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Songs of Studio Ghibli: List of Theme Songs, Insert Songs, and BGM from Ghibli Music

DancerFukkun:)Tatsuki Fukuda
Primarily active in Tokyo, I have experience as a backup dancer for artists, a music video dancer, and a commercial dancer. I continue to work as a dancer while also engaging in article production. After discovering Michael Jackson in junior high school, I began dancing in my second year of high school. Since starting dance, in addition to the J-Pop and Japanese rock I had been listening to, I began exploring Western R&B, rap, alternative music, and other tracks commonly used for dance. In elementary school, I spent three years in a choir, and because I love singing, I often go to karaoke for fun. These days, I enjoy a wide range of music, from Japanese rock and rap to K-pop.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICSasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Studio Ghibli films, enjoyed by both adults and children, are also famous for their wonderful music.

Every work features songs that perfectly fit the story and leave an unforgettable impression after just one listen.

We’ve gathered not only the popular theme songs and insert songs from Studio Ghibli works, but also image songs that bring back memories of famous scenes and evocative moments.

If you want to listen to Ghibli’s masterpieces or hear again the song that played in that one scene, be sure to check these out!

Ponyo on the Cliff (1–10)

Ponyo’s LullabyNozomi Ohashi

"Ponyo's Lullaby" from "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" played by ocha

Ponyo Lullaby Nozomi Ōhashi

It’s included on the 2008 release “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea Image Album.” The singer is Nozomi Ohashi, who also performed the main theme and became a breakout star.

As the title suggests, it’s a gentle lullaby that naturally makes you close your eyes and listen intently.

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A mother's loveJoe Hisaishi

Mother’s Love / from “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” / Joe Hisaishi / Haha no Ai / GHIBLI “Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea” / Joe Hisaishi / Piano

Mother’s Love by Joe Hisaishi

When I listen to this piece, I can feel a gentle, motherly atmosphere.

Just as the title “Mother’s Love” suggests, it’s a song filled with maternal affection, as if a mother is enveloping her child.

In the film, there are two mothers: Ponyo’s mother and Sosuke’s mother.

In Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, the presence of mothers is a major theme.

As you listen to this track, try focusing on the mothers.

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Fujimoto's ThemeFujioka Fujimaki

06- フジモトのテーマ Fujimoto no Teima [Fujimoto’s Theme]

Fujimoto no Theme by Fujioka Fujimaki

A theme song for Fujimoto, played by Tokoro George, with a mysterious vibe.

It’s a tango-style piece that feels a bit different from the overall mood of the film.

Tango is rare in Ghibli works.

That sophisticated, grown-up feel is nice.

This “Fujimoto’s Theme” is sung by Fujioka Fujimaki.

The lyrics are quite sad, but thanks to the tango, it comes across as stylish rather than simply sorrowful.

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Round Dance of the Sunflower HouseMai

Rondo of the Sunflower House [Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea]

Round Dance Mai of the Sunflower House

This is the image song for Sunflower House, the daycare service center where Sosuke’s mother, Lisa, works.

The vocalist is Mai, the daughter of Joe Hisaishi, who composed the song and is herself a singer-songwriter.

The song embodies the residents’ final wishes—things they would do if they could, hopes and desires they yearn to fulfill.

Mai’s gentle, tender voice expresses the bittersweet feeling of having so many things one wants to do, yet being unable to do them.

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Hymn to Mother and the SeaJoe Hisaishi

Neoclassical Quintet – Hymn to Mother and the Sea

Hymn to the Sea - Joe Hisaishi

Like “Mother’s Love,” this piece also evokes a strong sense of maternal affection.

According to the dictionary, the “hymn” in the title is defined as “a song that expresses praise.” Both the mother and the sea are incredibly important to this film.

Even in general terms, though what they bring into being and nurture differs, both are great and profound presences.

Perhaps this song carries a message about the importance and grandeur of mothers and the sea.

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Sousuke’s TearsJoe Hisaishi

[Piano] Sosuke’s Tears / Joe Hisaishi (from the soundtrack of Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea)

Sosuke’s Tears by Joe Hisaishi

This is “Sosuke’s Tears,” a piece titled after Sosuke, the five-year-old boy from Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.

Sosuke is always cheerful and full of energy, and this piece expresses his tears through a poignant piano melody.

It’s a short composition, but it leaves a strong impression with a mood different from Sosuke’s usual brightness.

At five years old you might expect loud, wailing cries, but the sound here seems fitting for Sosuke—a dependable boy with a strong sense of justice.

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luminescent signalJoe Hisaishi

"Emission Signal" from "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" played by ocha

Light Signal Joe Hisaishi

In this film, Morse code is used as a means of communication between Sosuke and his father.

I’m amazed that little Sosuke can use Morse code (lol).

The overall structure of the piece is very simple, expressing the straightforward feel of the signals.

However, there are key changes in the middle of the piece that add depth to the music.

Since Sosuke’s father is a sailor, those modulations might also be expressing the harshness of life at sea.

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