaration and anxiety of chasing someone you admire and racing through a mysterious night.
Carrying secret feelings in your heart and stepping into the wilderness known as the unknown, it’s a song that will surely give listeners courage.
Released in March 2017 as the band’s 24th single, it colored the story as the theme song for the animated film “The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl.” It’s a number that powerfully pushes you forward when you want to start something new but can’t quite take the first step.
Serene and sweet autumn evening lyricismUNISON SQUARE GARDEN
This song, with its quiet, beautiful melody that evokes an autumn evening, sinks deep into the heart.
It’s a track by the three-piece rock band UNISON SQUARE GARDEN.
The piece seems to depict both the loneliness of a passing season and a gentle warmth that cherishes precious memories.
It’s bittersweet, yet somehow soothing in a mysterious way.
The song is included on their seventh album, MODE MOOD MODE, released in January 2018.
The harmony between Kosuke Saito’s clear, translucent vocals and the band’s delicate sound is wonderful.
It’s a song I’d love for you to listen to alone on a slightly chilly night, strolling through a park where fallen leaves are dancing.
Classic Japanese rock songs recommended for autumn (31–40)
Tokyo Sunsetback number
For those who find themselves layering a sentimental mood over the cityscape on an autumn evening, this classic by back number is highly recommended.
It delicately portrays the protagonist’s feelings as they struggle with loneliness and inner conflict in an unfamiliar city, yet try to find hope in the beautiful sunset unfolding before their eyes.
The song is included on the album “Chandelier,” released in December 2015, which topped the Oricon weekly chart for two consecutive weeks.
If you listen to it on your slightly chilly walk home when a sudden pang of loneliness hits, its bittersweet yet warm melody will likely wrap gently around your heart.
It’s a tender cheery anthem that seems to give you a gentle push—“Let’s do our best again tomorrow.”
The Novemberistsutoreitenaa
It’s a masterpiece whose aching guitar riff and faintly melancholy sound resonate deep in your heart.
The world of lyrics penned in English seems to capture the seasonal shift from deepening autumn toward winter and the bittersweet feelings it brings, doesn’t it? You can almost see a quiet scene unfold before you—someone lost in thought as time gently slips by.
This track opens the album “Dear Deadman,” released in March 2006.
Rather than focusing only on the meaning of the words, it might be nice to simply surrender yourself to the atmosphere woven by Atsushi Horie’s vocals and the refined performance.
It’s a perfect piece for a night when you want to be alone with your thoughts.
cosmos (flower)ROTTENGRAFFTY
ROTTENGRAFFTY is a rock band based in Kyoto that has been active nationwide since 1999.
Among the songs they released in 2022 is one that sings about autumn.
It’s called “Akizakura,” read as akizakura rather than cosmos.
While it’s grounded in a heavy, loud-rock band sound, it’s a one-of-a-kind track distinguished by a melody line that incorporates a kayōkyoku (Japanese pop) flavor—one of the band’s trademarks.
The lyrics don’t spell things out too concretely, leaving room for each listener to interpret and fill them with their own meanings and emotions.
I recommend listening while reading the lyrics and letting your thoughts wander.
End of autumnneguse.
Autumn tends to make us sentimental no matter what we’re doing, and this song, Neguse’s four-piece rock number “Aki no Shu,” feels like it will only accelerate that feeling.
The lyrics capture a swelling sense of wistfulness as the singer looks back on feelings for someone they loved, along with regrets and the fun times all mixed together.
Many people probably feel this way when they recall a former lover.
With its real, down-to-earth lyrics that resonate with just about anyone, it’s a love song that, true to its title, is perfect for autumn.
Setting SunYorushika
This is a refreshing, coming-of-age song that depicts feelings gradually being drawn in and budding into love.
It was written as the opening theme for the anime The Dangers in My Heart.
The overlapping acoustic and electric guitars leave a strong impression; the sharp tones within the warmth evoke shifts in the heart.
While its light, buoyant groove is meant to evoke a summer evening, listening to it in the quiet of autumn may bring out a different kind of emotional movement.
