[2026] Perfect for road-trip BGM too! A stylish anime song roundup

Blue flowerNEW!Kuki Kōdan (Air Corporation)

Blue flower

When you want to work while immersing yourself in a world like a pale watercolor painting, this piece is there to accompany your heart.

Yukari Yamazaki’s translucent vocals and Wataru Kubota’s delicate keyboard arrangements quietly color everyday scenery.

The refined sound, which also resonates with Shibuya-kei and city pop, gently envelops the listener’s emotions.

Released as a single by Kuuki Koudan in July 2009, it was created as the opening theme for the anime of the same name, Aoi Hana.

It contains four tracks in total, maintaining a chamber music-like approach that avoids flashiness throughout.

It won’t disrupt your concentration, making it a perfect number to play softly on a calm afternoon of reading or during a relaxed night of studying.

FlashbackMIYAVI vs KenKen

Anime 'Kokkoku' OP / Theme Song 'Flashback / MIYAVI vs KenKen' TV ver.

If you’re looking to enjoy a funky, thrilling drive, I recommend a track by MIYAVI and KenKen.

The Samurai Guitarist’s slap guitar and the genius bassist’s bass go head-to-head in a fierce exchange, creating an addictive sound you could call alternate-funk.

Lyrics that express the impatience and inner conflict against unstoppable time build a unique world that blends ruthlessness with bittersweet emotion.

The song is included on MIYAVI’s session album “Samurai Sessions, Vol.

2,” released in November 2017, and was used as the opening theme for the anime “Kokkoku.” The album, a bona fide classic featuring this track, peaked at No.

11 on the Oricon charts.

Give it a listen while driving at night on the expressway or through tunnels.

Summer MirageKanako Wada

[Anison] Summer Mirage / Kanako Wada (with lyric subtitles) Kimagure Orange Road, Ending Theme

Kanako Wada is a singer-songwriter whose urbane, sophisticated sound and clear, translucent vocals helped support the rise of city pop in the 1980s.

This song, used as the ending theme for the TV anime Kimagure Orange Road, was released as a single in May 1987.

Like a summer mirage, it captures the elusive flutter and bittersweetness of love, and its echo-drenched production gives it a dreamlike quality.

The arrangement unfolds from a melody where slide guitar resonates with a touch of melancholy into a sentimental chorus, making it perfect for a wistful drive at dusk.

As a quintessential classic of ’80s city pop, it’s also beloved by music fans overseas—truly an indispensable pick for this theme!

Street-corner Tangentshami momo

Street-corner Tangent

That light, breezy sound really lifts your mood for a day out, doesn’t it? The track sung by shami momo, the unit formed by voice actresses Konomi Kohara and Akari Kito, is perfect for a stylish drive.

Released in August 2019 as the opening theme for the first season of the TV anime “The Demon Girl Next Door,” it reached as high as No.

10 on the Oricon weekly chart.

With a sound reminiscent of classic Shibuya-kei and French pop, just listening to it makes your heart skip.

The lyrics portray a single-hearted devotion to someone irreplaceable, matching beautifully with the duo’s cute vocals.

The big band–style arrangement, highlighted by bright trumpets, is another charm.

Put it on a lazy afternoon, and your familiar streets might just start to look a little more special.

Angel's paintMari Iijima

Mari Iijima – Angel’s Paint (Music Video)

You might have had the experience where just thinking about someone you love makes the world look more vibrant.

This piece was written and composed by singer-songwriter Mari Iijima, who has been familiar with the piano since childhood.

It portrays a growing love that seems to repaint the world with beautiful colors, drawing you into the pure universe of its lyrics.

The song was included on a single released in June 1984 and is well known for being used as the ending theme of the theatrical anime The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?.

While it has an idol-pop flavor, its refined melody and production make it perfect for a drive along the coastline at dusk.

It’s a song I recommend when you want to create a romantic atmosphere.

MirageNEW!Creepy Nuts

Creepy Nuts – Mirage (Official Music Video) [OP Theme to Call of the Night Season 2]

You’ll be drawn in by the contrast between the ephemeral soundscape and the weighty rhythms.

This track, crafted by the hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts, who continue to rack up hits at home and abroad, was released in July 2025 and selected as the opening theme for the TV anime Call of the Night Season 2.

The lyrics by R-Shitei, depicting lingering attachments and regrets that cling to the night, meld beautifully with the meticulously constructed track by DJ Matsunaga.

The music captures emotions that waver like a mirage, reflecting a deep understanding of the world established since the first season of the anime.

It’s perfect as BGM for late-night work when you want quiet focus.

Immerse yourself in the introspective nighttime atmosphere.

Glass DoorNEW!Newspeak

Newspeak – Glass Door (Official Music Video)

When you find yourself wanting something sophisticated with a Western pop sheen in the middle of work, this is the latest anime song that comes to mind.

It’s a track Newspeak released in July 2025, written as the ending theme for the anime “BULLET/BULLET.” Rei’s vocals glide seamlessly between English and Japanese, and while the lyrics express discomfort with a society overflowing with forced smiles and beautiful lies, the melody carries a determined forward drive that really hits home.

It was also included as the title track on the EP released in August 2025, blending the tight performance unique to a three-piece band with sleek, urban production.

It’s perfect for late-night study sessions or desk work where you want to boost your focus.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for stylish background music for getting things done.