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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!

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (1–10)

BeginningHisaishi Joe

I tried transcribing by ear the beginning of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya!!

BeginningHisaishi Joe

As you all know, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter begins with a girl being born from a bamboo stalk.

This is the piece that plays at that moment.

Doesn’t it feel like the story is slowly about to begin? The divinely beautiful strings, like light welling up from the bamboo, are a must-hear.

Also pay attention to how the sound gradually adds more layers and builds toward the latter half of the track.

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FlightHisaishi Joe

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya – Flight

FlightHisaishi Joe

Here’s a standout track packed with personality and playfulness.

It’s brimming with instruments—flutes, percussion, strings, and more—creating a wonderfully lively sound.

The moment it shifts from a fun, cheerful vibe to a suddenly mysterious atmosphere is a must-hear.

True to its title, “Soaring,” the finale conveys an expansive grandeur, as if taking flight into the vast sky.

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bamboo shootHisaishi Joe

Born from a bamboo stalk, Princess Kaguya is affectionately nicknamed “Takenoko,” which literally means “bamboo shoot.” Here is the soundtrack for our Takenoko.

True to her tomboyish nature, it’s an adorably lively piece that bursts with energy.

Don’t the frequent breaks in the rhythm give it a mischievous vibe? Experience the charm of Takenoko through this track!

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slender bambooHisaishi Joe

Nayotake (Piano) – from the film “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya”

slender bambooHisaishi Joe

Nayotake refers to supple, flexible bamboo.

This soundtrack is a perfect fit for the story of Princess Kaguya, the girl born from bamboo.

True to the word “supple,” its exquisitely gentle piano melody is wonderfully easy on the ears! At the same time, it carries a poised, bamboo-like dignity—highly recommended.

Let yourself be soothed by the quietly unhurried flow of the piano sound.

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Hoo-hokekyo My Neighbors the Yamadas (11–20)

Pay attention to the compelling insert song!

With the tagline “Family safety is the wish of the world,” the 1999 film My Neighbors the Yamadas was produced. It’s a movie adaptation of Hisaichi Ishii’s original four-panel manga. Many of the insert songs are covers or signature tracks by various artists, making the music alone incredibly compelling to listen to! From those, I’ll introduce the ones that truly stand out—be sure to give them a listen! Related article:Ho-ho-kekyo: The Yamada Family Next Door song. Theme song / insert song.

Ho-hokekyo: My Neighbors the Yamadas (1–10)

telephone lineYano Akiko

Akiko Yano Telephone Line

telephone lineYano Akiko

It was used as an insert song in Isao Takahata’s film My Neighbors the Yamadas, which is based on a four-panel manga.

In the story, it plays in the background during a scene where the protagonist, after talking on the phone with his girlfriend, bursts with joy.

You can really feel the surge in excitement from the song itself.

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