[Masterpieces That Sing of Dawn] A curated selection of moving hit songs and hidden gems
Have you ever felt your heart being cleansed at the very moment the sun rises? Music listened to in the clear air of daybreak can reset the lingering haze of the previous day and offer fresh hope for the start of a new one.
In this article, we introduce songs that depict the break of dawn and moving masterpieces that link dawn with a range of emotions.
May you find a track that wraps your heart in the time that shifts from the stillness of dawn to a radiant morning.
- [Morning Songs] Masterpieces themed around morning. Popular songs.
- Masterpieces to listen to in the morning. Special morning songs that give a boost to the start of your day.
- [Night Songs] Classic masterpieces themed around the night. J-POP you’ll want to listen to at nighttime.
- Masterpieces that sing of the stars. Star songs that resonate in the heart, best heard beneath the night sky.
- [For adults too] Youth songs that let you look back on your memories
- [Wake-Up Songs] Energetic and Uplifting! Japanese Pop/J-POP You’ll Want to Hear in the Morning
- Classic Japanese songs perfect for sunny days: comfortable tracks that match a blue sky.
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- Karaoke songs I want to sing in the morning
- [Sunset Songs] A selection of timeless classics and the latest tracks perfect for listening at dusk
- [Songs to Listen to When You Want to Die] I want to disappear... A song to support you who feel that way
- [Classic and Contemporary Hits] Emotionally Stirring, Heart-Touching Songs
- Masterpieces that sing of tomorrow. Recommended popular songs.
[Masterpieces That Sing of Dawn] A Curated Selection of Moving Hit Songs and Hidden Gems (11–20)
Song of the DawnToukyou Jihen
It’s a song that gently points to a light of hope beyond deep darkness, one that truly seeps into the heart.
This piece—Tokyo Jihen’s cover of the classic originally sung by Yoko Kishi in 1964—was included on the album Discovery, produced in April 2011 in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Ringo Sheena’s prayer-like vocals and the band’s weighty ensemble feel as if they’re softly telling you, “It’s going to be okay.” If you listen to it in the morning after an unbearably anxious night, your heart will surely reset, giving you the courage to start a new day.
Before morning comesHata Motohiro
Motohiro Hata’s “Before Morning Comes” was written as the theme song for the film “Before Dawn Breaks.” When we think of songs about morning, we tend to imagine something refreshing and bright, but this track evokes a dim, nostalgic atmosphere just before daybreak.
The sound and rhythm are relaxed as well, so listening to it as an alarm might make for a pleasantly gentle wake-up.
Dawn of SolitudeShiina Ringo
This is a piece that colors a time of intellectual dialogue, where professionals from different fields quietly connect heart to heart.
It’s a track included on a single released in May 2013—a milestone marking Ringo Sheena’s 15th anniversary debut—and later featured on the acclaimed album “Hi Izuru Tokoro.” The song depicts a dawn scene in which an encounter with someone lights up a lonely heart.
It was chosen as the theme song for NHK E-Tele’s “SWITCH Interview: Masters.” On a morning when you want to take a new step forward, listening to this track may ease the anxieties you’ve been carrying alone and help you feel the preciousness of connecting with others.
A night close to morningA-ko
An urban, melancholic track that captures the bittersweet emotions before dawn.
It’s a song by A-ko, released in January 2025.
Her emotive vocals and the sophisticated sound that fuses house and city pop are captivating.
The lyrics convey a desire to move forward, even while being held back by happy memories of the past.
In that liminal time from night to morning, many people probably find themselves feeling this way.
Before dawnSuga Shikao
Shikao Suga, who is also known for providing songs to many famous artists as a composer.
“Yoake Mae” was released in 1999 as his seventh single.
Just listening to it makes the pale pre-dawn sky rise vividly before your eyes.
Memory of Dawnfurenzu
This song, whose laid-back rhythm evokes a city just before dawn, is by the band Friends, formed in 2015.
It’s included on their first album, “Baby Tanjou!” released in 2017.
While it has a stylish sound, it’s more of a love song that warms the heart than something simply cool.
[Masterpieces That Sing of Dawn] A Curated Selection of Moving Hit Songs and Hidden Gems (21–30)
peace signYonezu Kenshi
Kenshi Yonezu is a musician who is especially popular among younger generations.
This song was released in 2017 as his seventh single.
It’s a rock track that gives you the courage to move forward into the future.
It was selected as the theme song for the anime My Hero Academia.