Songs for an Unwinding Heart in May: From Showa-Era Classics to Recent Hit Singles

Bye, see you again sometime!Yonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Goodbye, See You Again Sometime!

For many of us, that lively melody from the TV has been a boost to start the day.

This piece was written as the theme song for NHK’s morning drama series “Tora ni Tsubasa,” which portrays Japan’s first female lawyer.

Crafted by singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu and released in April 2024, it was later included on his 2024 album “LOST CORNER,” leaving a lasting impression on many listeners.

Beneath its refreshing sound, the song carries themes of parting and reunion, as well as the strength to forge one’s own path, resonating deeply with those who hear it.

The music video—set in a diner and played in reverse—is also memorable.

It’s a gentle yet energetic track perfect for the fresh green season, when you want to ease a tired heart or take a step forward and face the future.

The Milky Way in MayHata Motohiro

Gogatsu No Amanogawa

An achingly tender yet warm acoustic number that makes you want to listen while gazing up at the night sky in the season of fresh greenery.

Depicting the journey to visit a loved one who lives far away, this piece is included on singer-songwriter Motohiro Hata’s single “Dialogue Monologue,” released in April 2014.

Created for the live show “GREEN MIND,” which centers on solo performances, it captivates with a vivid, immersive sound born from sessions with fellow musicians.

The sense of distance entrusted to the Milky Way motif tugs at the heart, making even the long stretches of not being able to meet feel precious.

It’s a song that will gently accompany you on a quiet night drive or when you want to be alone with your thoughts.

Lila LilhaKimura Kaera

Kaela Kimura “Rirura Riruha” (Official Music Video)

This is a pop number emblematic of Kaela Kimura during the time she began pursuing music alongside her modeling career.

Its lyrics, filled with the wish to stay true to one’s heart when you feel you’re losing yourself amid hectic days, gently give listeners a push forward.

Released in March 2005 as her third single, it also drew attention as the Vodafone commercial song in which she appeared.

It’s included on the album “Circle” and the best-of compilation “5years,” and has been loved for a long time.

The title’s curious ring is said to be an abbreviation of “Real Life Real Heart,” like a spell to cherish your true self.

How about quietly lending an ear to this song while strolling through fresh greenery, or when your heart feels a little tired?

In the May breezePEARL

PEARL ~ Naomi Tamura ~ In the May Breeze

The moment you hear it, you’ll want to break free from the city’s hustle and start running—an exhilarating rock number.

It’s a track by PEARL, with Naomi Tamura on vocals, included on their 1989 album “She’s fresh.” With a star-studded production team including Char, the sound still feels timelessly cool today.

The lyrics about escaping a stifling everyday life really hit home, and the soaring vocals in the chorus carry a liberating power.

It’s perfect for those moments when you want to feel the May breeze and take a new step forward.

To everyone who wishes to stay true to themselves, give this piece a listen—it’ll give you that encouraging push!

By the window on a May nightTOM☆CAT

By the window on a May night

It’s a song you’ll find yourself wanting to listen to by the window when the night breeze feels just right.

While TOM☆CAT is often associated with energetic hits, they’ve also kept this kind of lyrical pop-rock up their sleeve.

The world it paints—curtains swaying in the wind, moonlight, and the quiet of a May night—gently loosens the heart before you know it.

This track was included as the B-side to the single “Hitoribocchi no Hanrangun,” released in April 1986.

It tends to be overshadowed by the title track, but it’s been rediscovered through releases like the album “TOM★CAT Best” and continues to be cherished by fans.

It’s perfect for those uninterrupted nighttime hours—turn off the room lights and spend a moment with only the moonlight.

TOM’s vocals will tenderly keep you company.

Oh, early summer rainSakurazaka46

Sakurazaka46 'Samidare yo'

It’s a bittersweet yet beautiful number that layers unending rain over the tremors of a wavering heart.

A work by the popular idol group Sakurazaka46, it was released in April 2022 as their fourth single.

Besides being featured in an AEON Card commercial, it was also used as the ending theme for a TV Tokyo program, so many of you have likely heard it.

The mid-tempo, comfortable groove and delicate string arrangement leave a strong impression.

Like an unsettled sky, it carefully portrays the protagonist’s feelings as they struggle with the emotional distance between themselves and the other person.

How about listening to it on a rainy-day drive or when you’re feeling a little sentimental?

No one comparesIkuta Erika

Erika Ikuta "No one compares" MV

A gentle number whose delicate piano tones quietly nestle into the bustle of everyday life.

After graduating from Nogizaka46 and thriving in various fields, Erika Ikuta wrote and composed this song for the first time for her debut EP “capriccioso,” released in April 2024.

She began creating it during the stay-at-home period of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was also chosen as the ending theme for BS TV Tokyo’s “Nikkei News Plus 9.” The lyrics, which tenderly embrace the pain that arises from cherishing what’s important and the frustration of a conflicted heart, resonate deeply.

If you listen closely, her own piano performance and soaring vocals seep into your heart.

On a May night, when you want to take your time facing yourself or calmly center your mind, be sure to give it a listen.