Classic emo masterpieces in Japanese music. Recommended popular songs.
These days, people often play on the word “emotional” and say “emo-i” to describe when feelings are running high.
Listening to songs that put you in that emo mood can clear your mind, pump you up, and bring lots of other positive effects.
In this article, we’re shining a spotlight on that sense of “emo-ness” and have picked out some recommended tracks.
From hard-hitting tunes to mellow vibes and breezy numbers, we’ve selected songs from a variety of genres.
We hope you’ll find some “emo” songs that truly move your heart.
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Emo masterpieces in Japanese music. Recommended popular songs (1–10)
Dear you, somedayKankaku Pierrot
It’s a rock number with a powerful message: believe in what you know is right.
The track is by Kankaku Piero, a four-piece rock band from Osaka, and it’s included on their 2015 mini-album.
The intro is fiery, and the chorus is bursting with energy.
Vocalist Naohiro Yokoyama’s powerful voice meshes perfectly with the distorted guitar sound.
For example, listening to it before an important match will surely fill you with motivation and courage.
somedaySaucy Dog
This is a song by the rock band Saucy Dog with an incredibly emo feel, starting with a lonely, haunting vocal.
As it revisits casual memories from the past, the track grows increasingly dramatic, paired with slightly dreamy lyrics that make it especially captivating.
With an explosive chorus that’s sure to bring you to tears, it’s an ultra-emo classic rock ballad.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to every time you think back on the old days.
white dayKing Gnu
If you watched the drama Innocence: False Accusation Lawyer, you’ll know this one.
It’s a signature track by the mixed-genre rock band King Gnu, released as a digital single in 2019.
The overwhelming musicality, colored by technical performances, is irresistible.
With its stylish vibe, it might not sound that way at first, but it’s actually very emotional.
The message—pressing on toward tomorrow even if you have to cast everything aside—really hits home.
The sweet vocals are wonderful, too.
Emo masterpieces of Japanese music. Recommended popular songs (11–20)
Final Episode STORYMY FIRST STORY
You can feel the emotion just from the intro scream.
It’s a rock band with loud, fast-paced sound as their charm—MY FIRST STORY—and this track was released as their debut single in 2013.
The sound arrangement is incredibly cool, as if it directly expresses the members’ burning passion.
The lyrics describe a determination to keep moving forward until the goal is achieved.
Anyone striving now for what they want to become in the future will feel their spirits lift when they listen.
Teenager ForeverKing Gnu
As the title suggests, it’s a song about never forgetting the feelings of youth and continuing to live true to yourself.
It’s by King Gnu, the band also known for “Hakujitsu,” and is included on their 2020 album CEREMONY.
Its use in a Sony wireless headphones commercial became a hot topic.
The part I especially want you to hear is the final guitar solo—it elevates the mood that’s been building up to that point and makes it even better.
It’s a wonderful track you’ll want to listen to over and over again.
deep redMy Hair is Bad
My Hair is Bad is a three-piece rock band from Niigata Prefecture.
From the very first line, the lyrics hit you with a shock, and it’s precisely because of their blunt word choices that the songs feel intimate, raw, and deeply relatable.
The band’s performance is incredibly cool, and as you listen, you’re steadily drawn into their appeal.
They sound great on record, but seeing them live is even more powerful—you’ll feel just how cool and emotional they really are.
Horse and deerYonezu Kenshi
The theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “No Side Game,” released in 2019.
It topped the charts on various music streaming services.
Expressing emo-style emotions is very much in trend right now, but the melody and orchestration, infused with a sense of Japanese aesthetics, are of exceptional quality.
I believe it will continue to be listened to for years to come, unaffected by the times.
I’m sure many people will relate to the lyrics as well.
If you haven’t heard it yet, it’s a must-check!
