A stylish moment of autumn songs colored by Japanese pop music
As the wind turns cool and the trees on the street corners begin to change color, autumn somehow makes our hearts a little sentimental.
For moments like these, sophisticated tracks with refined sounds and evocative lyrics feel just right.
We’ve selected high-quality Japanese pop songs perfect for the season—from stylish tunes infused with urban and jazz elements to songs that sing of mature romance.
How about spending a slow moment or a night drive with music that enriches the colors of autumn?
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A stylish moment of autumn songs colored by Japanese pop (1–10)
SeptemberTakeuchi Mariya
This is Mariya Takeuchi’s third single, released in August 1979.
While the song has a bright, poppy feel, there’s a certain melancholy to it.
As summer draws to a close, it tells of the bittersweet change of heart as a loved one’s feelings drift away.
In contrast to the light, upbeat sound, the emotions of a woman watching her lover slip away cut right to the heart.
Takeuchi’s gentle, enveloping vocals only serve to highlight the loneliness in the lyrics.
Thanks to this hit, the song won the New Artist Award at the 21st Japan Record Awards and was also included on the acclaimed album “LOVE SONGS.” On a long autumn night, with a slight chill in the air, give it a listen and pay attention to the story-like lyrics as they unfold.
Love’s Melody and Rainy SkiesAAA
It’s an exquisite love song brimming with the frustration of wanting to say “I love you” but not being able to.
Released in September 2013 as AAA’s 38th single, it was also included on the album Eighth Wonder.
The poignant melody, echoing the early autumn rainy skies, blends with the members’ emotionally rich vocals, and the swelling feelings press upon your heart.
It won the Excellence Award at the 55th Japan Record Awards.
Praised as a remedy for love, this track is perfect for listening on long autumn nights, lost in thought.
moonlightJane Jade
It’s a pop track distinguished by a soundscape woven from the gentle timbre of ukulele and an acoustic guitar that carries a subtly alternative resonance.
It’s the debut release from Jane Jade, a duo formed by singer-songwriters Sakura Fujiwara and Yuga, issued as a single in December 2023.
The song’s greatest highlight is its otherworldly harmonies that meld together as if they were a single voice.
The lyrics, portraying emotions quietly swaying under the moonlight, may softly accompany the sentimental mood of an autumn night.
This is a refined, high-quality number that’s perfect for nighttime drives or moments of quiet reflection.
A stylish selection of Japanese songs to color your autumn moments (11–20)
sepiaNanba Shiho
This is a ballad by Shiho Nanba, whose charm lies in a voice that blends clarity with a sense of weightlessness.
Its emotionally rich melody, perfect for chilly seasons, gently seeps into the heart.
The song portrays a delicate love swaying between ideal and reality.
It evokes a nostalgic, slightly bittersweet feeling, like looking at a faded photograph.
Because Nanba herself wrote the lyrics for the first time, the sincerity of her feelings may come through all the more directly.
The track is included on the mini-album “Dramatic e.p.,” released in December 2016.
Why not savor it on a long autumn night, lost in your thoughts alone?
Shonan SeptemberSazan Ōrusutāzu
Southern All Stars may have a strong summer image, but they also have plenty of classic songs perfect for autumn.
This work is a bittersweet, AOR-style ballad set in Shonan.
It’s included on the album “Sakura,” released in October 1998, and its distinctly ’90s sound evokes a sense of nostalgia.
The lyrics portray memories of a past love—not just a beautiful reminiscence, but raw emotions like desire and wretchedness, which make it all the more heart-wrenching.
It’s the perfect number for those moments when you want to get a little sentimental by the seaside, after the bustle of summer has faded.
The way the autumn rain falls is endearing.indigo la End
Set against a moody, slightly enigmatic accompaniment, this song poetically weaves a tale of romance.
It’s by the band indigo la End, fronted by Enon Kawatani—who is also active in Gesu no Kiwami Otome and Genie High.
The lyrics revolve around the theme of “autumn rain,” as suggested by the title, and are crafted in a way that invites varied interpretations from each listener.
You can enjoy it by pondering the true story and emotions embedded in the words, or by overlaying the lyrics with your own experiences.
It’s a track you’ll want to savor on a long autumn night.
Though the road home is lit by the madder-red glow…Shiina Ringo
“Akane Sasu Kouro Terasaredo…” is a song by Sheena Ringo, and it was also used in a commercial for Suntory’s The Cocktail Bar.
Her debut album, Muzai Moratorium, released in 1999 and featuring this track, reached No.
2 on the Oricon Albums Chart and sold over 1.7 million copies, becoming a million-selling classic.
“Akane Sasu Kouro Terasaredo…” stylishly contrasts A sections that use jazz chords with a chorus that feels open yet tinged with melancholy.
It’s a song I highly recommend listening to while watching an autumn sunset!
