Iconic Songs to Enhance Calligraphy Performances: From Traditional Japanese Tunes to the Latest Hits!
Calligraphy performances are highly regarded not only for the finished work, but also for the process of creation as a part of art and entertainment.
Many of you may have seen them on social media or video platforms and been captivated by their power and beauty.
Calligraphy is familiar to us Japanese as well.
Some of you might secretly be thinking, “I want to try a calligraphy performance myself.”
In this article, we’ve picked out songs that are perfect for calligraphy performances.
Whether you already perform calligraphy or simply admire it, please listen while imagining yourself freely wielding the brush!
Masterpieces to Illuminate Shodo Performances | A One-Stop Showcase from Traditional Japanese Tunes to the Newest Songs (1–10)
ultramarineYOASOBI
This is a song by YOASOBI that was used as the commercial jingle for Bourbon’s Alfort Mini Chocolate.
Inspired by the anime Blue Period, its lyrics are filled with the pure passion of youth and a yearning for self-expression.
Released in September 2020, the song drew widespread attention after being performed at NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen and being selected as the theme for Nippon TV’s Dance ONE Project ’21, moving the hearts of many young people.
It’s a recommended track for calligraphy performances for those who want to free their emotions and express their true selves.
HELLOOfisharu Higedan Dism
This song was written as the theme for Fuji TV’s morning news program “Mezamashi TV.” Satoshi Fujihara, the vocalist of Official HIGE DANDism, created it around the theme of “the reassuring strength of living each day together.” With a lively rhythm and warm melody perfect for a refreshing morning, the track was included on the July 2020 EP “HELLO EP.” It’s a song that stays by your side at the start of the day, offering courage and hope as you walk forward shoulder to shoulder.
It fills the hand that holds the pen with strength and makes you want to let the letters dance as you please—a piece that inspires a positive, forward-looking feeling.
lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE
A song by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE that captivates with a powerful guitar-rock sound and lyrics depicting the subtleties of youth.
Even while carrying one’s imperfections, the resolve to keep moving forward and the tender affection for past memories will surely move anyone’s heart.
Produced in April 2024 as the opening theme for the anime “Oblivion Battery,” it marked the band’s first anime tie-in in about five years.
It won the Grand Prize at the 66th Japan Record Awards and became one of Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s signature works.
Its brisk rhythm and refreshing melody line will naturally guide your brushstrokes, making it a reliable ally.
hundreds of millions of light-yearsOmoinotake
A gem of a love song that powerfully conveys feelings across great distances.
Written as the theme song for the TBS Tuesday drama “Eye Love You,” the track was also selected as the entrance march for the 97th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament.
Released in February 2024, this mid-tempo tune by Omoinotake uses light-years—an astronomical unit of distance—as its motif to depict unwavering love for someone special on a grand scale.
With its soulful melody and poignantly tinged lyrics, the song’s refreshing groove and emotional expressiveness also make it a perfect fit as BGM for calligraphy performances.
primary colorsYOASOBI
This is a song by YOASOBI featured in NTT Docomo’s “ahamo” commercial.
Based on the novel “RGB” and themed around the three primary colors of light, it recreates the reunion of three childhood friends who had been apart.
The image of their once-distant hearts overlapping and shining as a white light is striking, with emotional lyrics beautifully harmonized with a pop melody.
Released in July 2021, it had its first performance at an online live show on July 4 of the same year.
It’s a track that delivers a powerful message to those who value connections between people through calligraphy performance and to anyone trying to take a new step forward.
SenbonzakuraWagakki Band
A song by Wagakki Band, an eight-member co-ed group whose innovative rock sound fused with traditional Japanese instruments has gained popularity both in Japan and abroad.
Originally a smash-hit Vocaloid track by producer Kurousa-P, this version became a hot topic for amplifying the original’s Japanese flair even further.
With its driving rock energy and melodies rooted in traditional Japanese music, the piece adds a thrilling edge to calligraphy performances.
It’s a recommended BGM choice, as the shared foundation of Japanese tradition-based contemporary art creates a natural affinity.
Hide-and-seekAliA
While rooted in rock, AliA’s music is distinguished by a sound that skillfully weaves in classical elements.
The interplay of violin and keyboards creates a grand, expansive atmosphere that blends beautifully with the emotional vocals.
The lyrics delicately portray the anxieties and hopes of youth, making it a perfect fit for a student calligraphy performance.
With its fusion of powerful rhythms and beautiful melodies, this piece is full of charm that will further enhance the dynamism of a calligraphy performance.
AgainWANIMA
This is an uplifting anthem brimming with courage and hope, infused with a passionate drive for a second try.
Its heartfelt lyrics intertwine with an energetic sound to give listeners a powerful push forward.
Seamlessly blending WANIMA’s rock flavor with a positive message, the track is included on the single “Good Job!!,” released in March 2019.
Chosen as the theme song for the TBS drama “Maison de Police,” it moved the hearts of many viewers.
With lyrics that stand beside those who’ve faced setbacks or failures and those striving toward their dreams, and a fast-paced melody, it will make your calligraphy performance all the more memorable.
A Cheer Song Dedicated to YouHIPPY
A moving song filled with a warm message of encouragement for those striving toward their dreams and goals.
Created by HIPPY, an artist based in Hiroshima, and released in March 2017, it’s included on the album “HomeBase ~Arigatou~” and has been used as pitcher Tatsuya Takahashi’s entrance theme for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, among others.
Widely known as a cheer song often heard at school events like sports festivals and graduation ceremonies, as well as at athletic competitions, this piece is beloved by many as a song that gives you a push in important moments—and it pairs exceptionally well with calligraphy performances.
Critical HitRADWIMPS
This is a powerful RADWIMPS track that, while confronting conflicts like compromise and regret, appeals to the importance of following one’s true feelings.
From the perspective of a protagonist wavering over life choices, it portrays the universal theme of choosing stability or taking on a challenge, brimming with a message that resonates deeply.
Included on the album “X to O to Tsumi to,” it was released in December 2013.
With a grand narrative that uses a baseball game as a metaphor to depict the passion for self-realization, this song is a perfect fit for scenes that encourage people pursuing their dreams through calligraphy.