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Work songs: recommended masterpieces and popular tracks

There are plenty of songs that cheer on people working hard every day, but I’ve put together a selection of so-called “message songs” for those who are labeled—or call themselves—corporate drones.

I’m sure there are tracks you’ll find nothing but relatable, so when you’re worn out from work or need a little mental breathing room, listen with the idea of finding comrades.

These songs will make you feel relieved or crack a smile, and they should help you reset and think, “Maybe I can push just a little more!”

Playlist

Work songs: recommended masterpieces and popular tracks
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastIt’s fine.Urufuruzu
It’s fine.Urufuruzuplay_arrow
An unabashedly bright and positive vibe, so typical of a band from Kansai...
2eastProgresskōkua
Progresskōkuaplay_arrow
NHK’s documentary program “Professional: Shigoto no Ryuugi” (Professionals: The Style of Work)…
3eastHymn to LaborMomoiro Kurōbā Zetto
Hymn to LaborMomoiro Kurōbā Zettoplay_arrow
Mr. Kenji Ohtsuki, aka Oken from the band Musume Shōjo-tai (King-Show),...
4eastFight! SalarymanKetsumeishi
Fight! SalarymanKetsumeishiplay_arrow
If you're tired from work, this one song. “Usually, ass…
5eastLabor CALLINGdohatsuten
Labor CALLINGdohatsutenplay_arrow
An anthem cheering on people who are tired from work
6eastReceiptpawāzu
Receiptpawāzuplay_arrow
A song about salaryman relatable moments revolving around receipts…
7eastSong of LoveSutoroberī Furawā
Song of LoveSutoroberī Furawāplay_arrow
As a title for the Nintendo GameCube…
8eastShut up.Ado
Shut up.Adoplay_arrow
The 202… that propelled Ado’s name to nationwide fame
9eastMy boyfriend is a salaryman.SHINE’S
My boyfriend is a salaryman.SHINE'Splay_arrow
SH formed by Yosuke Ito and Taro Sugimura…
10eastLet’s quit this company.sendamitsuo
Let's quit this company.sendamitsuoplay_arrow
“That’s it, I’m really quitting this company!!”…
11eastGlory to the commuting songsDOTAMA
Glory to the commuting songsDOTAMAplay_arrow
A relatable track to switch up your mood on the commute
12eastWorker MKinniku Shoujo Tai
Worker MKinniku Shoujo Taiplay_arrow
The unique appeal of Muscles Girl Band's music and lyrics
13eastWorking manUNICORN
Working manUNICORNplay_arrow
Tamio Okuda of UNICORN, the classic song “Working Man”
14eastsalarymanImawano Kiyoshirō
salarymanImawano Kiyoshirōplay_arrow
A drama from the employment ice age era, Kiyoshiro's classic song
15eastSalaryman’s Song 2011Hatsune Miku
Salaryman's Song 2011Hatsune Mikuplay_arrow
The monotonous daily life of a salaryman
16eastThe moratorium never ends.za endo
The moratorium never ends.za endoplay_arrow
A corporate-drone rock band by active company employees, The…
17eastSign of Courage ~ Regain Theme ~Ushiwakamaru Saburōta (Tokito Saburō)
Sign of Courage ~ Regain Theme ~Ushiwakamaru Saburōta (Tokito Saburō)
It even ranked in the 1989 New Words and Buzzwords Awards…
18eastThere’s always tomorrowRe:Japan
There's always tomorrowRe:Japanplay_arrow
Those who say, “I know Re:Japan”...
19eastSalaryman BluesIshihara Yūjirō
Salaryman BluesIshihara Yūjirō
Yujiro singing about the feelings of a salaryman
20eastSalarymanShinagawa Yuu to Suberāzu
SalarymanShinagawa Yuu to Suberāzuplay_arrow
Hiroshi Shinagawa of the comedy duo Shinagawa Shoji is Japan…
21eastThe Sun Also RisesArajin (shuuchishin + Pabo)
The Sun Also RisesArajin (shuuchishin + Pabo)play_arrow
A song cheering on salarymen, all gathered in suits
22eastHeroFUNKY MONKEY BABYS
HeroFUNKY MONKEY BABYSplay_arrow
Even an ordinary office worker can leave flashy results...
23eastTAXISuzuki Kiyomi
TAXISuzuki Kiyomiplay_arrow
Ms. Kiyomi Suzuki, well known from groups like the Chanels...
24eastRiemann’s LockTakahashi Yū
Riemann's LockTakahashi Yūplay_arrow
Japanese salaried workers, sometimes described as corporate drones (shachiku), ...
25eastLet’s workNORIKIYO from SD JUNKSTA
Let's workNORIKIYO from SD JUNKSTAplay_arrow
Of course, NORIKIYO’s rap skills...
26eastbyte / part-time jobThe Misspergers
byte / part-time jobThe Misspergersplay_arrow
Expressing anger through rap about a work environment that differs from the job posting
27eastHappy Order?imase
Happy Order?imaseplay_arrow
A lively song that supports working people, discovering the brilliance of work
28east2 a.m. and a highballnakigoto
2 a.m. and a highballnakigotoplay_arrow
A song that saves me on my late-night walk home from a part-time job
29eastMelancholy and part-time jobyangusukinii
Melancholy and part-time jobyangusukiniiplay_arrow
A song that sings the heartfelt cries from my part-time job
30eastBring back the shifts, the hourly wage, and while you’re at it, bring back love!!Yoshiki Risa & Hyadain
Bring back the shifts, the hourly wage, and while you’re at it, bring back love!!Yoshiki Risa & Hyadainplay_arrow
Convenience store part-time job cheer song—so encouraging!
31eastHourly Wage Up-Up SongYuuyami ni izanai shi shikkoku no tenshi-tachi
Hourly Wage Up-Up SongYuuyami ni izanai shi shikkoku no tenshi-tachiplay_arrow
The campaign for the job information service “Baitoru”...
32eastJapaneseYazawa Eikichi
JapaneseYazawa Eikichi
The Office Worker's True Feelings and a Song of Freedom
33eastGuildBUMP OF CHICKEN
GuildBUMP OF CHICKENplay_arrow
A masterpiece that questions the meaning of life and evokes deep empathy
34eastWe RookiesDISH//
We RookiesDISH//play_arrow
The honest heart and sweet expectations of a new employee
35eastTheme of Hissatsu ShigotoninHirao Masaaki
Theme of Hissatsu ShigotoninHirao Masaakiplay_arrow
Composed by the eminent master composer Masayuki Hirao, it's just too famous...
36eastI messed up!!busai-ku
I messed up!!busai-kuplay_arrow
A spin-off unit from Kis-My-Ft2, Mai…
37eastGachi SakuraShonan no Kaze
Gachi SakuraShonan no Kazeplay_arrow
Recommended for those who work hard at unpleasant jobs for the sake of their dreams…
38eastPerfect Day310
Perfect Day310play_arrow
Depicting special everyday moments with 310’s clear, transparent singing voice
39east50%Ofisharu Higedan Dism
50%Ofisharu Higedan Dismplay_arrow
To those who push themselves too hard: let’s face forward at your own pace.
40eastDon’t Mind Me (feat. Sota Hanamura from Da-iCE)Ayumu Imazu
Don't Mind Me (feat. Sota Hanamura from Da-iCE)Ayumu Imazuplay_arrow
Let’s live positively without worrying—an anthem of encouragement.
41eastcurtainYuuma
curtainYuumaplay_arrow
Sing about the heart that strives for a loved one
42eastMelancholy TrumpeterTeam K(AKB48)
Melancholy TrumpeterTeam K(AKB48)play_arrow
Music that portrays the adult world in a mysterious way
43eastTruck Driving BoogieDauntaun Bugiuugi Bando (Tachikawa Shōten Feisutibō)
Truck Driving BoogieDauntaun Bugiuugi Bando (Tachikawa Shōten Feisutibō)play_arrow
The maximum legal speed for trucks is 80 km/h, and now…
44eastnurseNihonjin
nurseNihonjinplay_arrow
A man who actually works as a nurse in pediatrics…
45eastDream Bus GirlSandaime Koromubia Rōzu
Dream Bus GirlSandaime Koromubia Rōzuplay_arrow
The first generation bus girl song became popular when buses…
46eastGray fingertipsInoue Yosui
Gray fingertipsInoue Yosuiplay_arrow
Fading fingerprints on the assembly line and a man's melancholy
47eastlarge fishing boatKitajima Saburō
large fishing boatKitajima Saburōplay_arrow
Saburo Kitajima, too, has stepped away from the spotlight as a singer...
48eastFight, GhostwriterMegurine Ruka
Fight, GhostwriterMegurine Rukaplay_arrow
An ambitious song that depicts a battle in fast samba
49eastYoung police officerHikawa Kiyoshi
Young police officerHikawa Kiyoshiplay_arrow
Showa-era masterpieces: the feeling of everyday life in the past and budding romance
50eastA city sandwich board manTsuruta Koji
A city sandwich board manTsuruta Kojiplay_arrow
We used to see them on the streets a lot in the Showa era, but now…
51eastHouse mannequin in the night mistyaya
House mannequin in the night mistyayaplay_arrow
You’re probably wondering, “What’s a house mannequin?” Back in the day…
52eastThe Northern Ship of SuccessFukuda Kouhei
The Northern Ship of SuccessFukuda Kouheiplay_arrow
When it comes to big catches in Aomori’s fisheries, it’s got to be Ōma’s...
53eastSad Little DoveMisora Hibari
Sad Little DoveMisora Hibariplay_arrow
Hibari Misora: Circus Films and Vocal Prowess
54eastDarlingMrs. GREEN APPLE
DarlingMrs. GREEN APPLEplay_arrow
A warm message song that invites you to reflect on your true self
55eastOld Man Hanasa ka after a night shiftCover Girls
Old Man Hanasa ka after a night shiftCover Girlsplay_arrow
This song, which is popular for intense wotagei, has a fast tempo so singing…
56eastDaughter of the CircuitPUFFY
Daughter of the CircuitPUFFYplay_arrow
A song that depicts PUFFY as race queens
57eastHourly wage: ¥850Kamereo
Hourly wage: ¥850Kamereoplay_arrow
Just from the title, it looks like they’re parodying part-time jobs again…
58eastWorking Man OndoHatarakigi Mitsuru (Sawamura Ikki)
Working Man OndoHatarakigi Mitsuru (Sawamura Ikki)play_arrow
Before the preview for the next episode of the drama “Hataraki Man,” the dra…
59eastthe second man from the bottomKoyama Takuji
the second man from the bottomKoyama Takujiplay_arrow
The final punchline is somehow both plausible and implausi—
60eastchefKudō Shintarō
chefKudō Shintarōplay_arrow
Nice lyrics. Not words, but the chef’s…
61eastHanasakaAkioka Hideharu
HanasakaAkioka Hideharuplay_arrow
It really takes extraordinary mental fortitude to get through chef training...
62eastPlasterer KonetaroNiinuma Kenji
Plasterer KonetaroNiinuma Kenjiplay_arrow
The training of plastering craftsmen is honed through daily discipline.
63eastHeadlights / TaillightsNakajima Miyuki
Headlights / TaillightsNakajima Miyukiplay_arrow
The legendary NHK program that was a huge hit, “Professional…”