[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 Masterpieces Celebrating Precious Meetings [Love & Friendship] (51–60)
Life encountersRADWIMPS
This song, the first track on RADWIMPS’ debut album.
It’s packed with the charm of early RADWIMPS—full of drive and youthful energy, with lyrics that evoke the feeling of adolescence.
If you’re a fan, it’s surely a nostalgic, heart-grabbing track! A romance begins from a chance encounter with a woman, and from there the male protagonist’s life starts to change.
Through meeting her—always beautiful, gentle, and warm-hearted—he realizes the meaning of his own life.
It paints a romantic story like that.
You might think, “There’s no way such a grand love exists…” but if you look back a bit, you’ll likely find that you, too, were changed by meeting someone precious.
Sakura (Solo)Moriyama Naotaro
When the season of farewells and new encounters arrives, this is the timeless masterpiece I always feel compelled to listen to.
I’m sure many people have vivid memories tied to it.
It’s a gem that celebrates the fleeting cherry blossoms—blooming in a flash and falling just as quickly—sung with Naotaro Moriyama’s soaring vocals.
There may be partings ahead after new meetings, but it makes you want to cherish this very moment and live it fully.
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.
MIRAIShonan no Kaze
Shonan no Kaze’s “MIRAI” is a song filled with a message of gratitude for the friends they’ve met.
Its warm lyrics convey a strong bond between men, reflecting the times they spent together and the support they gave each other.
Especially since the massive 2006 hit “Junrenka,” Shonan no Kaze’s music has been widely loved by many, and the heartfelt messages in songs like this one carry tremendous impact.
Anyone who has overcome hardships alongside their friends will surely relate to this track.
It’s a reminder, at crucial moments in life, of just how important friends truly are.
[Grateful for Encounters] A Collection of Classic Songs Celebrating Cherished Meetings [Love & Friendship] (61–70)
Love ForeverShimizu Shota × Kato Miliyah
When you think of songs about meeting someone, I imagine many people think of this one.
From the very start of the chorus, the lyrics strikingly express gratitude for that encounter! Surely everyone can relate to feeling thankful for meeting a beloved partner, right? In that sense it might seem like a love song for a couple whose relationship is going well, but looking at the lyrics as a whole, it’s a heartrending song that can be taken as a heartbreak tune.
The collaboration between Miliyah Kato and Shota Shimizu—two hugely popular singers representing this scene—features wonderful call-and-response and harmonies that further enhance the story and poignancy of the lyrics.
With youSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
The dance and vocal group Sandaime J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE.
They handle a wide range of songs, from pop to ballads.
Speaking of songs themed around their encounters, “Kimi to Nara” comes to mind.
It’s a track that portrays the joy of a man who repeats meetings and partings and finally finds his destined partner.
It also feels like a supportive song for those who have recently gone through a breakup.
Give it a listen and let it inspire thoughts of your fated one.
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.