[2026] Recommended Autumn Songs for People in Their 40s: Recommended J-POP [Autumn Songs]

These days, even when autumn arrives, the heat lingers on and it can be hard to feel the change of seasons.

Still, as the days start to end a little earlier and the sounds of insects shift, it really makes you want to listen to some autumn songs, doesn’t it?

In this article, we’re introducing recommended autumn tunes that are sure to make people currently in their 40s feel a touch sentimental.

For those in their 40s today, their youth coincided with the golden age of J-POP—from the 1990s to the early 2000s—when a string of massive hits left their mark on music history.

Many of these songs are well-known even among younger generations.

Be sure to check them out!

Playlist

[2026] Recommended Autumn Songs for People in Their 40s: Recommended J-POP [Autumn Songs]
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	The Reason We Set Out on a JourneyOzawa Kenji		Autumn scenes, a heartrending masterpiece, a song of hope
2	Loneliness is the color of autumn.WANDS		A quintessential 90s ballad, a classic by WANDS
3	A bird that cannot flyyuzu		Yuzu’s moving autumn ballad
4	After the FestivalKuwata Keisuke		Keisuke Kuwata’s classic that portrays the afterglow of love and a wistful sadness
5	Maplesupittsu		A lyrical autumn ballad by Spitz
6	Watarase BridgeMoritaka Chisato		Chisato Moritaka’s classic that echoes at dusk
7	A Modest PrayerEvery Little Thing		A warm song of prayer wrapped in the autumn air
8	moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro		Chihiro Onitsuka’s masterpiece: Liberation and the Mystery of the Moon
9	The Autumn SongELLEGARDEN		ELLEGARDEN’s autumn song, scenes of youth
10	Autumn, by the Tama RiverKAN		KAN's autumn love song resonates with the heart
11	Rhapsody of the Autumn WindRaphael		Raphael’s masterpiece of Irish music fusion
12	SEPTEMBER RAINthe brilliant green		BRIGHT's poignant autumn ballad
13	SeptemberCRAZY KEN BAND		An autumn melancholic song woven by a band from Yokohama
14	Serenade of the Ginkgo AvenueOzawa Kenji		Kenji Ozawa’s classic: bittersweet memories of autumn
15	Hello, Again ~A Place That’s Been There Since Long AgoMy Little Lover		An iconic song of the 90s, autumn nostalgia
16	cosmossupittsu		A poignant autumn classic by Spitz
17	On the hill where the moon is visible tonightB’z		A masterpiece by B’z, a song of deep love and hope
18	Sumire September LoveSHAZNA		SHAZNA: The Bittersweet Feelings of Love in September
19	Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi		The moving masterpiece by The Elephant Kashimashi
20	Even as the madder-red glow lights the road home…Shiina Ringo		An early classic by Ringo, depicting the ephemerality of everyday life and its emotions.
21	Twilight SurroundRIP SLYME		A mellow track that captures the autumn night breeze
22	Falling AutumnACIDMAN		A fantastical song by ACIDMAN that portrays silence and emotion
23	OrangeSMAP		A classic SMAP song: a beautiful ballad that colors parting with gratitude.
24	Crimson-colored sunsetFujifaburikku		Autumn sunset and nostalgic music
25	MissingKubota Toshinobu		Toshinobu Kubota’s heartrending ballad that sings of deep love.
26	Late Summer (A Season for One)Arai Yumi		The end of love layered over the seasons’ scenery
27	Halloween NightAKB48		Packed with Halloween vibes in a disco-style track
28	Moonlight FlowerJanne Da Arc		Janne Da Arc’s moving autumn rock ballad
29	Ms. SeptemberRADWIMPS		Depicting the emotions of summer’s end and autumn’s beginning
30	nape (of the neck)aiko		aiko’s heartrending love songs are highly relatable
31	red-yellow fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragrans)Fujifaburikku		A moving masterpiece that depicts an autumn scene
32	Monsterarashi		Arashi’s 30th single depicts the love of “Monster.”
33	Ballad of a SingerSaitō Kazuyoshi		A classic by Kazuyoshi Saito that honestly conveys love
34	crescent moonayaka		Ayaka’s heart-wrenching long-distance love song
35	KanadeSukima Suichi		A beautiful farewell song by Sukima Switch