Encouraging songs: timeless masterpieces that resonate with the heart, recommended popular tracks

This is lifeKawasaki Takaya

Takanori Kawasaki - This is Life [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Singer-songwriter Takaya Kawasaki, who began pursuing music in earnest after singing on stage at his high school cultural festival.

“This is Jinsei,” included on his third album, Nukumori, also drew attention for its music video, which Kawasaki says he filmed with his own body on the line.

Even when life knocks you down and things don’t go your way, the song reminds you that you still have to walk your own path—its message helps you laugh off misfortune.

With a gentle voice and melody that soothe the heart, it’s a heartwarming number.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Young SongKawasaki Takaya

Takaya Kawasaki - Young Song [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A soothing song that gently embraces the haze and worries you carry in your heart.

Takaya Kawasaki’s warm vocals stand beside adults working hard in today’s busy world.

For those who, under the weight of daily stress, are starting to forget their true smiles, this is a cheering song that reminds you of your younger self.

Included on the album “Calendar,” it was also chosen as the commercial song for the National Federation of Light Motor Vehicle Associations starting in October 2021.

Along with the fresh tones of acoustic guitar, it sings of hope for the future and bonds with those you hold dear.

For anyone feeling uneasy in a new environment or tired from everyday life, it will surely carry a gentle breeze to your heart.

Dear you, somedayKankaku Pierrot

Kankaku Piero “Dear You, Someday” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO (Theme song for the drama ‘We’re Millennials. Got a Problem?’)

With lyrics that swell with anticipation for the future, “Dear You, Someday” is a standout track.

It’s a 2016 release by the rock band Kankaku Piero, also known for being the theme song of the drama “We’re Millennials.

Got a Problem?” The lyrics are structured like a letter written to one’s future self, conveying the message that failures aren’t wasted—they lead to future success.

Give it a listen while picturing your future self!

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yamamoto

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Same ThingHoshino Gen

Gen Hoshino – Same Thing (feat. Superorganism) [Official Video]

Gen Hoshino brings us a song imbued with the resolve to lovingly embrace the contradictions and absurdities of emotion.

It’s an ambitious work created in collaboration with the UK band Superorganism, featuring English lyrics.

Set to a sleek electropop sound, it paints a worldview where rainy days and sunny days, hatred and love—all hold equal value.

Released in October 2019, it impressively reached No.

1 on the Oricon Digital Albums chart.

Its bold, modern reinterpretation of the traditional concept of wabi-sabi also drew attention.

This is a piece that stays by your side when you feel stuck or face unreasonable circumstances, supporting you as you try to keep moving forward in everyday life.

Why Don’t You Play in Hell?Hoshino Gen

Gen Hoshino – Why Don't We Do It in Hell (Live at Tokyo Dome 2019)

This is a celebrated song by Gen Hoshino that sings of a light of hope found in lonely darkness.

Chosen as the theme song for the film of the same name released in October 2013, it carries profound insights born from experiences in a hospital room.

The message—that “lies” and “fabrications” can become supports for the heart and help us find the strength to endure a painful reality—is filled with tenderness and poignancy.

While harmonizing with the film’s worldview, the arrangement shines with Gen Hoshino’s signature pop melodies woven together with elements of jazz and funk.

In the brisk sound and layered vocals, you can feel a strong resolve to face harsh realities and still keep moving forward.

It’s a song that resonates deeply with those who struggle to live yet want to find hope, and with those who, for the sake of someone important, find themselves in situations where they must tell a lie.

life-formHoshino Gen

Gen Hoshino – Living Being (Official Video)

Gen Hoshino is a singer-songwriter whose modern pop sensibility and strong writing talent—also showcased in his work as a writer—have earned him support from a wide range of listeners.

His eighth digital-only single, “Seimeitai,” written as the theme song for TBS’s World Athletics Championships and the Asian Games, also drew attention for its star-studded music video cast.

The acoustic sound riding on a dynamic, propulsive beat feels like a powerful tailwind for the athletes.

It’s a refreshing, upbeat tune that evokes the first step toward a dream and the view that awaits beyond.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Cheering Song feat. MOOMINShonan no Kaze

Shonan no Kaze “Cheering Song feat. MOOMIN” MUSIC VIDEO

Shonan no Kaze are always by our side, cheering us on.

Sometimes they raise their fists high to fire us up; other times they gently give us a push on the back—their style of encouragement is ever-changing.

This song, “Ouenka feat.

MOOMIN,” is one you’ll want to listen to when life wears you down.

“Don’t give up on your dreams—what happened to the bold, spirited you?” It holds up your faltering heart with a powerful boost.

This manly pep song—like an older brother or a father— is a must-listen for those long, contemplative autumn nights.

If you don’t want to give up on something, give it a spin!