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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Classic emo songs in Japanese music: Recommended popular tracks (51–60)
life hackVaundy
A love song by Vaundy that portrays the wavering of the heart where anxiety and expectation in romance intersect.
It depicts how the narrator rides an emotional rollercoaster with every change in the other person’s attitude, unable to suppress the surge of unstoppable feelings.
The psychological portrayal of oscillating between the desire to create and the urge to protect captures a genuine conflict that anyone in love can relate to.
Released digitally in March 2020, the track was later included on the May 2020 album “strobo.” In 2022, it was selected as the TV commercial song for the apparel brand GLOBAL WORK, delivering a refreshing world in a CM featuring Tsubasa Honda.
It’s a song to listen to when you’re puzzled by the push and pull of romance, or on nights when your heart races thinking about someone you love.
I’ll forget the taciturn you of October.aratayo
A story that begins with words of farewell, this song portrays the end of a relationship with a partner who has grown distant and silent.
Released in March 2021 by the emotional rock band Atarayo, it later appeared on the EP Before Dawn and the full album In the Polar Night, the Moon Remains Silent.
Carefully expressing the feelings of two people who couldn’t overcome their stagnation, the track racked up astonishing views on YouTube and helped bring the band into the spotlight.
The male–female vocal interplay in the final section is deeply moving, resonating with listeners through the pain of “If we had never met, I wouldn’t have had to suffer this much.” It’s a song that will gently stay by your side when you’ve gone through a breakup or want to reflect on time spent with someone precious.
Chronostasiskinoko teikoku
This song portrays a moment when time seems to stop for lovers strolling through the city at night at a relaxed tempo.
As the BPM of 83 suggests, the walking pace—buoyed by the joy of the moment and the reluctance to go home—governs the rhythm of the entire track.
Its appeal lies in the dreamy sound created by a groove influenced by reggae and hip-hop and the transparent vocals of Chiaki Sato.
The track was included on the 2014 album “Fake World Wonderland,” and gained renewed attention among Gen Z after being featured in the film “We Made a Beautiful Bouquet.” It’s a song I especially recommend to anyone who has experienced those ordinary yet special moments, like spending a night after buying beer at a convenience store.
motion sickness from proximitywanuka
I want to pour out my true feelings under the influence of alcohol, but I can’t put them into words honestly… In Wanuka’s song, the protagonist’s bittersweet emotions are sung as they try to express their love by taking refuge in drinking.
When a short version was posted on TikTok in 2020, its unique worldview became a hot topic, and after the official release in February 2021, it topped Spotify’s Viral Chart.
The Japanese-inspired sound, which incorporates the yonanuki (pentatonic) scale, feels nostalgic yet radiates a fresh charm.
The desire to get closer to someone, even if it means borrowing the courage of drunkenness, and the frustrating uncertainty over whether those feelings are truly genuine—this is recommended for anyone who relates to the real struggles of love.
Classic emo masterpieces in Japanese music. Recommended popular songs (61–70)
lampSakiyama Soshi
This is a song by Soushi Sakiyama, released in July 2023 as the ending theme for the second season of the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen, “Hidden Inventory/Premature Death.” It opens with acoustic guitar arpeggios, then swells into a magnificent soundscape where strings and marching drums intermingle—truly overwhelming.
The lyrics portray regret over not speaking up before goodwill shattered, and the struggle of living while carrying wavering affection, closely mirroring the inner world of the main character, Suguru Geto.
The song has surpassed 25 million views on YouTube and has become one of Sakiyama’s signature tracks.
Highly recommended for those who resonate with feelings torn between ideals and reality.
Love WindIkuta Rira
This song gently wraps around a heart that’s become timid about love, like a spring breeze.
It carefully depicts the protagonist, who carries past wounds, meeting someone who looks at them with unwavering eyes and slowly trying to move forward.
The moment when the wish for love to be simpler intersects with the courage to take a step anyway is achingly poignant, and as you listen, it resonates with your own feelings of love.
Lila Ikuta’s clear, translucent voice delicately conveys these wavering emotions and truly strikes a chord.
Released in April 2025, it was chosen as the theme song for ABEMA’s dating reality show “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita.
New Zealand Edition.” This marks the third time Lila Ikuta has provided a theme song for the series, following “Romance no Yakusoku” and “Sparkle.” It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you don’t quite have the courage to start a new romance, or when you’re feeling your heart race over a new encounter.
more than wordsHitsuji Bungaku
Hitsujibungaku captivates with their unique sound that blends inorganic coolness and warmth, along with poetic, delicate word choices.
Released in September 2023, this track was selected as the ending theme for Season 2 of the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen, the Shibuya Incident arc, and has surpassed 100 million streams.
Incorporating a four-on-the-floor beat and programmed sounds for the first time, the piece is an ambitious work produced by Moeka Shiotsuka after a year of studying DTM (desktop music production).
The lyrics, which reflect on how to convey feelings that words alone can’t express and on how to navigate one’s own life, really resonate.
The transparent vocals meld into the expansive soundscape, making it a song you’ll want to savor on a quiet night.