An irreplaceable masterpiece that conveys the meaning of life and the preciousness of existence. A deeply moving song of encouragement.
What does it mean to live, anyway…? Many of us have probably felt that way when things aren’t going well.
“I’m useless.
I can’t accomplish anything…” Sometimes those thoughts leave us feeling lonely or sinking into a helpless slump.
But everyone, without exception, has a reason to live!
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of songs that offer gentle messages and tips for facing tomorrow.
Please listen to these warm tracks that will quietly stay by your side and comfort your weary heart.
- Songs that Teach the Value of Life | A Collection of Masterpieces Celebrating the Wonder of Living
- [Songs to Listen to When You Want to Die] I want to disappear... A song to support you who feel that way
- Songs to Encourage Those Who Are Ill | Supportive Tunes That Gently Soothe Anxious Hearts
- A classic Japanese song about life. A track that gives you energy.
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- A song that encourages you just by listening
- [A Cheer for Myself] A pep song dedicated to you who are doing your very best
- [For those doing their best] A comforting song to listen to when you're tired of life
- [Moving] Tear-jerking cheer song. A roundup of popular motivational anthems that resonate with the heart!
- Songs with great lyrics: soothing tracks that linger in the heart and moving ballads
- [When you’re troubled] A life anthem that stands by your side
- [Memorial Song] A moving classic and love song dedicated to a beloved person embarking on a journey to heaven
- [A Life-Affirming Anthem] An Encouraging Song to Cheer You On
An irreplaceable masterpiece that conveys the meaning of life and the preciousness of existence. A moving, heartfelt anthem of encouragement (41–50).
The thing I wanted mostMakihara Noriyuki
Noriyuki Makihara’s “The Thing I Wanted Most” is a song that makes you reflect on what truly matters to you in life and what gives life meaning.
Released in 2004, it was used as the theme song for the drama “Last Present: The Final Summer Living with My Daughter,” starring Yuki Amami.
The lyrics speak to a life spent choosing and discarding many things, only to end up with nothing in hand.
Yet, looking back, you realize there were countless moments when your actions brought joy to others.
Even if nothing tangible remains, the song suggests that, when you pause and reflect, you may find that you have actually gained many of the things that are truly important in your life—the very things that give it meaning.
I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu
Off Course’s 23rd single, released in 1982.
Set to a bittersweet melody, it captures the feelings of encounters and partings in life, conveying that parting is also a form of love and helps us grasp the meaning of life.
It’s a wonderful song that gives you the courage to be grateful for having met the person you love, even if you end up parting ways.
Among Off Course’s works, it stands as one of their very greatest masterpieces.
GASSHOWillion
Yojiro Noda of RADWIMPS, through his solo project illion, conveys the preciousness of life in words that feel timeless.
His pure, weighty, and pressing vocals evoke the nobility of life.
Crafted with thoughts for the Great East Japan Earthquake and its victims, this song teaches us about the strength of life.
Only by livingKiroro
This is Kiroro’s 15th single, released in 2015.
It’s a masterpiece that sings of gratitude to one’s parents and the chain of life.
It’s a song that invites us to reflect on our ancestors and reminds us anew of the wonder of passing life on.
Kiroro’s signature piano and gentle lyrics will touch your heart.
Always With MeKimura Yumi
A song used as the theme for Spirited Away.
It cheerfully sings about all forms of life from birth to death.
It conveys that human life is a part of nature and follows natural law—nothing more, nothing less—and expresses the simple beauty of just living.
Phantom LifeSEKAI NO OWARI
A classic from when SEKAI NO OWARI still called themselves “Sekai no Owari.” The piano accompaniment and the image of white costumes may symbolize the worldview sung about in the track.
How you receive the message—by listening to the lyrics and watching the visuals—is up to you, and there may be no single correct answer.
It’s a song I hope you’ll listen to many times to deepen your understanding.
Silent majorityKeyakizaka46
This is the debut single by the idol group Keyakizaka46, who also made headlines for relaunching as Sakurazaka46 in October 2020.
With lyrics that carry a powerful message—distinct from typical idol songs—and tightly synchronized, almost militaristic choreography, it made a striking impact on the J-pop scene.
The lyrics, which question whether it’s really acceptable to let society box in your dreams and true feelings—and insist that now is the time to speak up and follow your own path—convey a strong sense of resolve that surely resonated not only with younger listeners but with many others as well.
It’s a song that asks what it means to live, and it transcends the usual boundaries of idol music.
