[Food Songs] Popular Japanese songs that use names of foods

POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

When everyday familiar things are chosen as the subject of a song, it somehow makes us feel a sense of closeness all by itself.

If a song’s title or theme is food, it’s easier to picture, isn’t it?

This time, under the theme of Japanese music related to food, we’ve put together songs where the very title features food or drink, or the lyrics are connected to food!

From the latest hits to timeless classics and hidden favorites, please enjoy these J-POP gems that might just make your stomach growl.

[Food Songs] Popular Japanese songs that use food names (41–50)

Peperoncino Candysōtaisei riron

Theory of Relativity – Peperoncino Candy

Peperoncino Candysōtaisei riron

This is a song by Sōtaisei Riron, a band popular for their distinctive vocals and catchy, lingering phrases.

This track, too, has a melody that makes you want to hum along after just one listen.

I imagine many people get hooked on the mysterious lyrics and catchy tune.

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Cheese “PIZZA”JUDY AND MARY

JUDY AND MARY | Cheese “Pizza”

Cheese "PIZZA"JUDY AND MARY

This is a classic song by JUDY AND MARY that compares the feeling of falling in love to melting cheese.

Besides cheese pizza, soda water also appears in the lyrics.

The refreshing, pure words combined with YUKI’s soothing vocals make it a track you’ll want to listen to over and over again.

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cotton candyback number

back number – Watagashi (full)

cotton candyback number

This is a classic song by back number, known for their female-perspective and bittersweet tracks.

It captures the feelings of a man who invites the girl he likes to a festival, with vivid scenes and character portrayals that spark the listener’s imagination, and a poignant melody that quickens the heartbeat from a male point of view.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to during summer festivals and fireworks season.

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macaroniPerfume

[Official Music Video] Perfume “Macaroni”

macaroniPerfume

It’s a mid-tempo love number that sings about a cute wish: to stay at a comfortable distance—not too close, not too far.

It’s a song by the dance-vocal group Perfume, released in 2008 as a double A-side single, “Baby cruising Love / Macaroni.” The snappy sound work, where stylishness and retro vibes mingle, leaves a strong impression.

It feels like something you’d describe as poised between digital and analog.

A gentle relationship, like softly simmered macaroni… it’s something to long for, isn’t it?

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First loveHata Motohiro

Motohiro Hata / First Love (Short Ver.)

First loveHata Motohiro

This song, with the striking apples in its music video, leaves a strong impression.

The opening line packs a huge impact as well.

The intro features a poignant chord progression using the major seventh—what music producer Seiji Kameda dubbed the “adult chord.” It’s a masterpiece by Motohiro Hata that carries a hint of venom, setting it apart from well-known songs like “Himawari no Yakusoku.”

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Strawberry ChipsHALCALI

Halcali – Strawberry Chips (2003) FULL ALBUM

Strawberry ChipsHALCALI

With its rap segments, catchy chorus repetitions, and a music video featuring quirky dancing, it feels like a very modern track—but it actually came out in 2003.

Wouldn’t it be a masterpiece that could still sell as a “new” song if it were released today?

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COOKIEOzaki Yutaka

Yutaka Ozaki “COOKIE”

COOKIEOzaki Yutaka

Yutaka Ozaki, a singer-songwriter who released numerous classic songs, also created a track with a food-related title: “COOKIE.” In the song, the everyday scene of eating cookies with milk is depicted as a symbol of peace.

Although the lyrics were written with the unstable social climate of 1990 in mind, they still resonate today.

Give it a listen and let your thoughts wander to the many issues in our world.

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