Lovely anime song

Anime songs recommended for people in their 40s, from nostalgic classics to the latest hits.

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerWakachan Araki
I started playing guitar in middle school and focused on band activities during my student years. I’ve been a hobbyist Vocaloid producer for over 15 years. After entering the workforce, I gained experience in various roles, including event sound engineering and videography/photography. As a writer, I’ve contributed introduction articles for music and manga websites, and in 2022 I had the opportunity to write the bonus liner notes for IA SUPER BEST. My specialties are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

The music we loved as kids somehow sticks with us even after we grow up, doesn’t it?

In an unexpected moment, a song can start playing in your mind along with scenes from back then.

It brings on an indescribable feeling of nostalgia.

In this article, we’ve put together anime songs that people in their 40s will definitely want to check out.

Whether you were glued to the TV watching anime as a child, or you’re just getting into anime now, this is for you.

You might even find yourself time-traveling back to your childhood.

Recommended anime songs for people in their 40s: from nostalgic classics to the latest hits (41–50)

From the depths of the heart to the water planetHiroko Moriguchi

From the depths of the heart to the water planet

With Love to the Star of Water - Hiroko Moriguchi

A song performed by Hiroko Moriguchi, who is active as a variety TV personality, chosen as the opening theme for the anime Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.

Although Moriguchi is strongly associated with her work on variety shows, her vocal ability has remained unchanged since her idol days—she even re-recorded the song herself in 2019.

Its melancholic yet powerful tone, perfectly matching the anime’s atmosphere, is likely etched in the hearts of the generation who were captivated by Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam at the time.

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dramaticBase Ball Bear

Base Ball Bear – Dramatic

Dramatic Base Ball Bear

Just by listening, those passionate feelings from back then well up in your chest—this is a fresh, vibrant number by Base Ball Bear.

Released in May 2007 as their fourth single, the song was beloved by many as the opening theme of the anime “Big Windup!” The way it surges from a quiet beginning into a fast, soaring chorus is the very essence of youth’s brilliance.

Like summer heat haze shimmering in the air, its scenes sway atop exhilarating guitar sounds.

Let those memories of being glued to the TV come back, and hum along!

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Fine On The OutsidePriscilla Ahn

[Japan Tour Confirmed] Fine On The Outside / Priscilla Ahn — Theme song of Studio Ghibli’s film “When Marnie Was There”

Priscilla Ahn - Fine On The Outside

“Fine On The Outside,” used as the main theme song for Studio Ghibli’s When Marnie Was There.

Priscilla Ahn’s soothing voice really sinks into your body.

It matches the film’s world perfectly.

It’s the kind of song that would put you in a good mood listening to it on a rainy morning with a cup of coffee.

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Let it GoTakako Matsu

Takako Matsu – Let It Go ~Ari no mama de~ (From “Frozen”)

Let It Go by Takako Matsu

The Disney film Frozen, which became a massive global hit.

This song is one of the inserts from the film.

Takako Matsu’s singing was highly praised overseas as well.

Lyrics about “being yourself just as you are” resonated not only with children but also with adults struggling with their own worries.

Many people probably sing it often at karaoke.

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riseOriga

Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG OP Non-Credit Footage | “rise”

riseOriga

This track pulls listeners into a near-futuristic world.

Its English vocal delivery, infused with the resonance of Russian, intertwines exquisitely with the grand electro sound.

The message—filled with a powerful will and hope to face hardship and forge the future—truly stirs the heart.

Released in March 2004 as the opening theme for the TV anime Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG, it’s included on soundtrack albums such as Ghost in the Shell S.A.C.

2nd GIG O.S.T.

2.

Try playing it on a night when you want to step away from the everyday and immerse yourself in a story, or as background music when you want to boost your concentration.

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Do You Remember Love?Mari Iijima

Mari Iijima – Do You Remember Love? (Music Video)

Ai Oboete Imasu ka Mari Iijima

Released in 1984, this song is known as the theme for the animated film The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?.

Mari Iijima’s clear, pure vocals are striking, and as a grand ballad it captured the hearts of many.

It was embraced not only by anime fans but by a wide range of music listeners as well, becoming a hit that reached No.

7 on the Oricon charts.

Expressing love, reunion, and a sense of nostalgia and deep affection, it offers an emotional depth that links beautifully with the world of the anime.

It’s great to listen to while reminiscing about the time you watched the film, and it’s also recommended to enjoy together with someone special.

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The Star of the SeineColumbia Cradle Society

The Star of the Seine / Arène Columbia Yurikago-kai

The Star of the Seine Columbia Cradle Club

Set in Paris during the French Revolution, this work, which colors the story of a young girl, is marked by the beautiful vocals of Arène and the Columbia Yurikago-kai.

Carried by a brave yet wistful melody, it conveys the heroine’s steadfast will and solitude as she fights for freedom and love.

French phrases woven throughout further enhance the work’s distinctive world.

The LP record was released by Nippon Columbia in June 1975 and was used as the opening theme for the television anime of the same name.

One month after the anime began airing, Arène visited Japan and held six events mainly in the Kanto region.

With its moving, beautiful melody and crystalline vocals, this is a recommended track for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the story’s world along with nostalgic memories.

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