The lyrics are profoundly good. The more you listen, the more it sinks in. Masterpieces of Japanese music, recommended popular songs.
When you listen to music, what do you focus on?
There are many aspects you might pay attention to—such as the vocals, the mood of the song, or, if you create music yourself, the overall structure of the track.
Among these, many people probably focus on the lyrics.
One of the best things about lyrics is that they let you feel the message of the song in the most direct way!
In this article, we’ll be introducing plenty of songs with deeply evocative lyrics that are incredibly compelling.
We’ve picked out many pieces that become moving once you understand their meaning, so be sure to listen closely.
- A playlist of timeless gems with piercing lyrics that will move your heart
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- A gentle song. A classic that calms the heart. A song that makes you feel kind.
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- Songs with strong messages. Classic J-Pop masterpieces and recommended popular tracks.
- Songs with powerful lyrics. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- A beautiful Japanese song that purifies the heart. A highly recommended classic.
- The power of words. A special feature on Vocaloid songs with great lyrics
- Songs with great lyrics: soothing tracks that linger in the heart and moving ballads
- A classic of poignant, heartwarming songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- Good songs recommended for people in their 60s: classic and popular Japanese tracks
- [When You're Lonely] A Collection of Songs That Resonate With Those All Alone
- Good songs themed around love, encouragement, and life—tracks with lyrics you can relate to.
The lyrics are profoundly good. A song that sinks in more the more you listen. Masterpieces of Japanese music: recommended popular songs (41–50)
Letter to TomorrowTeshima Aoi
The song “Letter to Tomorrow,” sung by singer-songwriter Aoi Teshima, also drew attention for being the ending theme of the drama “Love That Makes You Cry” (Itsuka Kono Koi wo Omoidashite Kitto Naite Shimau).
The lyrics are written as a letter to one’s future self, carrying the message: please live believing in a bright future—words that serve as encouragement to oneself.
As it bridges your past self and future self, it inspires you to keep cherishing what is precious now, unchanged, into the days ahead.
The lyrics are profoundly good. A song that sinks in more the more you listen. Masterpieces of Japanese music: recommended popular songs (51–60)
OCEANB’z
OCEAN by B’z was chosen as the theme song for the drama series Umizaru -UMIZARU EVOLUTION-, based on the hugely popular film Umizaru.
It’s the first drama-specific song written by B’z since Konya Tsuki no Mieru Oka ni.
The song matches the world of Umizaru perfectly.
Eine KleineYonezu Kenshi
This is a work by Kenshi Yonezu that delicately captures the poignancy of living and the sway of shifting emotions.
The protagonist hides the feelings they wish to convey, and their inner world is expressed through a delicate, translucent vocal and the gentle tone of an acoustic guitar.
Included on the album “YANKEE,” this song was featured in a Tokyo Metro commercial in March 2014, becoming Yonezu’s first tie-in track.
Its lyrics—read by some as a song about a mother’s deep love for her child, and by others as a bittersweet tale of unrequited love—have resonated with many.
It’s a warm piece that stays close to your heart when you think of someone important in your life.
horizonback number
Hiraisenzon (Horizon) was created in response to the feelings of the athletes and the high school students on the organizing side of the Inter-High School Championships, which were canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19.
For three years, athletes poured their time into standing on the Inter-High stage, grinding themselves down with relentless effort, while the student organizers worked to make that stage a success.
The regret they felt over the cancellation must have been beyond words.
This song became proof of their beautiful effort and endurance.
The lyrics are moving, praising the virtue of taking pride in oneself for persevering—even if no one notices—and recognizing that their restraint may have saved someone.
It’s sure to resonate with anyone who, during the pandemic, found themselves forced to give something up.
Don’t give upZARD
This is ZARD’s sixth single, released in 1993, a timeless classic beloved by people of all ages.
Although it’s widely known as a cheer song, if you read the lyrics closely, you realize it tells of someone who once shared a deep love with their partner, and though they’ve gone their separate ways, they’re cheering that person on as they strive toward their dreams.
The two now walk different paths, yet there’s no whining—just pure support.
That refreshing clarity and sense of transparency may be what leaves such a profound impression on listeners across generations.
foreignerKUBOTA Saki
A so-called Showa-era kayō “god-tier” song with an incredibly striking intro.
Its oriental mood, which whisks you away to the Middle East and along the Silk Road, caused a sensation in living rooms across Japan when it was released in 1979.
Does “Ihōjin” refer to a traveler, or is it about a love in a foreign land? There seem to be many ways to interpret it.
The frustration and poignancy of people with different values and sensibilities meeting, sharing a fresh new world together, yet ultimately returning to a place out of reach—surely that’s a feeling everyone has experienced.
Lion HeartSMAP
It was released in 2000 as SMAP’s 32nd single.
The song was used as the theme for the NTV drama Food Fight starring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and it became SMAP’s second million-selling single.
Although it doesn’t use direct expressions, the lyrics can be interpreted as a promise to stay together forever, making it a deeply moving song.