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 of Japanese music. Recommended popular songs (11–20)
rayBUMP OF CHICKEN
‘ray,’ the collaboration with Hatsune Miku that made such a splash.
Back then it drew mixed reactions, but I feel like its beauty has only grown with time.
I still remember the shock of encountering it in real time—the world it painted was so dazzling that my heart leapt.
It’s overwhelmingly emotional precisely because it’s sung by BUMP.
I can’t quite put it into words, but there’s something that wells up from within, like a single slender beam of light stretching out.
It makes you feel like you could go anywhere—truly a ‘new world’!
RIVER10-FEET
“RIVER,” one of 10-FEET’s signature songs, is performed at nearly every one of their shows and is beloved by many fans.
It’s said that the melody and lyrics of the chorus came to vocalist TAKUMA while he was waiting at a traffic light at the Roppongi intersection.
The track blends melodic hardcore with rap, and the richly expressive vocals are a highlight.
There was also a time when TAKUMA was mentally cornered; during that period, he went on a drive with ROTTENGRAFFTY’s N∀OKI, who encouraged him—an episode that reportedly inspired the song.
Listen to this track, which carries many stories in its creation, and let yourself feel the emotion.
The BeginningONE OK ROCK
One of ONE OK ROCK’s most emotional signature songs, “The Beginning.” With their characteristically powerful band sound, it’s a track that lifts your spirits and makes you want to raise your fist in the air.
The title reflects their desire to “reset ourselves while continuing on.” The song was also used in the film Rurouni Kenshin, and it’s said that Takeru Satoh, who stars in the movie, is close friends with the band in private life.
In composing the track, Toru took on the challenge of a production style incorporating strings, and the experience he gained here has informed their subsequent songwriting.
starrrrrrr[Alexandros]
![starrrrrrr[Alexandros]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LKjldI1qjj0/sddefault.jpg)
[Alexandros] is a band that enjoys immense popularity in the Japanese rock scene and now even reaches listeners who don’t usually listen to rock bands.
“starrrrrrr” is a song from before they changed their band name, and it’s still a fan favorite.
Many fans have likely been moved by its message of overcoming the past and moving forward anew.
Kawakami Yohei’s raw, emotionally charged vocals deliver that message with exhilarating force, and the guitar solo that appears mid-song is pure rock—full of emotional, evocative phrasing.
TokyoGEZAN
This is the definitive work of a four-piece rock band that remains pure and principled, continually confronting expression and society.
It sharply channels, through brutally pure words and the shared emotions of the four members, the city of Tokyo, the hostility and distortions swirling through society, and the kindness we still wish to hold onto within it—creating an artwork that both stirs the spirit and compels reflection on society and humanity.
Encountering this piece—one that embodies the essence of these revolutionaries and artists who aim to change the world from the underground—you can almost hear something shift within yourself.
It’s a song with a powerful message, profoundly, and in the best sense, human.
I miss youRADWIMPS
This ballad was produced in March 2021, a major milestone marking ten years since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
RADWIMPS, who have continued to release works every March 11 with thoughts for the affected areas, placed this song at the end of their concept album “2+0+2+1+3+1+1 = 10 years 10 songs,” which serves as a culmination of those prayers.
The simple yet profound longing that Yojiro Noda reached after many years presses upon the heart, carried by delicate melodies of piano and strings.
Although it has no specific tie-in, it can be described as a number that gently stands beside those who carry feelings beyond words.
Please give it a listen on nights when you want to quietly recall someone dear, or when you want to face the emotions deep within your own heart.
Emo Classics in Japanese Music: Recommended Popular Songs (21–30)
BuddhaRADWIMPS
When it comes to emo in Japanese music, you can’t leave out RADWIMPS.
“Oshakashama” is the second track on their fifth album, “Altcolony no Teiri.” It opens with a striking guitar riff, and throughout the song every part is performed at an exceptionally high level.
The lyrics are so dense that people say it’s hard to know when to take a breath; apparently, the original draft had five times as many words.
The lyrical content is also noteworthy, packed with vocalist Yojiro Noda’s unique worldview.
It’s highly addictive—be sure to put it on repeat.