A Man’s Way of Life: Songs of Men. Masterpieces packed with manly valor and aesthetics.
We’ve gathered a collection of classic songs packed with the aesthetics of manhood.
Across every genre—rock, pop, enka—you’ll find the way men live sung about in many forms.
Men may usually keep things inside, yet hold firm convictions; their willingness to take on challenges, or conversely, the strength to face their own vulnerabilities, also feels distinctly masculine.
A broad-minded generosity and single-minded devotion can be especially attractive from a woman’s perspective, too.
In this article, we introduce many timeless tracks that touch on the path of a man’s life and on love.
Every song is valiant and stirring.
Music by men that even men admire—let’s listen closely and take it all in!
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[A Man’s Way of Life] Songs of Men: A collection of masterpieces filled with manly valor and aesthetics (21–30)
Golden SoulShonan no Kaze
It’s a passionate track by Shonan no Kaze that exudes a powerful sense of mustering yourself to overcome difficulties.
It’s often used in situations where you’re facing a challenge—not only as the theme song for the drama “The Negotiator,” but also as an entrance theme in combat sports.
The bass-heavy sound is striking, evoking a momentum like your heart is on fire.
It teaches that what matters isn’t the strength to crush an opponent, but the gentle strength to stand by your convictions and protect what’s important—making it a song that conveys kindness as well.
wandererOkuda Tamio
This is one of singer-songwriter Tamio Okuda’s signature songs, with a bright, breezy atmosphere that evokes a solo man’s journey.
In addition to serving as the theme song for the drama “Days,” it has been used as the theme for various variety shows centered on travel and human connection.
The lyrics portray a person who keeps traveling, and seem to call on listeners to dive into new places and keep taking on challenges.
Despite its gentle, easygoing sound, it’s a song that gives you a strong push forward.
Showa Man’s SongYamazaki Teiji
I’ve sometimes wondered whether this kind of Showa-era man is no longer in fashion.
You could say they’re simply unpopular, and that might be the end of it, but even so, I believe that being taciturn, stubborn, and unable to put one’s feelings into words is a virtue of Japanese men.
People who often listen to enka will know this song, but it would be a shame to go on not knowing it—it’s a man’s song with real flavor.
BadMichael Jackson
It’s the world-famous pop star Michael, as everyone knows.
This is from his more masculine era, before he turned white, and this song is really cool.
I’ve heard his singing has a strong accent that even native speakers find hard to sing, so if you can pull this off, that’s pretty impressive, isn’t it?
YAH YAH YAHCHAGE and ASKA
One of CHAGE and ASKA’s hit songs, “YAH YAH YAH,” is a cool track with a macho worldview, sung with a fist thrust in the air.
It was the theme song for the TV drama “If You Turn Around, He’s There,” in which Yūji Oda played a very dangerous man.
It might be considered a quintessential song representing men.
SubaruTanimura Shinji
A signature solo song by Shinji Tanimura, who is also active as a member of Alice, it is notable for its soaring vocals that seem to carry far into the distance and its grand sound.
Blending acoustic tones that evoke elements of folk music with an expansive atmosphere enriched by strings, the piece conveys both strength and warmth.
It gives the impression of a man moving straight toward a distant dream, as if gazing up at a faraway starry sky and letting his thoughts wander.
My Adidas: Aspirations as a Human BeingTakehara Pisutoru
This is a song by singer-songwriter Pistol Takehara, whose appeal lies in the powerful message that encourages the importance of believing in yourself and the courage to keep moving forward.
The sheer number of words—almost rap-like—is striking, conveying a desperate urge to communicate and a sense of overflowing emotion.
It feels like an expression of a strong will to move ahead, even awkwardly, and the presence of sneakers in the title and lyrics evokes a vivid image of the strength to take a step forward.