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!
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- [May Songs] Uplifting Cheer Songs & Moving Mother’s Day Song Collection
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- 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 gifted with the songs of May: Spring masterpieces and moving song stories (31–40)
The path in the early-summer rainYashiro Aki
Here is “Samidare no Michi” by Aki Yashiro, who has appeared many times on the Kōhaku stage as the queen of enka.
This song can be called one of the masterpieces of enka that I’d especially like younger listeners—who usually listen to pop and other genres—to hear.
Its poetic, suggestive lyrics are quintessentially enka, aren’t they? If you’re confident in your vocal skills, definitely try challenging it at karaoke.
Letterback number
A single released by back number in 2015.
It’s a song about feelings toward one’s parents, made even more moving by Takeshi Kobayashi’s arrangement and Uda Shike’s strings.
When do you personally feel, “I’m loved”? I’m sure everyone has their own answer.
In everyday life, those feelings can slip by unnoticed or be forgotten.
That’s why it might be important to give them a lasting form—like in “Tegami.” A classic back number song that truly resonates in May.
May Rain WaltzKobayashi Akira
How about people who usually listen to pop or rock trying some enka once in a while? For enka that’s perfect for May, I highly recommend Asahi Kobayashi’s “Samidare Waltz.” Songs that have been sung for many years are truly wonderful, and his vocal prowess is outstanding.
The electric guitar phrases that drop in like call-and-response lines are irresistibly bluesy and cool, aren’t they?
Daphne (winter daphne)DISH//
In May, when your new life has started to settle down a bit, there are moments when you suddenly think of your hometown and feel a little lonely, aren’t there? This is exactly the song I want you to listen to at times like that.
It’s a track by the band DISH//, known for hits like “Neko” and “No.1,” released as a single in 2021.
It was chosen as the theme song for the drama “The Winner in February: The Classroom of Guaranteed Success.” With its warm atmosphere and distinctive horn section, it’s a piece that makes you want to listen while walking outside.
When you’re feeling homesick, it will surely be there to comfort your heart.
The song I, at 22, gave to my motherSukaipīsu
A popular YouTuber duo made up of Teo and ☆Ini☆, Sky Peace.
Their greeting, “Ready, go—hey, we’re Sky Peace! Yeah!” always gives us energy, doesn’t it? Sky Peace has released lots of songs, and every one is full of their unique charm.
This song, “A Song I Gave My Mom at 22,” is a tender, heartfelt track—if someone sang it on Mother’s Day, moms everywhere would probably be moved to tears.
If you have trouble expressing your daily gratitude to your mother, be sure to listen to it together!
Memories gifted with songs of May: classic spring masterpieces and moving song stories (41–50)
Circle of Thanksayaka
Precisely because May can often feel lonely, why not take the opportunity to express gratitude to the friends and family you’ve spent time with and reaffirm your bonds? With that in mind, I’d like to introduce “Arigatou no Wa” (“Circle of Thanks”).
This is a song Ayaka wrote specifically for a KitKat campaign.
It conveys a message of deep gratitude—and the idea that if the person who receives that gratitude passes it on to someone else, everyone can become happier.
And since May also includes Mother’s Day, it seems perfect for expressing thanks to your mother as well.
May DayPlastic Tree
A US rock-style track with an excellent sense of groove that often gets played live.
Just like how it was placed as the second track right after the instrumental on their 1998 sophomore album “Puppet Show,” it opens with a thrilling rush and a melodious, floating feel that’s simply pleasant.
The youthful vibe suggested by the words in the lyrics, along with the addictive balance of gloominess and mischievousness, creates a compelling world.
The guitar and bass going wild—especially in the interlude—are irresistible.
It’s a masterpiece that perfectly fits a lazy May afternoon.