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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- Great songs recommended for men. Masterpieces and popular Japanese songs that resonate with the heart.
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Masterpieces for Karaoke — Male Singers Edition
[A Man’s Way of Life] Songs of Men: A collection of masterpieces filled with manly valor and aesthetics (21–30)
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.
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.
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?
Take back love!kurisutaru kingu
This is the theme song of the TV anime Fist of the North Star, packed with the aesthetics of manliness.
It demands strong vocal ability.
If you can power through to the end in a piercing falsetto, you’ll feel a dazzling sense of accomplishment and the energy will soar.
When singing it at karaoke, if you can’t hit the high notes, you might need the courage to stop the track midway.
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.
Goodbye ElegySuda Masaki
A song by Masaki Suda, which was also used as the theme for the drama “Todome no Kiss,” with lyrics and composition by singer-songwriter Huey Ishizaki.
Its driving, high-energy sound is captivating, and there’s also a certain sense of sorrow and pain.
The way his vocals grow more powerful toward the chorus is striking, conveying the intensifying anguish depicted in the lyrics.
The words, which portray regret and the pain of feelings that don’t reach their destination, come through directly thanks to Masaki Suda’s expressive delivery.
BirdmenTHEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT
It’s a textbook example of rock ’n’ roll.
If you’ve got one cool guitar riff—a repeating phrase—that alone is enough to make rock roll! I know that probably doesn’t make sense just reading it, but you’ll get it right away when you hear it.