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

10% chance of rainH₂O

Miyuki.op "10% Chance of Rain" TV Anime ver. custom full / Song: H₂O

This song lets you savor the fluttering excitement of love just beginning, like weather you can’t quite predict.

It was included on the single released by the folk duo H₂O in March 1983 and was used as the opening theme for the Fuji TV anime “Miyuki.” The duo’s breezy harmonies glide over a light, tropical sound.

In contrast to the ballad on the A-side, this arrangement became a hit, selling over 400,000 copies.

Its sophisticated, city-pop-like ensemble would make for the perfect soundtrack to a refreshing seaside drive.

It’s a track I’d recommend to anyone who loves ’80s New Music.

When the Sun Shines AgainHiro Takahashi

Hiro Takahashi “When the Sun Shines Again” MV

When you want to sink into a sentimental mood on a rainy day drive, Hiro Takahashi’s polished masterpiece of a ballad will be right there with you.

Released in June 1994, many may know it as the ending theme of the TV anime Yu Yu Hakusho.

Its jazz-tinged piano and subtly nostalgic city-pop sound are effortlessly stylish.

The lyrics paint a poetic world that mirrors a heart weighed down by the endless rain, yet still believes in the moment when the sun will shine again.

The track is also included on the album WELCOME TO POPSICLE CHANNEL.

Hiro’s gentle voice, kindling hope within melancholy, lends a soft, graceful hue to the quiet interior of a car at night.

It’s an essential number for background music when you want to get lost in your thoughts.

Immortal YouNEW!Perfume

Fumetsu no anata

This track was created as the opening theme for the NHK-broadcast anime To Your Eternity Season 3.

Released digitally in December 2025, it’s quintessentially Perfume—sleek, sophisticated synth-pop—yet it carries a quiet, prayer-like stillness.

The sound resonates deeply, mirroring the anime’s themes of the loneliness and poignancy of an eternal life.

Each word feels crafted to linger in your heart, and with every listen, your emotions seem to come into sharper focus.

It’s perfect for moments when you want to face your own inner self.

The magic spell of love is ‘Sukitokimekitokisu.’Sayaka Ito

The magic spell of love is ‘Sukitokimekitokisu.’

Among 80s anime songs, this number shines with an especially cool, stylish glow.

Sung by Sayaka Ito—who called herself a rock ’n’ roller—it was released in October 1982 as her third single.

Its sophisticated sound, a fusion of disco and hard pop, is beautifully complemented by her clear, soaring high tones.

The lyrics bottle the exhilaration of being under love’s spell into a catchy incantation, giving you a buoyant, heart-lifting feeling as you listen.

The track was used as the opening theme for the anime Sasuga no Sarutobi, and in Oricon’s 1983 year-end charts it ranked fifth in the TV Manga/Children’s Songs category.

Beyond the playful, anime-style lyrics, the exquisitely crafted, ultra-stylish production—just as noted above—makes this a quintessential “city pop” masterpiece in the world of anime songs.

MAGICAdo

【Ado】MAGIC

This is the first collaboration with Vocaloid producer Tsumiki, released in October as the opening theme for the anime “Cat’s Eye.” The track, where a retro vibe intersects with a Reiwa-era modern sound, is highly addictive—guaranteed to be on repeat.

The contrast between lyrics that depict the duality of a phantom thief—deception and truth, stealing and being stolen from—and Ado’s shape-shifting vocals amps up the excitement.

It’s a stylish dance tune you’ll want to play when you want to lift your mood.

ioliteEVE

Iolite – Eve Music Video

A song by Eve, written as the opening theme for the TV anime Pokémon and set for digital release in October 2025.

Its title is the name of a mineral that means “a stone that shows the way,” and it was created from Eve’s desire—having been familiar with Pokémon since childhood—to deliver music that accompanies the protagonists on their journey.

It portrays the courage to step into questions without clear answers and the sense of solidarity with friends, overflowing with a warmth like a light that illuminates the first step into the unknown.

The soundscape opens up all at once in the chorus, as if the sky were clearing.

It’s a track we hope will be heard by anyone trying to take on something new.

LynxClariS

Lynx

Released in October 2025, this track is an ambitious work for ClariS, created under their new three-member lineup.

Produced as a linked partner to the Puella Magi Madoka Magica series, it carries the concept of connecting the past and the present.

Centered on a synth-pop sound, the transparent, intertwining vocals of the three members resonate pleasantly.

Its release coincided with the TV broadcast of the series’ theatrical version, making it a deeply moving song for longtime fans.

Highly recommended for those who want to experience a new starting point for ClariS.