Masaki Makihara’s famous and popular songs
Noriyuki Makihara is a singer-songwriter who has been a major force in the J-POP scene since the 1990s, and his songs continue to be loved to this day.
His music is captivating for its relatable lyrics about love and everyday life, paired with stylish, cool arrangements.
And when talking about his appeal, you can’t overlook his singing voice.
His beautifully soaring high tones are impressive enough to wow you after just a brief listen.
In this article, we’ll introduce a generous selection of his classic tracks.
From timeless favorites to hidden gems, be sure to give them a listen.
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Noriyuki Makihara's Masterpieces and Popular Songs (71–80)
Hey…Makihara Noriyuki
I think it’s pretty rare for the word “die” to appear so straightforwardly in a song.
Many people probably assume that songs dealing with life and death are, as expected, dark and heavy.
But Makihara Noriyuki—better known as Makki—created an outlier with his song “Hey…”.
He sets a theme that tends to feel somber to a bright, up-tempo melody that nudges you toward a more positive outlook.
Even the title “Hey…” carries a bittersweet lightness, as if casually calling out to someone who has passed away.
It’s a song that makes the image of someone trying to hold back their tears—“I won’t cry”—feel all the more lonely.
PENGUINMakihara Noriyuki
Love with someone who’s already involved, or romance at the workplace—even when we know it’s not allowed, we still fall; that’s what love is.
But sometimes the reason we feel happiness with someone is because we can see a future where the two of us are together.
When it’s a forbidden love, that future is hard to see.
Noriyuki Makihara’s “PENGUIN” is a song about a protagonist who has ended such a relationship and reflects on the past.
Even though the relationship is over, they look back knowing the love they felt then was real, and that ending it was the right choice.
Wanting to keep a romance beautiful, just as it was—this is a song I especially hope those people will listen to.
THE END OF THE WORLDMakihara Noriyuki
This is a track from Noriyuki Makihara’s 2008 album UNDERWEAR.
Sung in a warm, gentle voice, it portrays an affectionate couple.
Their forbidden love is depicted so naturally that you wouldn’t notice anything unusual unless someone said, “It’s not a normal relationship.” The world Makihara paints feels so real that just imagining what fate awaits these lovers—who have likely managed to keep their relationship secret from everyone—makes my chest ache.
Time After TimeMakihara Noriyuki
Time After Time is a timeless classic, cherished by many for its beautiful, resonant melody and wistful message.
In Japan, numerous artists have covered the song, and Noriyuki Makihara’s rendition, included on “Listen To The Music 2,” is a standout.
His gentle yet powerful vocals and delicate arrangement bring out the original’s charm to the fullest.
Said to have been born from the emotional distance between lovers, the song conveys the enduring strength of love that continues even when two people are apart.
Why not let Makihara’s voice, filled with tenderness for someone dear, bring you comfort as well?
Two moonsMakihara Noriyuki
It’s the B-side track to Noriyuki Makihara’s 11th single, “Futatsu no Negai” (“Two Wishes”).
Using the two moons—the full moon in the night sky and its reflection on the sea—as motifs, it gently sings about the pure feelings of first love in boyhood.
The pronunciation of the English lyrics is remarkably fluent and uncharacteristic of a typical Japanese singer.
The highly metaphorical lyrics are also a highlight.
Witch HazelMakihara Noriyuki
This is a song from Noriyuki Makihara’s album “SELF PORTRAIT,” released on October 31, 1993.
At the time, he heard on the radio that “witch hazel,” an herb, was used as an ingredient in sunscreen, and he thought it would make a good title for a summer romance song.
Thank you very much.Makihara Noriyuki
This song was created as a special commemorative piece to celebrate the 20th anniversary of NHK’s character Domo-kun.
Conveying twenty years’ worth of “thank yous” from Domo-kun, the song is accompanied by a lovely special movie presented in a drama style.
The lyrics are very simple so that the word “thank you” really comes across, and that simplicity, in turn, seems to highlight the word “thank you” even more.
