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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)

FinaleJoe Hisaishi

Grand Finale: Ashitaka and San

Finale Joe Hisaishi

As the title “Finale” suggests, it naturally leads into the end credits, incorporating the melody of the theme song.

Even if you haven’t seen the film, many people probably know the theme song sung by Fujioka Fujimaki and Nozomi Ohashi.

Looking across Studio Ghibli’s past works, many of them end on a bright note.

I’ll refrain from revealing this film’s ending, but this piece does convey a cheerful atmosphere!

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Mother of the SeaMasako Hayashi

Hayashi Masako – Mother of the sea

Masako Hayashi, Mother of the Sea

Set in a seaside town, this is the opening theme for the story of Ponyo, a fish-child who wishes to become human, and a five-year-old boy named Sosuke.

The composition and arrangement are by Joe Hisaishi, synonymous with Studio Ghibli, and the vocals are performed by Japanese opera soloist Masako Hayashi.

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Princess Mononoke (11–20)

Many masterpieces that let you feel the grandeur of nature!

The music from Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke, depicted on such an epic scale, is so outstanding that it makes you think, “Aren’t they all masterpieces?” From the well-known main theme to unforgettable insert songs, here are our top recommendations! Related article:Song(s) from Princess Mononoke. Theme song and insert song(s).

Princess Mononoke (1–10)

Ashitaka SeikIJoe Hisaishi

The Legend of Ashitaka (Symphonic Suite “Princess Mononoke” / Live)

Ashitaka Sekki Joe Hisaishi

An overwhelmingly beautiful piece that plays at key moments, conveying the vastness of the rich natural world where the story unfolds.

Princess Mononoke also portrays the coexistence of nature and humans as one of its themes.

The sheer grandeur expressed in this music is enough to leave you awestruck just by listening.

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Princess MononokeYoshikazu Mera

Alberto De Meis Japan Tour in Mononoke Hime con Yoshikazu Mera

Mononoke Hime Mera Yoshikazu

It’s the theme song of Princess Mononoke.

Through this work, it became widely known that Yoshikazu Mera, who sang this piece, is a countertenor—a male singer who sings in a high, female-like register.

It’s a very memorable song with beautifully sustained high notes.

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Ashitaka and SanJoe Hisaishi

[Piano] Ashitaka and San ~Princess Mononoke~ (Joe Hisaishi)

Ashitaka and San Joe Hisaishi

In the story’s final scene: the forest restored to beauty, and Ashitaka’s fading scar.

This is the piece that plays in Princess Mononoke when Ashitaka and San begin to walk separate paths.

Though they cannot live together, their bond shines as they choose to live alongside one another.

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Lady EboshiJoe Hisaishi

“Eboshi Gozen” from “Princess Mononoke” played by ocha

Eboshi Gozen Joe Hisaishi

It’s a powerful piece from Princess Mononoke that, despite its somewhat brooding tone, conveys grandeur and Eboshi’s unwavering resolve.

The music reveals different facets in each section, as if her role as a leader and her feelings as an individual are intersecting.

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Women Treading the Tatara - Eboshi Tatara Song -Joe Hisaishi

Tatara Foundry at Dusk ~ Eboshi Tatara Song

Women Treading the Tatara - Eboshi Tatara Song - Joe Hisaishi

A song sung by the women working at the tatara furnace.

The lyrics convey how demanding their work is.

It appears as a work song unique to this job, used to keep rhythm during tasks so they can move in perfect sync.

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