[Must read] Songs with great lyrics. Moving songs you’ll want to listen to while reading the lyrics
From among the many masterpieces Japan is proud of, we’ve carefully selected songs with outstanding lyrics to introduce to you.
We’ve gathered “once-heard-never-forgotten” message songs that speak straight to the heart, ranging from universally acclaimed classics to the latest hits.
If you’re looking to listen to music that will make you cry, move you, or lift your spirits—or songs that might even influence your life—these picks are perfect.
Please give them a listen.
I believe you’ll find songs that will stay by your side, encourage you, and become a source of emotional support when times are tough.
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[Must-Read] Songs with Great Lyrics: Moving Tracks to Listen to While Reading the Lyrics (111–120)
Moon DropsRUI (Shibasaki Kou)
An in-film song and the theme song of the movie Yomigaeri.
Ko Shibasaki released it under the name RUI.
It’s a quiet, slow, New Age-like ballad.
In the film, those who have died return and spend the remaining time with their loved ones.
RUI has also lost her lover, and this song expresses her feelings for him.
It carries a charm that sears itself into the corner of your mind and never lets go.
[Must-read] Songs with great lyrics. Moving songs you’ll want to listen to while reading the lyrics (121–130)
wa, wo, nnishina
A soul-stirring number that weaves the complexities of love and life through the Japanese syllabary.
Created by nishina, this piece was released in December 2024.
With a gentle yet fleeting voice, it expresses everything from the love that lies at the root of words to the impermanence and uncertainty of life.
The sound carries elements of neo-soul and alternative R&B, paired with a comfortable melodic line that’s truly lovely.
You might feel an even deeper emotion if you listen while thinking of someone you love.
Overflows ~Unable to Put It into Words~Naoto Intiraymi
A work that intertwines stirring lyrics with a warm melody, “Overflows ~Can’t Put It Into Words~” reaches deep into the listener’s heart and brings tears to the eyes.
It evokes different kinds of emotion depending on each listener’s experiences and feelings, allowing everyone to immerse themselves in a story that’s uniquely their own.
Naoto Inti Raymi’s gentle voice further highlights the song’s message.
Beyond the sweetness and bitterness of love, it deftly captures universal human psychology, making it a track that compels you to listen closely to the lyrics.
AiHata Motohiro
It’s “Ai,” released by Motohiro Hata in 2010.
We kind of understand that “love” is something important, yet no one can find love as a visible, concrete “shape.” Hata beautifully depicts the moments when he personally feels that love.
It’s a song that seems to rephrase love as the changes that arise in your own feelings as someone precious to you smiles or cries.
The acoustic melody gently resonates even more deeply in the heart.
waxing; filling up; becoming full; growing (e.g., the moon growing fuller)Fuji Kaze
This is a gem of a love song that Fujii Kaze wrote in March 2024 as the theme for the film “April, Come She Will,” starring Takeru Satoh, which contrasts life’s transience with pure love.
The gentle piano melody is striking, and the song tenderly conveys how the heart becomes fulfilled by letting go of attachment.
In the music video directed by Tomokazu Yamada, Fujii Kaze himself plays a dual role as both an elderly man and a young man, depicting deep love for a mother.
Accompanying life’s precious moments and soothing the soul, this work resonates deeply with those who have experienced heartbreak or parting, or who are struggling with important relationships.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to when you wish to reflect on yourself while surrendering to the sound of the piano.
BremenYorushika
A heartwarming story, inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ “Town Musicians of Bremen,” woven with a light rhythm and bright melody.
Delivered by Yorushika, this work gently speaks to the joy of surrendering yourself to music, free from logic and convention.
Like the story’s protagonists, it teaches us that even if we never arrive at our destination, the journey we share is where meaning truly lies—a gem of a song.
Released digitally in July 2022, it also sparked buzz with its animation-style music video, featuring a strikingly original direction that shows only the feet of eight different characters.
It’s a recommended track for times when your heart feels tired, when you’re unsure about life, or when you want to look ahead and walk forward together with someone.
language of flowersNeil
The song “Hanakotoba,” which entrusts friendship to flowers, is a warm, heartening track.
It was released digitally by Warner Music Japan in July 2025.
With lyrics penned by Neil, the magical words that encourage a downcast friend are truly moving.
The refreshingly cool synths and tight beats also bring out the clarity of the vocals.
It’s perfect for anyone who wants to believe in a friendship that remains unchanged, even when you’re apart.