[Junichi Inagaki’s Masterpieces] A comprehensive showcase from classic Christmas tunes to popular city pop hits

You don’t know.Inagaki Junichi

Kimiwa Shiranai

This is the artist’s 16th single, released in May 1989, and it was featured in JT’s “SomeTime LIGHTS” commercial.

With lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto, the song portrays the ache of budding love through fragments of everyday life just before summer arrives.

The words delicately capture the complex emotions hidden behind casual gestures—like choosing summer clothes or feelings concealed by long hair.

Composed by Tetsuji Hayashi and arranged by Hiroshi Sakamoto, the AOR sound strikes a perfect balance: it feels urbane and sophisticated while carrying a touch of nostalgia.

The universal theme—silently tucking away feelings that will never reach the other person—makes the protagonist deeply relatable.

It’s the perfect track for savoring the subtleties of adult romance.

The sunset is your canvas.Inagaki Junichi

Yuyakewa Kimino Canbus

This is a love story that begins with a greedy woman murmuring that she wants to see a rainbow while bathed in the sunset.

The song was used in December 2016 as the commercial theme for the Daihatsu Move Canbus, and once the ad aired, inquiries poured in; responding to strong listener demand, it was released digitally.

The lyrics, crafted by Tetsurō Asō, gently paint the bittersweetness and wishes directed at a lover whose expressions and feelings change from moment to moment, likening the sunset to a canvas.

The spatial resonance known as the Wall of Sound highlights the sweet, enveloping vocals, while Junichi Inagaki’s signature urban mellowness spreads pleasantly.

Also included on the album HARVEST, this piece is perfect for those moments of watching the sunset from a car window during a drive.

Sorrowful Diamond RingInagaki Junichi

Kanashiki Diamond Ring

Opening the 1984 album “Personally,” this track captivates with a sophisticated sound that evokes a city skyline at night.

In Masao Urino’s lyrics, a wedding ring—ordinarily a symbol of blessing—gradually transforms into a painful memory that conjures misalignment and loneliness.

Tetsuji Hayashi’s melody and arrangement masterfully build from the shaded nuances of the verse to the sense of release in the chorus, while the performances by virtuosos like Jun Aoyama and Chiharu Mikuzuki paint a distinctly urban scene.

The album reached No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly chart and the song was performed at the 1984 Budokan concert, securing its place as one of Junichi Inagaki’s signature repertoire pieces.

It’s grown-up city pop, perfect for a night drive or an autumn dusk.

Higurashi MountainInagaki Junichi

Higurashi Mountain

Released in January 1982 as the B-side to the debut single “Ame no Regret,” this is one of Junichi Inagaki’s early works.

The lyrics are by Reiko Yukawa, the music by Kazuhiko Matsuo, and the arrangement by Yasuhiko Tsumura.

The song strikingly opens with an English phrase, and its evocative lyrics transform memories from a place where young lovers once pledged themselves into the legend of a white serpent.

With a refined arrangement characteristic of early city pop and Inagaki’s gentle vocals, it delicately weaves a lyrical world.

The track was also included on his debut album “246:3AM,” released in July of the same year, showcasing Inagaki’s narrative-rich side.

Weekend StrangerInagaki Junichi

Shuumatsuno Stranger

This is an urban pop song that washes away the fatigue of ordinary weekdays and opens the heart to unknown encounters, capturing the liberating feeling of the weekend.

As the protagonist passes through unassuming scenes—faded road signs and small railroad crossings—the image of setting off on a journey with a boyish spirit is striking, awakening a sense of adventure and curiosity that never fades, even in adulthood.

Released in May 2017 as a digital-only single, it was chosen as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Burari Tochūgesha no Tabi.” It was later included in the September 2017 album HARVEST, the artist’s first in six and a half years, and has been praised as a work that fuses Inagaki’s seasoned vocals with sophisticated arrangements.

It’s a song that, when played on a Friday commute home or the night before a day off, stirs anticipation for tomorrow.

Fade-out (in a wavering heart)Inagaki Junichi

(In a wavering heart) Fade-out

Opening with images of a broken-heeled high heel and a parting scene, this piece is a number steeped in the ache of adult romance, portraying a wavering man’s heart caught between turmoil and forgiveness.

The lyrics weave delicate words to express complicated feelings toward a lover, and the gradual fade-out at the end beautifully echoes the title.

The samba-tinged rhythm is soothing, and together with its modern chord progression it creates an urban, mellow atmosphere.

Although it wasn’t released as a single, the track—featured on the February 1983 album “Shylights”—has maintained enduring popularity, later being selected for the best-of compilation “REVELATION.” It’s a quintessential early city-pop song by Inagaki, perfect for a drive or for contemplative, quietly reflective nights.

Blue Jean PierrotInagaki Junichi

Junichi Inagaki / Blue Jeans

Lyrics by Kazumi Yasui.

Music by Kazuhiko Kato.

It’s the 8th single, released on March 21, 1985.

The song was used in a Yokohama Rubber “INTEC” commercial.

It portrays a man who compares himself to a clown as he thinks about his girlfriend.