[For Beginners] Recommended Ghibli Masterpieces You’ll Want to Play on the Piano

A Town with an Ocean ViewHisaishi Joe

A Town with an Ocean View - Piano, from Studio Ghibli's 'Kiki's Delivery Service'

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Joe Hisaishi’s famous piece “A Town with an Ocean View,” well known as an insert song from the Studio Ghibli film Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Its charm lies in a simple, friendly melody that instantly brings scenes from the movie to mind.

Since many piano scores have been published, beginners can easily give it a try by choosing sheet music with note names written in, or simple arrangements built from a single melody line and bass notes.

Of course, the richer the harmony, the closer you get to the feel of the original, so once you’ve gained some proficiency, try tackling intermediate or advanced arrangements as well!

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Message of RougeMatsutōya Yumi

[Easy Piano] Message of Rouge from Kiki's Delivery Service [Slow Beginner-Friendly with Do-Re-Mi Notes]

Yumi Matsutoya, who has been active across a wide range of genres from Showa-era kayōkyoku to New Music.

One of Matsutoya’s signature songs is “Message of Rouge.” It was chosen as the opening theme for Studio Ghibli’s 1989 film Kiki’s Delivery Service and is loved by people of all ages.

The contrast between its lively doo-wop-style melody and lyrics centered on infidelity is striking.

The female protagonist deftly expresses her anger toward her lover, lingering attachment, and mischievous streak.

Since the tempo is fast, first practice playing slowly with an accurate rhythm—like in the video introduced here—then gradually increase the tempo.

Once you can play it on the piano, you’re sure to have a great time!

contrailMatsutōya Yumi

[Even Beginners Can Play] “Hikoukigumo” (The Wind Rises) Easy Piano Arrangement • With Do-Re-Mi Notation • Slow • One-Finger • Right Hand Only • Also for Both Hands • Sheet Music Available

Yumi Arai’s classic “Hikoukigumo” is also well known as the theme song for the film The Wind Rises.

It is said to have been written after the death of one of Arai’s elementary school classmates, who had been battling a serious illness.

Rather than dwelling on sorrow, the melody conveys a forward-looking hope, as if wishing for happiness in heaven.

Its range is fairly wide and the rhythm somewhat intricate.

However, since the accompaniment keeps repeating the same rhythm within a narrow range, once you’ve mastered the right hand, playing with both hands is within reach.

Don’t just read the score—try humming the tune as you go to internalize the rhythm.

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Princess MononokeMera Yoshikazu / Hisaishi Joe

[Beginner-Friendly] Princess Mononoke (Yoshikazu Mera) Easy Piano Arrangement with Do-Re-Mi Notes, Slow Tempo, One-Finger, Right/Left Hand Only, or Both Hands; Sheet Music Available

Many people must have been captivated by Yoshikazu Mera’s enveloping singing voice and the dreamlike sound! The main theme of the film Princess Mononoke, memorable for its beautiful melody, is easy to play on the piano thanks to its relaxed tempo and uncomplicated rhythm.

To recreate the melancholy mood of the original, the key is to play the lower-register phrases softly and gradually increase the volume as the range rises to build intensity.

By focusing on expression, you can achieve a highly polished performance even with fewer notes.

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strollInoue Azumi / Hisaishi Joe

Sanpo: Easy, Slow Piano Sheet Music (My Neighbor Totoro)

A perfect piece for piano beginners that can be played without moving the left-hand position! It’s also very popular among children learning piano and is often chosen for recitals.

The standout feature of “Sanpo” is its bouncy, skipping rhythm! Practice with an emphasis on playing rhythmically so you can express the excitement of setting out on an adventure.

If you play it cheerfully and have fun, you’re already more than halfway there! Once you’ve mastered the right hand, try tackling an arrangement that adds rhythmic elements to the left hand.

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Become the windtsuji ayano

Piano Play: Become the Wind (The Cat Returns)

The theme song of The Cat Returns, a spin-off of the film Whisper of the Heart! Its refreshing sound and Ayano Tsuji’s bright singing voice are striking, aren’t they? Although it’s a fast-paced piece that evokes a breezy, youthful vibe, the left-hand accompaniment can basically just mark the bass notes—that’s enough! There’s a lot of stepwise motion in the right hand too, so it shouldn’t feel as difficult as it sounds.

Practice the left hand to keep a precise tempo and the right hand to play smoothly with a sense of flow, then gradually bring the tempo closer to the original.

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Nausicaä of the Valley of the WindHisaishi Joe

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind - Symbol/Theme Song [Easy Piano Arrangement] For Beginner Practice • With letter notes (do-re-mi), slow tempo • One finger • Right or left hand only • Also playable with both hands

Despite being known as a song from the film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, it carries the unusual distinction of not being used in the actual movie due to its mismatch with the film’s content, and was only used for promotional purposes.

It feels like a waste, since it’s such a fresh and beautiful piece.

Although the melody sounds intricate, it has few large leaps, and the left-hand accompaniment can be played with minimal position shifts.

With repeated practice, even beginners should be able to move their fingers relatively smoothly!

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