Hidden gems of Japanese love songs. Recommended popular tracks.

Full-moon nightT-BOLAN

T-BOLAN – Full Moon Night

It’s a masterpiece you’ll want to sink into on a quiet night.

Under the full, satisfying moonlight, the unwavering certainty of two people’s love gently comes through in Arashi Moritomo’s husky, sweet vocals.

This song is a calm ballad with tender piano and strings, brimming with their lyrical charm that’s a shade different from their fiery rock numbers.

It’s an unreleased track included on the best-of album “LEGENDS,” released in March 2010, and it came as a delightful surprise for fans.

It’s a gem of a song that will warm your heart even more when you listen to it at the end of the day, spending time with someone special.

Song of the WheelsBUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN 'Song of the Wheels'

A song released by BUMP OF CHICKEN in 2004.

It’s a re-cut single from the highly popular album Yggdrasil.

With a brisk, driving melody that feels like pedaling a bicycle and lyrics filled with feelings for a precious person setting off on a journey, it’s a beloved classic.

Let’s Talk About ItSeiko

Seiko – Let’s Talk About It – JamilSR

This is one of Seiko Matsuda’s overseas releases.

It’s a love song with English lyrics that shine over a solid, straight-from–Black-music R&B track, and a powerful piece that attests to her genuine talent and long-standing influence on the scene, far beyond that of a typical idol.

Only Holy StorySteady&Co.

Only Holy Story

A track created by bringing together band vocalists and members of hip-hop groups.

I feel like there aren’t many songs these days that let you sense that kind of era.

In this routine-like track, each artist delivers with a calm voice, packing the song with pure coolness.

10 Years Love StoryT-BOLAN

T-BOLAN / 10 Years Love Story

Opening quietly with the gentle tone of an acoustic guitar, this love song features Arashi Moritomo’s whisper-like vocals that resonate deeply.

The straightforward lyrics, pledging to walk side by side even ten years from now, are enough to make your heart swell just by listening.

As the song progresses, drums join in and the arrangement unfolds dramatically, as if their love is growing deeper and more certain over time.

This track was included as the B-side to the single “Ai no Tame ni Ai no Naka de,” released in November 1995.

Thanks to its high level of craftsmanship, it has long been cherished among fans as a hidden gem.

Listen to it on a night when you’re talking about the future with someone special, and it will surely remind you of the bond you share.

Rather than telling you with a sulky gaze, I want to see the light.T-BOLAN

T-BOLAN / Rather than telling you with a sulky gaze, I want to see the light.

This piece feels like Moritomo Arashi’s heartfelt voice gently illuminating the small hopes hidden in everyday life.

While reflecting on our tendency to think the worst, it portrays a quiet resolve not to look down, but to lift our heads and seek the light.

The song was included as the B-side to the hit single “Wagamama ni Dakae-tanara,” released in November 1993.

While the title track is widely known as the opening theme for the drama “Aishiteru yo!,” this work, despite having no tie-in, has long been cherished by fans as a gem.

When you’re a little worn out by the ordinary days, listening to this song may help you find small joys hidden in familiar scenes.

A person who loves springGLAY

A person who loves spring

It’s a song included on GLAY’s third major original album, released in 1996.

TAKURO later said he wrote the lyrics after being moved during a trip to Iceland by the way Icelanders endure the freezing winter and wait for spring.