![[2026] Songs about cooking: A roundup of recommended Japanese classics](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MVVQynaCOYg/hqdefault.jpg)
Delicious food adds color to our everyday lives, and surely many people reset their mood by making sure to eat a proper meal even when they’re going through something tough.
Whether we’re happy or sad, we humans can’t keep moving forward unless we eat.
Themes like cooking and food—which are closely tied to our daily lives—are, of course, important and unmissable subjects for artists as well, and they’re often chosen as motifs.
In this article, we’ve picked out classic Japanese songs—both old and new—that center on cooking and food.
Whether it’s breakfast or sweet desserts, take a look at how these artists express them!
- [Rice Songs] A selection of tracks where food appears in the lyrics!
- [Food Songs] Popular Japanese songs that use names of foods
- [Delicious] A collection of music you'll want to listen to while cooking
- A roundup of Japanese songs featuring curry—songs about curry and curry rice
- [2026] Japanese music that sings wishes: A collection of J-POP masterpieces
- [2026] Representative Famous Enka Songs: A Compilation of Classic Favorites [Beginner-Friendly]
- Nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs about food
- [Family Song] A gratitude song that lets you feel the importance of family.
- [Vegetable Songs] Unexpected artists too!? A roundup of recommended tracks
- [2026] Autumn songs sung by idols: A collection of classic autumn tunes filled with nostalgia
- [Thank You] A song for grandpa and grandma: a classic that makes you want to express your gratitude
- Vegetable Song: A Recommended Food Education Song for Children
- Packed with masterpieces! Karaoke songs recommended for women of the Yutori generation
[2026] Songs About Cooking: A Collection of Recommended J-Pop Classics (1–10)
Magic CookingBUMP OF CHICKEN
A heartwarming song that portrays bonds with one’s past self and family through cooking.
Released in April 2010 as BUMP OF CHICKEN’s 17th single and featured on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” this piece resonated with many listeners.
It was also included on the album COSMONAUT and has become a live favorite.
The lyrics, filled with childhood memories and gratitude for family, deeply touch the hearts of those who listen.
It’s recommended for anyone who cherishes family meals or wishes to convey something to their past self.
RECIPEYamashita Tatsuro
This is a classic song that expresses love through words related to cooking.
Centered on the theme of a “recipe” for creating love and happiness, it deftly interweaves the steps of cooking to portray how the couple’s love deepens.
Released in November 2019, it also drew attention as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama Grand Maison Tokyo.
In the music video, Tatsuro Yamashita’s character “Tatsuro-kun” appears in CG, performing a comical dance.
It’s a recommended track for those who want to enjoy time with their partner while cooking.
Listen to it together with the one you love, and you’re sure to share a happy moment.
Cooking MarchYUKA
The song by YUKA used as the opening theme for the anime Kiteretsu Daihyakka is a march that playfully depicts the process of cooking.
It was released in May 1992 and served as the opening theme until June 1996.
The lyrics include recipes for dishes like croquettes and Neapolitan spaghetti, so you can actually cook along while listening.
Its structure, which shifts from a march style to a ballad, is also appealing, and the lyrics—evoking family bonds and small everyday adventures through cooking—strike a chord.
It’s a recommended track not only for cooking enthusiasts but also for families who want to sing together while making meals.
eeeeverydayGRe4N BOYZ
It’s an exceptionally bright, poppy cheer-up song that makes everyday housework more fun.
Created by GRe4N BOYZ, it was included as a B-side on the single “Akatsuki no Kimi ni,” released in December 2016.
Written specifically as the campaign song for Lion’s housework festival “CLeeeeaN,” this track turns routines like doing the dishes and cleaning into something positive with its lively rhythm.
The lyrics trace the flow of a week, and the depiction of curry rice on the table on Friday wonderfully heightens the excitement for the weekend.
familySEKAI NO OWARI
It’s a moving medium-tempo ballad written as the theme song for the drama “IP: Cyber Investigation Team.” Created by SEKAI NO OWARI, it’s included on the album “scent of memory,” released in July 2021.
The lyrics resonate with the conflicts that arise precisely because family is so close, and with the awkward kindness found there.
And the curry that appears as a small detail of everyday life further enhances the song’s warm atmosphere.
Curry on loveLienel
A work whose lyrics fuse an appetite for curry with the exhilaration of love, leaving a powerful impact.
Its comical worldview and addictive melody linger in your ears.
Included on a double A-side single released in August 2024, it reached No.
3 on the Oricon weekly chart.
With its lively tone, it’s the kind of track that boosts your mood the moment you listen.
Why not enjoy the tantalizing premonition of love that’s as stimulating as spices?
RaSuiyōbi no Campanella
A uniquely brilliant concept that fuses the ancient Egyptian sun god with Japan’s beloved national dish, curry—an irresistibly addictive track.
Featured on the album “Zipangu,” released in November 2015, the song leaves a powerful impression with its striking contrast between a divine worldview and appetite-stimulating lyrics.
It also drew attention through a collaboration with Nissin Foods’ “Nissin Curry Meshi,” and its music video won an award at the SPACE SHOWER MUSIC AWARDS.
Wordplay unfolds over electronic beats, brimming with a playful energy that sparks listeners’ imaginations.