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

Studio Ghibli has produced numerous animated films that represent Japan.

Alongside their moving stories, many unforgettable songs have been born.

Not only the theme and insert songs, but also the background music that plays throughout the films is memorable, and many people may find themselves recalling the music together with iconic scenes—and perhaps wanting to try playing it on the piano at least once.

Many pieces from Studio Ghibli’s works are perfectly suited to the piano.

In this article, we introduce Ghibli pieces recommended for piano beginners.

Start your piano journey with your favorite song!

Playlist

[For Beginners] Recommended Ghibli Masterpieces You’ll Want to Play on the Piano
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastCarrying YouInoue Azumi / Hisaishi Joe
Carrying YouInoue Azumi / Hisaishi Joeplay_arrow
Theme song of 'Castle in the Sky' (Laputa), easy for beginners to try
2eastOn a sunny dayHisaishi Joe
On a sunny dayHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
A heart-lifting waltz from Kiki's Delivery Service
3eastAlways With MeKimura Yumi
Always With MeKimura Yumiplay_arrow
A warm singing voice and a melody that evokes nostalgia touch the heart…
4eastName of LifeHisaishi Joe
Name of LifeHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
Joe Hisaishi’s masterpiece—moved by the beautiful piano melody
5eastThe Path of the WindInoue Azumi / Hisaishi Joe
The Path of the WindInoue Azumi / Hisaishi Joeplay_arrow
Joe Hisaishi’s masterpiece that portrays the nature in Totoro
6eastMerry-Go-Round of LifeHisaishi Joe
Merry-Go-Round of LifeHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
The theme song of Howl’s Moving Castle: simple and easy to play.
7eastagainHisaishi Joe
againHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
Iconic songs from Spirited Away, moving music
8eastVillage in MayHisaishi Joe
Village in MayHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
The melody of My Neighbor Totoro is refreshing.
9eastDepartureHisaishi Joe
DepartureHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
A famous song from Kiki’s Delivery Service that expresses hope and a new journey
10eastCatbusHisaishi Joe
CatbusHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
Totoro’s music is a fantastical burst of dynamism.
11eastThe River of That DayHisaishi Joe
The River of That DayHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
Spirited Away, a melody that lingers in the heart
12eastFirst workday of the yearHisaishi Joe
First workday of the yearHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
The fresh, hopeful music of Kiki’s Delivery Service
13eastArrietty’s SongCecile Corbel
Arrietty's SongCecile Corbelplay_arrow
Cécile Corbel: The Allure of Film Music
14eastSometimes, old storiesHisaishi Joe
Sometimes, old storiesHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
The ending song of Porco Rosso, a track by Tokiko Kato
15eastRound Dance of the Sunflower HouseHisaishi Joe
Round Dance of the Sunflower HouseHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
The gentle music of ‘Ponyo’ portrays the brilliance of life.
16eastHanyu no YadoInguranndo min’yō
Hanyu no YadoInguranndo min'yōplay_arrow
The poignant insert song from Grave of the Fireflies
17eastMain themehoshikatsu
Main themehoshikatsuplay_arrow
A piano piece that weaves nostalgic memories
18eastLove is a flower, and you are its seed.Amanda McBroom
Love is a flower, and you are its seed.Amanda McBroomplay_arrow
The beautiful singing voice in the film “Only Yesterday”
19eastSomeone at any timekōryū
Someone at any timekōryūplay_arrow
Nostalgic and warm music that conveys peaceful hope
20eastFine On The OutsidePriscilla Ahn
Fine On The OutsidePriscilla Ahnplay_arrow
Background of the film’s theme song and its moving musical expression
21eastThe Pigeon and the BoyHisaishi Joe
The Pigeon and the BoyHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
The theme song of Laputa is a masterpiece by Joe Hisaishi.
22eastIf I’m wrapped in kindnessMatsutōya Yumi
If I'm wrapped in kindnessMatsutōya Yumiplay_arrow
A gentle song from Kiki’s Delivery Service that beginners can play
23eastPromise of the WorldKimura Yumi / Tanikawa Shuntarō
Promise of the WorldKimura Yumi / Tanikawa Shuntarōplay_arrow
Studio Ghibli’s classic, Howl’s Moving Castle, ...
24eastThe Legend of AshitakaHisaishi Joe
The Legend of AshitakaHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
The emotive theme song from Princess Mononoke by Joe Hisaishi
25eastMy Neighbor TotoroInoue Azumi / Hisaishi Joe
My Neighbor TotoroInoue Azumi / Hisaishi Joeplay_arrow
A famous Totoro tune, playfully performed with both hands
26eastAshitaka and SanHisaishi Joe
Ashitaka and SanHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
Composed by Joe Hisaishi, one of Japan’s most renowned composers...
27eastNausicaä RequiemHisaishi Joe
Nausicaä RequiemHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
Composed by Joe Hisaishi, one of Japan’s most renowned composers…
28eastCountry RoadYoko Honna / Taffy Nivert / John Denver / Bill Danoff
Country Road Honna Yoko / Taffy Nivert / John Denver / Bill Danoffplay_arrow
Let's play Country Roads on the piano
29eastA Town with an Ocean ViewHisaishi Joe
A Town with an Ocean ViewHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
Joe Hisaishi’s film music, playable on the piano
30eastMessage of RougeMatsutōya Yumi
Message of RougeMatsutōya Yumiplay_arrow
Spanning a wide range, from Showa-era kayōkyoku to New Music…
31eastcontrailMatsutōya Yumi
contrailMatsutōya Yumiplay_arrow
“Hikoukigumo” is a song of prayer for a friend.
32eastPrincess MononokeMera Yoshikazu / Hisaishi Joe
Princess MononokeMera Yoshikazu / Hisaishi Joeplay_arrow
Yoshikazu Mera’s enveloping singing voice and its fantasy…
33eaststrollInoue Azumi / Hisaishi Joe
strollInoue Azumi / Hisaishi Joeplay_arrow
A fun, skipping-feel piece perfect for beginner pianists
34eastBecome the windtsuji ayano
Become the windtsuji ayanoplay_arrow
The theme song of The Cat Returns is a refreshing coming-of-age tune.
35eastNausicaä of the Valley of the WindHisaishi Joe
Nausicaä of the Valley of the WindHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
About the unused masterpiece from the Nausicaä movie
36eastAsk me why (A Mother’s Thoughts)Hisaishi Joe
Ask me why (A Mother’s Thoughts)Hisaishi Joeplay_arrow
The moving theme song from Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film
37eastI stopped being alone.Yano Akiko
I stopped being alone.Yano Akikoplay_arrow
Expressing the warmth of everyday life through the piano
38eastMarco and Gina’s ThemeHisaishi Joe
Marco and Gina's ThemeHisaishi Joeplay_arrow
The moving insert song from Porco Rosso, a heartwarming melody
39eastPonyo on the CliffŌhashi Nozomi / Fujioka Fujimaki / Hisaishi Jō
Ponyo on the CliffŌhashi Nozomi / Fujioka Fujimaki / Hisaishi Jōplay_arrow
Lyrics depicting Ponyo, full of energy...
40eastMemory of LifeNikaidou Kazumi
Memory of LifeNikaidou Kazumiplay_arrow
Studio Ghibli’s … by Kazumi Nikaido
41eastTeru’s SongTeshima Aoi / Taniyama Hiroko
Teru's SongTeshima Aoi / Taniyama Hirokoplay_arrow
The theme song of Tales from Earthsea—Aoi Teshima’s a cappella is beautiful.
42eastSummer of Goodbye ~From Up on Poppy Hill~Teshima Aoi / Sakata Koichi / Marimura Yukiko
Summer of Goodbye ~From Up on Poppy Hill~Teshima Aoi / Sakata Koichi / Marimura Yukikoplay_arrow
The theme song of 'From Up on Poppy Hill,' Aoi Teshima’s singing voice