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.
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- 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)
Footsteps ~Be StrongMr.Children
Mr.Children’s “Ashiatō ~Be Strong~” is, as the title suggests, unlike any other song in how much it makes you want to cherish each step you take.
It affirms even your small bits of growth and gives you the reassuring sense that someone is watching over you.
On the path toward your goals, there are times you feel like you might lose heart, but when you listen to this song in those moments, the words “It’s okay” arrive with real weight.
The lyrics are profoundly good. A song that sinks in more the more you listen. Masterpieces of Japanese music: recommended popular songs (51–60)
dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo
It was released in 2004 as Yo Hitoto’s fifth single.
The song, which served as the theme for NTV’s “Tuesday Suspense Theater” among other tie-ins, is said to have been written in about a week, inspired by an email from a friend who was in New York at the time of the September 11 attacks.
Despite its heavy theme, the lyrics—wishing for a love to last forever—make it a profoundly moving piece.
Tomorrow never knowsMr.Children
Among Mr.Children’s songs, “Tomorrow never knows” is both a huge fan favorite and one of their signature tracks.
Released in 1994, it was the band’s sixth single.
The song served as the theme for the drama “Wakamono no Subete” and as an insert song in “Antique: Seiyō Kottō Yōgashiten.” It’s a track that resonates with listeners of any generation—one you’ll want to play, and want others to hear, when you’re feeling down or uncertain.
It may not solve your problems, but it will surely give you the strength to face them.
budKobukuro
Kobukuro’s Tsubomi, written as the theme song for the drama Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad, has been loved by many since its 2007 release.
In fact, the song was written by Kobuchi for his late mother.
When the song won the Japan Record Award the same year it was released, Kobuchi reportedly said, “I believe my late mother was singing along with me.” The image of “tsubomi” (a flower bud)—which appears in the title and lyrics—overlaps with the figure of a mother, making it impossible to listen without tears.
This song, which sings of a mother’s strength, kindness, and love, will make you want to express your gratitude right away.
dew; (also) Russia (abbr., old usage); exposure/revelation; bare/naked; dewdrop; transient/ephemeralSiip
Siip, a singer-songwriter-creator shrouded in mystery, has been drawing attention with boundary-defying work.
Released in December 2025, marking the fifth anniversary of their debut, this piece became a major talking point as the first new song in about four years since the classic album “Siip.” The delicate sound that embraces silence and the vocals delivered in an almost monologue-like, understated flow truly resonate.
The lyrics, which gently scoop up the ache of a wavering heart that wants to affirm itself but can’t quite manage to, seem poised to seep deeply into listeners’ inner worlds.
This ballad, which beautifully captures the transience of moments that vanish in an instant, is a gentle companion for quiet nights when you want to face yourself alone.
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.
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.
