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

Wax MuseumSeikima II

Wax Museum Seikima-II ICBM

Even if they’ve never listened to the whole song, many people probably know the opening line, “Shall I turn you into a wax figure, too?!” It’s a quintessential horror track, with a fittingly ominous title and eerie lyrics.

Surprisingly, though, it’s said that listening to it can sometimes make babies stop crying.

Labyrinth ~You Who Doesn’t Appear in the Mirror~PIERROT

PIERROT - Labyrinth ~You Who Won’t Appear in the Mirror~

When I used to think of songs by old-school visual kei bands, I imagined nothing but ominous and decadent pieces, and this track is exactly the archetype.

I feel a straightforward terror in the scenario where the protagonist, who likely survived a lovers’ suicide attempt alone, speaks to the spirit of their dead lover.

Kill my ex-boyfriendGōruden Bonbā

Kill my ex. - Golden Bomber

Golden Bomber is strongly associated with a goofy, upbeat comic-song image, but they actually have some pretty intense tracks too.

This song portrays a man who’s gone off the deep end from loving his girlfriend too much; male “menhera” seems even heavier and scarier than the female kind.

I would absolutely never want a guy like that as my boyfriend!

sweet fruitSuga Shikao

Shikao Suga / Sweet Fruit

Shikao Suga is a singer-songwriter with a large fan base in Japan, known for creating many classic songs.

One of his slightly unsettling tracks is “Amai Kajitsu” (“Sweet Fruit”).

It portrays someone who is controlling in a relationship—so much so that they even suspect there might be someone else just from the sounds on the other end of a phone call.

What’s even scarier is that the person doesn’t realize how controlling they’re being.

The song captures the reality of possessiveness in romance very vividly, so even if you haven’t experienced it yourself, it might be interesting to give it a listen out of curiosity.

GeGeGe no KitaroKumakura Kazuo

Kazuo Kumakura - GeGeGe no Kitaro

It’s scary, yet somehow you can feel a sense of humor in the song—that’s GeGeGe no Kitaro.

Many of you may already know it as the theme song of the TV anime GeGeGe no Kitaro.

It’s sung by Kazuo Kumakura, who was active as both an actor and a voice actor.

His distinctive, flavorful voice matches the world of the anime, and it’s also well known that Kiyoshi Hikawa covered it in recent times.

It’s a little scary, but it was made to appeal to children as well, so the scariness is softened.

Please enjoy the theme song along with the anime.

clatter-clatterIssei

g₄₮₳₲0₮0̵̛̞̲̩̙̋͂̽͋̚͘͝♡

The dark sound that begins by slicing through the silence seizes the listener’s heart.

Released in June 2025, this track by Issei was chosen as the theme song for the film “Kisaragi Station Re:”.

The lyrics vividly depict the psyche of a person losing their sanity amid an inescapable terror.

The vocal work—where even the breathing becomes part of the music—is stunning.

I think it’s perfect for fans of urban legends and horror who want to immerse themselves in that atmosphere.

Wax MuseumSeikima II

Seikima-II “House of Wax” PV #Seikima-II

Seikima-II is a rock band that has led Japan’s metal scene with their striking looks and top-tier musicianship.

Their debut single “Rakunin Gyō no Yakata” (“The House of Wax”) is often dismissed as a novelty due to the band’s unique worldbuilding, but even today it offers a meticulously crafted metal ensemble that doesn’t feel dated.

If you’re in your 50s—the generation that grew up with it—just hearing the intro might bring back the shock of its first impact.

It’s a rare metal hit in the J-pop sphere, and one you should definitely try to honor the original when singing at karaoke.

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Hoshino Takashi

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