[Grateful for Encounters] A Collection of Classic Songs Celebrating Cherished Meetings [Love & Friendship]
When you hear “a song about encounters,” what kind of meeting do you imagine?
Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is a man and woman meeting in a romantic context!
But there are many kinds of encounters—between friends, between teammates—and there are songs that celebrate each kind of meeting.
In this article, I’ll introduce songs themed around all sorts of encounters!
Just as people say “after parting comes a new meeting,” some songs that seem at first glance to be about farewells are actually about encounters when you look closely at the lyrics!
We’ll be introducing lots of songs, so read on to the end!
- [Thank-You Song] A song to convey your feelings of “thank you” to someone special
- [Song of Destiny] Love songs to listen to when you meet your destined person
- A bright song about comrades. A roundup of classic tracks that make you feel the bonds.
- [A New Love Song] A romance song themed around meeting someone
- Only masterpieces that color the season of meetings and farewells! Spring songs recommended for Gen Z.
- [Tears of Joy] Beautiful Friendship Songs with Lyrics You’ll Want to Gift to a Dear Friend
- A gratitude song for friends. A thank-you song dedicated to someone special.
- [Song of Gratitude] Timeless classics and the latest tracks that convey heartfelt “thank you” to your seniors
- Mutual love, unrequited love, familial love... classic songs that sing about affection
- Friendship Songs: Rediscover Your Bonds! A Carefully Curated Selection of Moving Masterpieces That Will Bring You to Tears
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- Emotional songs to listen to in spring: a collection of masterpieces that suit the season of meetings and farewells.
- Love, bonds, parting, cheers… songs so moving they pierce the heart and make you cry uncontrollably
[Grateful for Encounters] A Collection of Classic Songs Celebrating Cherished Meetings [Love & Friendship] (61–70)
Encounters are seeds of growthKetsumeishi
Among Ketsumeishi’s songs, this one is beloved as a moving ballad and is also very popular as background music for weddings and profile videos.
Listening to the chorus lyrics may make you pause and think, even startle you into reflection.
When we consider all the people we’ve met and the many relationships we’ve built—good, bad, and everything in between—we realize that not a single encounter was wasted, and we can feel gratitude for every meeting.
It’s a wonderful song that resonates with the lyrics, prompts reflection, and fills you with thankfulness.
Best FriendNishino Kana
“Best Friend” is a song Kana Nishino wrote for her own friend.
Because the lyrics express gratitude toward a friend, it’s also popular at weddings as a song from friends to the bride—or from the bride to her friends.
The straightforward words about how this friend understands you even better than family and keeps you smiling all the time may feel a bit embarrassing, but receiving a song like this would make anyone happy.
It’s a friendship anthem that makes you think, “I want to meet a friend like this!”
Because I met youmiwa
A refreshing song you’ll want to listen to in summer, “Because I Met You.” Written with the theme of a “cheering song for students devoted to club activities,” it’s the Shiseido SEA BREEZE commercial song.
The lyrics, which express gratitude for the encounter and how the presence of the person you met inspires you, are very uplifting! It’s perfect for times when you want to push yourself and move forward.
Although it’s a cheer song for students, it’s a number that lets anyone connect their thoughts and memories—whether it’s a lover or friends you met in the summer—with whoever that special person may be.
Flower in the mirror, moon on the waterThe SHIGOTONIN
It’s a single by the unit The SHIGOTONIN, formed by Noriyuki Higashiyama, Masahiro Matsuoka, and Tadayoshi Ohkura, released in February 2009.
Since Hissatsu Shigotonin 2009, it has been used as the theme song for this series.
Have you seen the crimson-red sky?BUMP OF CHICKEN
Among BUMP OF CHICKEN’s songs, this track is a hidden gem that’s extremely popular among fans.
Its driving pace and catchy vibe are sure to lift your spirits when you listen! Speaking of BUMP OF CHICKEN, one of their biggest draws is the lyrics written by vocalist-guitarist Motoo Fujiwara.
This song is no exception—it’s full of that charm, especially the lyrics in the latter half about the two people’s meeting, which will surely move you.
Those kinds of expressions—seemingly obvious, yet things you wouldn’t notice unless someone says them—are exactly what make Fuji-kun’s lyrics so wonderful and distinctive.
MissingKubota Toshinobu
A track included on Toshinobu Kubota’s first original album, “SHAKE IT PARADISE,” released in 1986.
Although it was never released as a single, it has been covered by many artists and is considered one of Kubota’s signature songs.
The song depicts an extramarital affair, conveying a poignant feeling of “if only we had met earlier.”
Encounter.. feat. RED RICE, BIG RONKyūshūdan
This song was created by reggae singer Kusuo, featuring Shonan no Kaze’s RED RICE and hip-hop artist BIG RON.
As the title suggests, it’s a track themed around the moment of romantic encounter.
You may have experienced love at first sight the instant you met someone for the first time—this song is exactly about that.
It portrays a romance that begins with a chance meeting and a man who musters his courage to confess his feelings.
When this song was released, many listeners likely drew strength from it.