Memories gifted with the songs of May: timeless spring classics and moving tales of music
May blesses us with comfortable weather—a perfect season for enjoying music.
From early-summer breezes that make you hum a gentle “samidare” (May rain) melody, to moving song stories perfect for Mother’s Day, and even tunes that support you through the May blues, there are so many songs tied to this month.
In this article, we’ll introduce gems that capture the shift from spring to summer, as well as masterpieces filled with heartfelt messages for loved ones.
You’re sure to discover a song that resonates with your heart.
Enjoy the read to the very end!
- [Karaoke Songs for May] A list of classic tracks that capture the lingering spirit of spring and the arrival of early summer
- [May Songs] Uplifting Cheer Songs & Moving Mother’s Day Song Collection
- [For Seniors] Songs to Sing in Refreshing May When the Fresh Green Shines
- Blow away the May blues! Cheer songs and feel-good tunes to listen to in May
- [Spring Songs] Classic and Latest Hit Collections Perfect for a Bright, Gentle Spring
- [For Seniors] Spring Songs You'll Want to Hum: Feel the Season with Nostalgic Classics
- Spring songs that were hits in the 90s. Classic and popular tracks from Japanese music.
- [2026] Time-Travel to Your Memories Just by Listening! Recommended Spring Songs for People in Their 50s
- Spring songs for people in their 60s: A collection of classic tracks about cherry blossoms and farewells
- Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs to enjoy in May! Songs perfect for the fresh green season
- [Spring Songs Recommended for People in Their 30s] Carefully Selected Nostalgic Classics & Big Hits
- Spring songs to color the season of meetings and partings—recommended for the Yutori generation
- Songs to Listen to in June: A Curated Selection of Rain-Themed Tracks and Classics for Father’s Day
Memories delivered with the songs of May: Spring masterpieces and moving song stories (11–20)
Brilliant RainKing Gnu
It’s a song whose musicality and message soak into your heart as if rain were pouring down in brilliant showers.
Released by King Gnu in July 2022, the piece paints a grand soundscape where violins, cello, organ, and female chorus intertwine with a noisy guitar sound.
The gentle yet powerful vocals, imbued with hope and resolve for the future, deliver a soothing sensation that feels like it washes away life’s hardships.
Written as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “Old Rookie” and included on the album “Stardom,” this is a track we hope those facing turning points in life will take to heart.
It’s the kind of song you’ll want to listen to during the rainy season in May.
May bluesKIRINJI
Amid the crossing of spring greenery and sunlight, this gem of a masterpiece delicately portrays the feelings of urban dwellers.
It was released by KIRINJI in October 1998 on the classic album Paper Drivers Music.
Its mellow, country-tinged light melody beautifully balances a fresh sense of the season with the solitude of city life.
Within the lyrics, everyday scenes reveal a subtle sense of unease—struggling to adapt to a new life and feeling unsure about the distance between oneself and others.
Quietly beloved, the song resonates with those who carry anxiety or emptiness brought on by changing environments, and with anyone who finds it hard to feel at home in the city.
Make it into a bouquet.wacci
This moving song conveys gratitude to one’s parents through a warm melody.
Included on the November 2018 album “Gunjō Refrain,” it gently sings of the feelings one wants to express only now, as an adult, to parents who put up with so much since childhood.
In May 2020, a music video composed of photos and videos of family memories submitted by about 400 fans was released, warming many hearts amid stay-at-home restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Perfect for moments when you want to express your feelings to someone special—such as a Mother’s Day gift or a wedding thank-you to parents—the song continues to be beloved for wacci’s gentle vocals.
strollInoue Azumi
It’s the familiar song “Sanpo” from the Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro.
May, when the weather turns warm, is the perfect season for walks and hikes.
Listening to this song makes even a short stroll feel so much more fun.
When we were little, even the tiny flowers growing by the roadside could fill us with wonder, and this song brings back a bit of that feeling.
Maternal and Child Health HandbookIshizaki Hyuui
Did you know that Hyui Ishizaki’s name is actually his real name? Apparently, his mother, who was a fan of Ittetsu Hoshi from “Star of the Giants” and David Bowie, is the one who named him.
Now, “Mother and Child Health Handbook” is a track included on the 2014 mini-album “That’s Why I Don’t Like Carnations.” The lyrics, which revisit memories with his mother, are something just about anyone can relate to.
In May, the month of Mother’s Day, why not draw courage from this song and express the gratitude you don’t usually say?
When the fleabanes bloomNogizaka 46
Released in 2016, the Nogizaka46 song you’ll want to listen to in May is “Harujion ga Saku Koro” (“When the Harujion Blooms”).
It was created with member Mai Fukagawa in mind as she was graduating.
It also serves as a cheer song for a friend setting off into a new world.
It’s a great pick to sing at karaoke when you meet up with friends after graduating from school.
May is when many people start a new chapter in life, a time that can be confusing.
Knowing your friends are always cheering you on is uplifting, isn’t it? This is a song that makes you feel ready to do your best in your new life.
Memories Sent with Songs of May: Classic Spring Tunes and Moving Song Stories (21–30)
Early summer rainRemioromen
This song is also a perfect number for capturing the freshness of May.
While “五月雨” is generally read as “samidare,” in this song it’s read as “satsuki-ame.” It seems that when fitting the lyrics to the melody, “samidare” didn’t match the syllable count well, so they went with “satsuki-ame.” Even when the rain brings you down, listen to this track and get through it.