A spine-chilling, terrifying song. Japanese music that evokes madness and horror.

I bear a grudge.Nakajima Miyuki

Miyuki Nakajima – “Urami-masu” cover

The scary song included on Miyuki Nakajima’s seventh original album, “Ikite Itemo Ii Desu ka,” is “Urami-masu” (“I Will Hold a Grudge”).

The fear it conveys is apparent from the title alone.

From the very first line she sings, “I hold a grudge,” directing that resentment toward the person who toyed with her.

Lyrics suggesting she wants to leave a message on the door of the one she resents—thanking them for their kindness with her own fingernails—hint at madness and heighten the sense of dread.

There’s nothing more terrifying than human grudges.

stigmatized propertyfox capture plan

stigmatized property

The song “Jiko Bukken” is part of the soundtrack for the 2020 film “Stigmatized Properties,” starring Kazuya Kamenashi of KAT-TUN.

It was created by fox capture plan, an instrumental band known for scoring many famous films.

While some tracks add fear through their lyrics and story, this piece stands out for instilling a sense of terror through the music itself, making it compelling to listen to despite its scary elements.

With a tinnitus-like motif and dynamic shifts in volume and tempo, it quickly transforms into a truly frightening track.

Mononoke DanceDenki Gurūvu

Denki Groove 'Mononoke Dance'

My brain gets wrecked by its avant-garde sound.

It’s a track by Denki Groove, released as a single in February 2008.

It was used as the opening theme for the anime “Hakaba Kitaro.” The lyrics, inspired by traditional Japanese ghost stories and urban legends, feel like opening a door to another world.

And perhaps thanks to its light, nimble rhythm, it has a charm that makes you want to listen to it over and over.

It contains both fear and addictiveness, and even after time has passed since its release, it doesn’t feel dated at all.

CellHisaishi Joe

Parasite Eve – The Movie – OST – Track 3 – Cell – Parasite Eve

When you think of Joe Hisaishi, I think a strong image is his emotional sound.

This piece, “Cell,” however, is crafted with a rather eerie sound that’s quite different from the image of Joe Hisaishi from Studio Ghibli.

Although it’s an unsettling track, you can still hear Hisaishi-like touches at key moments.

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If you’re okay with itSukima Suichi

If You're Okay with It / Sukima Switch (Collab Cover)

Sukima Switch has released many national pop hits, but there’s one song that even fans find chilling.

It’s “Kimi ga Ii nara,” included on their first original album, Natsugumo Noise.

At first glance, the piano accompaniment and Takuya Ohashi’s gentle voice are soothing, but the lyrics—about knowing everything about “you” even when you’re apart or far away—carry a psychopathic, stalker-like undertone that heightens the fear.

Plus, there are serious lines I can’t even write here, making it by far the scariest song in Sukima Switch’s catalog.

I’ll eat you up!Gachapin

I'll eat you up!

Gachapin, a popular character born from the children’s show “Ponkikki” and still in high demand for commercials and variety shows today.

Did you know he has such a dark past? It’s said the segment stopped airing quickly because it was too scary, but if you’d turned on the TV as a cheerful child and seen your favorite character singing a song like that, it would have been a guaranteed trauma.

WhoHiguchi Ai

Ai Higuchi / Who [Official Music Video] | Ai Higuchi “Who”

Ai Higuchi’s delicate singing voice and the piano’s faintly unsettling timbre are a perfect match.

Written as the theme song for the film “Who’s That Girl?” and released in July 2024, it draws you into its meticulously crafted soundscape, whisper-like vocals, and a sound image that’s eerie yet beautiful.

The lyrics use distinctive wording to depict the blurring boundary between self and other.

Because the song strongly reflects the film’s story, if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend watching it.