Great songs recommended for men. Masterpieces and popular Japanese songs that resonate with the heart.
I think there are many songs you’ve heard at least once or already know! And every one of them is a song that will make you think, “What a great tune,” after just one listen! We’ve gathered lots of great songs—perfect for singing at karaoke, diving into and listening carefully, or enjoying together with someone else!
Recommended songs for men: iconic and popular Japanese tracks that resonate with the heart (1–10)
wrinkle alignmentNEW!Vaundy
A number whose warm message, affirming life’s confusion and pain, resonates with the heart.
Delivered by Vaundy, this work was released in April 2021 and was featured as the TV commercial song for Shuto Medical College, Osaka Medical College, and Nagoya Medical College.
It was later included on the album “replica” and has garnered enthusiastic support from fans.
If you’re a man planning to go to karaoke with the woman you’re interested in, why not give it a try? You’ll need to pay attention to tempo and pitch, but if you sing it with a natural vibe, she’s sure to be captivated! Your honest feelings might come across as well.
Whenever I arrive, it’s always raining.yoshida takurou
A signature number by Takuro Yoshida, a leading figure in Japan’s folk scene, this classic overlays the desolate emotions at the end of a journey with the image of unceasing rain.
It was originally released in July 1972 as a song provided to the rock band The Mops, and shortly thereafter was included on Yoshida’s own landmark album “Genki Desu.” The lyrical worldview—finally reaching your destination only to find the rain still falling—vividly reflects the futility and fatigue we encounter in life.
Rather than flashy drama, it carries a quiet, simmering intensity that settles in the heart and closely accompanies the listener’s inner world.
On a silent night punctuated by the sound of rain, or when you’re worn out by daily life and want to pause and reflect, why not give it a careful listen?
Why do I feel so sad?yoshida takurou
Have you ever felt a sudden wave of loneliness while walking alone through the city late at night? This song, included on the album “Ningen Nante,” released in November 1971, is one that gently stays by your side in such wistful moments.
It’s said that Takuro Yoshida wrote it in one go after returning home from Shinjuku and listening to James Brown, riding that emotional momentum.
The band sound featuring Kazuhiko Kato and others sinks deeply into a lonely heart.
In 2017, it was used as the ending theme for TV Tokyo’s drama “Pense,” bringing it renewed attention.
Try listening to it quietly at night, sipping a drink by yourself.
This timeless work will gently soothe your tired soul.
Poem of Imagesyoshida takurou
This is the landmark debut single released by Takuro Yoshida—who revolutionized Japan’s folk scene—in June 1970 on Elec Records.
An abundance of words, packed in almost like a syllabic overflow, rides the melody with a calm yet powerful resonance.
Rather than offering definitive answers, the lyrics keep posing questions about society and human relationships, revealing something new with every listen.
Also included on the album “Seishun no Uta,” the song was covered by Shogo Hamada in 1997 and later chosen as the theme song for the 2021 animated film “Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko.” Beloved across generations, this work gently stays by your side—especially when you find yourself at a crossroads in life or in a quiet night when you want to reflect deeply on yourself.
C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h.ONE OK ROCK
This is a stirring rock number by ONE OK ROCK that portrays the fiery bonds between friends charging toward their dreams.
While looking back on the youthful days they spent together, it vows that each will shine on the path they’ve chosen, powerfully pushing listeners forward.
Even if they grow apart, the memories in their hearts remain unfading treasures—an encouraging message that gives courage.
Included on the October 2011 album “Zankyo Reference,” this song is perfect to listen to while cheering on friends as they leap into a new world and salute each other’s efforts.
As an anthem that blows away anxiety and loneliness and helps you face forward, it’s definitely worth checking out!
Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)Yonezu Kenshi
This is a track whose beautiful, fleeting sound and lyrics—portraying the aching feelings of two childhood companions who grow apart as they become adults—strike straight at the heart.
Included on singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu’s album BOOTLEG, released in October 2017, the song also drew major attention for featuring actor Masaki Suda as a guest vocalist.
It contrasts the past, when they laughed together without a care, with the present, as they each walk their own path.
Its message—suggesting a bond that remains deep inside no matter how much time passes—gently encourages men setting out for different places.
After graduation, when you feel anxious or lonely about a new life ahead, why not listen to it while reminiscing about an old friend?
MiracleGReeeeN
GReeeeN’s seventh single, released in May 2008, became a massive hit as the theme song for the TBS drama “ROOKIES.” It debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon Singles Chart in its first week and ranked fourth on the 2008 year-end chart.
In 2009, it also achieved the remarkable feat of being recognized by Guinness World Records.
The lyrics portray a vow of everlasting love, intertwining the miracle of the two meeting with the path they have walked so far.
The straightforward words conveying ever-deepening affection resonate deeply with listeners.
It’s a perfect song for looking back on memories with a loved one or finding the courage to step into the future.
budKobukuro
Released in March 2007 as the 14th single, this masterpiece was newly written as the theme song for the drama “Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad.” Created by Kentaro Kobuchi in memory of his late mother, the song won the Excellent Work Award at the Japan Record Awards and was also selected as the entrance march for the 80th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament.
Like a tiny bud before it blooms, it warmly portrays the power of growth even in an unfinished state, along with heartfelt gratitude to the loved ones who always cheered us on.
It is a gentle song that, when you remember someone precious you can no longer meet, lets you feel that they are still watching over you from somewhere.
LemonYonezu Kenshi
This song portrays feelings for a loved one who has been lost, likening them to the bitterness of a lemon.
Its lyrics, where the pain of never meeting again intersects with the warm memories that still remain in the heart, strike listeners deeply.
Kenshi Yonezu created it based on his own experience of losing his grandfather, and that earnest emotion permeates the entire piece.
Released in March 2018 as the theme song for the drama “Unnatural,” it spent a total of seven weeks at No.
1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
At the 69th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, he performed it via live broadcast from his hometown in Tokushima Prefecture, moving many viewers to tears.
It is a quiet companion for those who have lost someone precious or who wish to face the farewells that inevitably come someday.
Spot the differenceSuda Masaki
This work, in which Masaki Suda—active as an actor—sings a song by Kenshi Yonezu, was released as a digital single in May 2019.
Chosen as the theme song for the drama “Perfect World,” it garnered enormous attention, winning 32 awards.
It tells the story of a protagonist who once felt like a mistake, but finds the meaning of life through meeting someone precious—deeply resonating with those who struggle with self-denial.
A fated love so powerful that questions of right or wrong cease to matter is conveyed through Masaki Suda’s strong, straightforward vocals, stirring the heart with every listen.
It is one of his signature tracks, also included on the album “LOVE.”