[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 about precious meetings [Love & Friendship] (21–30)
mysteryNEW!Hoshino Gen
It’s a warm number that gently embraces those indescribable feelings that arise between people you hold dear.
Have you ever felt that inexplicable sense of “Why do I love this person?”—not just the thrill of romance, but the unexplainable emotion that surfaces as two people meet and build a relationship? Gen Hoshino delicately captures those mysterious, cherished feelings with a sound that fits right into everyday life.
Written in April 2021 as the theme song for the TBS drama “Kikazaru Koi ni wa Riyuu ga Atte,” the track was also included on the single “Fushigi/Souzou,” released in June of the same year.
It’s a recommended song for those moments when you suddenly feel like expressing gratitude to an irreplaceable presence by your side, whether a partner or a friend.
Maiden in LoveNEW!ikimonogakari
This is one of Ikimonogakari’s early signature ballads, expressing the swells and shifts of being in love with heartfelt directness.
Carried by a melody that blends warmth with wistfulness, it sings of the miracle of meeting someone precious and the pure heart that thinks of them.
As you listen, you may find yourself recalling someone irreplaceable, feeling your chest tighten with emotion.
Released as a single in October 2006, it was used at the time as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Ren’ai Bukatsu (Love-Katsu).” Beloved ever since, it’s recently drawn attention again as the CM song for the wedding information service “Zexy” starting in March 2025.
It’s also included on albums such as “Sakura Saku Machi Monogatari,” and its charm lies in how it’s been passed down in various arrangements.
Portraying a steadfast, single-minded love, this song is perfect not only for those with unrequited feelings but also for moments when you want to express gratitude to a partner.
It’s a popular choice at weddings, making it a wonderful tune to accompany life’s happiest moments!
Circle of ThanksNEW!ayaka
This is an Ayaka number that sings about the warmth carried by words of gratitude and really touches the heart.
By saying “thank you,” smiles are born, and that joy connects to someone else next—these lyrics, which make you feel such a lovely chain reaction, gently wrap the listener’s heart.
Released digitally in October 2013, the song was created as the theme for Nestlé’s “KitKat” 40th anniversary in Japan.
It’s said to have been crafted with reference to messages from fans about the people they wanted to say “thank you” to, packing in the real emotions of many.
It’s a masterpiece meant to give you that little push to share the gratitude that’s usually too embarrassing to say out loud—with your precious family and friends.
Baby, I love youNEW!TEE
A signature love ballad by TEE, whose lyrics convey love straightforwardly, albeit clumsily, and resonate deeply.
Released as a single in October 2010, it was also beloved as the ending theme for TBS’s COUNT DOWN TV.
Its heartfelt plea of “I just want you by my side” and its warm message that makes you feel the happiness of everyday life are enough to make your heart swell just by listening.
It later drew attention when covered by Che’Nelle, and it has continued to be cherished as a classic song often played at weddings and proposals.
I think it’s a masterpiece that’s perfect for moments when you want to express gratitude you can’t usually put into words to your precious partner, or to celebrate an irreplaceable encounter.
This work is filled with the pure feelings of a clumsy man—be sure to listen to it together with someone special.
Is that okay?NEW!RADWIMPS
This RADWIMPS track sets disarmingly straightforward expressions of love—and the jittery feeling that comes from being “too happy”—to a buoyant rhythm.
It’s one of the band’s signature songs, turning live venues into a sea of handclaps and singalongs.
The lyric asking “Is it okay to be this happy?” perfectly captures the joy and gratitude of meeting someone precious.
Though included on the December 2006 album RADWIMPS 4 ~Okazu no Gohan~, it also carries a fiery backstory: the original MV shoot was grueling due to rain and cold, prompting a “revenge” reshoot about ten years later in 2017.
It’s a song that makes you want to say “thank you” to the irreplaceable people in your life—be it a partner, family, or best friend.
Like a warm meal, it’s a classic that soaks into the heart.
Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)NEW!Yonezu Kenshi
This work, which became a major talking point thanks to the miraculous collaboration between Kenshi Yonezu and Masaki Suda, is included on the classic 2017 album BOOTLEG.
It portrays two childhood best friends who, though they grow up and walk separate paths, continue to draw strength from each other’s existence.
The worldview, likened to the colors of the sky at dawn, makes you feel the un-fading strength of their bond, no matter how much time passes or how circumstances change.
When you feel a sudden loneliness amid days of passing by one another, or find yourself yearning to see an old friend, listening to this song will surely be there for your heart.
It’s a soul-stirring masterpiece that seems to bless the “now,” where each of us is living earnestly in our own place!
EverythingMISIA
A ballad by MISIA that captures the moment when a chance encounter becomes the beginning of destiny.
Her powerful vocals convey deep love for the other person, the ache of time spent apart, and a wish for a future that lasts forever.
With R&B elements woven into the melody and her rich expressiveness, the song beautifully colors a fated romance.
Released in October 2000, it drew major attention as the theme song for the drama “Yamato Nadeshiko.” It topped the Oricon weekly chart for three consecutive weeks and is recognized as one of MISIA’s signature songs.
It expresses the yearning of a heart in love for a destined meeting and the feelings that follow.
When you face a miraculous coincidence in your own life, this is a song that will surely give you a gentle push forward.