Songs whose titles start with 'I'. Masterpieces that begin with 'I'.
I’m going to introduce songs with titles that start with “i” (the Japanese syllable pronounced ee)!
When you think of “i,” words like ichigo (strawberry), iruka (dolphin), and iro (color) come to mind, so it’s not a particularly tricky letter even in shiritori, right?
But what about when it comes to song titles?
Actually, there are plenty of songs whose titles start with “i”!
In this article, I’ve gathered a variety of Japanese songs—both old and new—whose titles begin with “i.”
You might even find some you listen to regularly.
Feel free to use this as a reference when playing song-title shiritori and the like!
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- Songs with titles that start with “Chi.” Useful as hints for word-chain games!
- Songs with titles starting with “E” [Great for karaoke and shiritori, too!]
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- A compilation of Vocaloid songs with titles that start with “Ki”
- Songs with titles that start with 'Ke'
Songs whose titles start with “I.” Masterpieces beginning with “I” (71–80)
Friends for lifeAoyama Teruma
This piece is included on the album “10TH DIARY,” released in September 2017 to mark the 10th anniversary of her debut.
It’s a song in which Thelma Aoyama expresses her gratitude to her friends.
The unadorned lyrics offer a reassuring sense that even if we go down different paths, our hearts remain connected.
It’s the perfect anthem of support—one you’ll want to sing with smiles, arms around your closest friends at karaoke after the graduation ceremony.
Embrace the presentsatō moka
A ballad by Moka Sato that makes you want to gently embrace the “now” we tend to lose sight of during busy days and the season of graduations and farewells.
Released as a single in November 2025, it’s a work that lays bare unadorned feelings.
What really hits home is how it portrays the will to move forward, even while carrying loneliness, through everyday details like familiar rooms and scenery.
It’s a song that sinks into the heart when you’re tucking away precious memories and heading toward a new place.
threadNakajima Miyuki
This is one of Miyuki Nakajima’s signature ballads, likening life’s mysterious encounters to a woven fabric and singing of how those bonds might someday warm someone’s heart.
Originally included on her October 1992 album “EAST ASIA,” it was released as a single in 1998 as the theme song for the TBS drama “Seija no Kōshin,” capturing the hearts of many.
It has since been covered by numerous artists, including Bank Band, and even inspired a film released in 2020, carrying the song across generations.
It’s a perfect listen for graduation season, when farewells and new meetings intersect, and for moments when you want to reflect on the bonds with those you cherish.
With its gentle yet powerful message, this timeless classic gives you the courage to take a new step forward.
Ivan the FoolŌtsuki Kenji
Kenji Ohtsuki is a rock musician who stands out not only as the frontman of Kinniku Shojo Tai and Tokusatsu, but also as a novelist.
Born in 1966, the Year of the Horse, he made his major-label debut in 1988 with the album “Buddha L.” His signature songs, such as “The Plan to Indianize Japan” and “Dancing Useless People,” boast an unforgettable, intense worldview that leaves a lasting impression.
Alongside his music career, his writing has earned high acclaim; the fact that he won the Seiun Award for short fiction two years in a row speaks to his multifaceted talent.
His eloquence at the talk event “Nohohon Gakko” is also captivating, continuously drawing fans from many directions.
His unique style—fusing progressive and hard rock with literary storytelling—will surely resonate deeply with those who love subculture and underground expression.
a momentHoshino Gen
Created to mark the 70th anniversary of the JRA, this is a song specially written by Gen Hoshino as the theme for the brand’s TV commercial.
First unveiled to the public in January 2024 alongside the commercial footage, the track brilliantly captures the myriad emotions condensed into the brief span of a race.
It brims with the exhilaration of the moment when the feelings of horses, jockeys, and spectators intersect.
Transcending the bounds of a tie-in, the piece evolves into a pop song with universal appeal, giving musical form to the sense of history being passed into the future.
It’s a song that will resonate not only with horse racing fans, but with anyone who keeps running toward something.
To the most important personTonneruzu
Hurling the suffocating weight of everyday life “upward”—the 19th single released by Tunnels in September 1992 is a song that speaks for those feelings.
With lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto and composition/arrangement by Tsugutoshi Goto, it topped the Oricon weekly chart.
Delivered to living rooms as the ending theme of Fuji TV’s variety show “Tunnels no Minasan no Okage Desu,” the track features lyrics that question society’s rules and prevailing mood from a youth perspective.
Its conversational tone avoids sounding preachy, and the muscular drive of the band sound gives it a presence that transcends the realm of mere comic songs.
A timeless message song that will resonate especially with those who feel a pent-up frustration yet still want to raise their voices.
Strawberry Statement, Once Morebanban
Lyrics and composition by Yumi Arai.
The title “Ichigo Hakusho” (The Strawberry Statement) is said to refer to the American film released in 1970.
It’s a folk ballad that seems to preserve, just as it was, the bittersweetness of youth, the afterglow of the student movement, and memories of love—the very atmosphere of the times! To be honest, although I knew the title, I had never actually listened to the song properly.
I’d like to take this opportunity to learn it well.
First, the melody line is very simple, so even casually humming it helps you memorize the song and makes it easier to sing by improving your breath—two birds with one stone! Because of its wistful mood, it might be best not to overdo it; try placing a hand on your chest and singing while feeling the resonance.
