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!
- A compilation of Vocaloid songs with titles that start with “I.”
- Popular songs used in lyric videos trending on TikTok
- Songs with titles starting with “Ki” [Great for karaoke & shiritori!]
- Songs with titles that start with “Su.” A collection of tracks useful for shiritori.
- [March 2026] Trending Songs: A roundup of the hottest viral tracks right now
- [Must read] Songs with great lyrics. Moving songs you’ll want to listen to while reading the lyrics
- Masterpieces with titles that start with 'A'
- [Deeply Moving] A Tear-Jerking Cheer Song: Popular Inspirational Anthems That Resonate with the Heart
- 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!]
- [Classic and Contemporary Hits] Emotionally Stirring, Heart-Touching Songs
- 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” (1–10)
Always by my sideNEW!FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE
A gentle, tender ballad that softly nestles close to the heart, chosen as the theme song for the film “Stella Next Door.” It was released for streaming in August 2025 and was later included as a coupling track on the single “BFX,” released in September of the same year.
The lyrics, infused with the frustrating sense of a close-yet-distant relationship and a warm, earnest desire to protect someone precious, are crafted to make your heart swell just by listening.
The vocal work—where kindness and bittersweetness coexist—beautifully echoes the performance of Yusei Yagi, who appears in the film.
If you’re looking for a song to support you when you’re feeling down or on nights when you can’t see someone you care about, please give it a listen.
It’s a piece that seeps gently into your heart, lingering with the afterglow of the story.
ImaginationNEW!SPYAIR
A killer tune by SPYAIR with an irresistible sense of speed that sprints from the very intro.
The lyrics carry a fiery message about breaking through the status quo and heading toward tomorrow with your friends, lighting a spark in the hearts of listeners.
Released in April 2014, this track served as the first opening theme for the popular anime Haikyu!!, which centers on high school volleyball.
Its worldview, linked with the anime’s story, resonated with many.
As you head into a new school year, why not draw some courage from this song?
Now, the moon is waxingNEW!≒JOY
The bittersweetness of youth and the romantic setting of a school at night.
The words spun by Rino Sashihara are packed with that ticklish feeling everyone has experienced.
This work is a love song where sparkle and tension coexist.
It’s a track that began streaming in August 2025 as the theme song for a national tour, and there’s a story that it actually resurrects, across time, an unreleased song Sashihara once wrote for HKT48.
Yuichi Nonaka “Masa”’s splendid arrangement fuses with the members’ straightforward vocals to stir listeners’ hearts.
With a sound that suits nightscapes and illuminations, if you dim the lights and sing it at karaoke, you can create an extraordinary atmosphere.
It’s the perfect number for a night when everyone wants to bask in a dramatic mood!
Someday in a dreamNEW!suzuki mayumi, tachibana toshihiro
This is a song from the Disney film Sleeping Beauty, notable for its elegant melody based on Tchaikovsky’s ballet music.
The Japanese version is performed by Mayumi Suzuki, whose voice is crystal clear, and Toshihiro Tachibana, known for his resonant, commanding vocals.
It’s an exceptionally romantic duet in which feelings for the destined person met in a dream intertwine.
Set to a waltz rhythm, the way their voices blend so beautifully is entrancing.
Long cherished since its re-recording in 1995, this version came years after the film’s original release.
You can also hear it on albums such as My First Disney, released in November 2007.
Why not gaze into your beloved partner’s eyes and sing it in a dreamlike state?
IoNEW!rokudenashi
Even knowing it will never come true, you still can’t let go—this bittersweet number likens such yearning to celestial orbits.
Sung by Rokudenashi, the track also drew attention for having NayutalieN handle everything from lyrics and composition to arrangement.
Its catchy, addictive melody melds beautifully with lyrics that tighten around the heart.
Released as a digital single in August 2025, it was also included on the album Rokka, released that December.
Following “Spica” and “Albireo,” it’s another song themed around celestial bodies that fans hold dear.
Ninjin’s fragile yet steadfast vocals gently embrace listeners who carry unrequited feelings.
It’s a piece you’ll want to listen to quietly while gazing up at the night sky.
In a world full of unpleasant thingsNEW!Sazan Ōrusutāzu
Southern All Stars, a band that has remained at the forefront of the Japanese music scene for many years.
While they have produced countless classic songs, their deeply moving ballads are also captivating.
Among their tracks, the one that gently stands by you in times of trouble is “In a World Full of Awful Things,” included on the album “Grapes.” Released in March 2015, the song was written as the theme for TBS’s Sunday drama “Ryuusei Wagon” (Flowing Star Wagon).
Alongside evocative depictions of atmospheric landscapes such as those in Kyoto, the song expressively conveys a heartrending emotional state.
Blending the lustrous elegance of kayōkyoku with a full band sound, it’s a piece that will quietly stay by your side when your heart is weary.
ColorfulNEW!yuzu
Yuzu, the folk duo known for uplifting many people with their bright, positive messages.
The song they released in January 2013 is a pop number that was also included on their May 2013 album “LAND.” It’s also known for being featured as the 2013 CM song for the U-Can correspondence courses.
The theme straightforwardly affirms those taking a new step forward, and it’s full of charm that makes you want to sing along.
This positive song tells you it’s okay to move ahead in your own colors, giving you the courage to head to school with energy.