Songs that hit home when you're feeling blue: masterpieces of Japanese music
“I feel a vague sense of anxiety and can’t find any energy.” “I’m struggling with my relationships.” Don’t you have times when you feel so down that you don’t know what to do?
All you want is to live immersed in simple happiness… but it’s so hard.
At times like that, rather than forcing yourself to grit your teeth and endure, it might actually be easier to stop pushing and let yourself cry it all out.
Here, I’ve put together a selection of classic Japanese songs that will stay close to your heart when you’re feeling unbearably blue.
I hope this article can be of help to you.
Piercing songs to listen to when you’re feeling blue: Masterpieces of Japanese music (1–10)
moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro
It’s an undisputed masterpiece of contemporary Japanese music.
Despite being her debut song, it’s extremely dark.
However, as the title “Moonlight” suggests, it strongly evokes a kind of gentleness that exists only in the night, making it, I think, a healing song.
Title of mineBUMP OF CHICKEN
One song from the popular rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN.
Among their tracks, this one is said to be among the darkest.
Its candid outpouring of inner feelings seems to be very popular with some fans.
ARRIVAL TIMEBRAHMAN
This is a song that stays close to the hearts of people carrying sorrow or suffering.
It was included on a single released by BRAHMAN in September 1999 and reached No.
6 on the Oricon weekly chart.
The lyrics, which convey deep emotion, and the distinctive sound rooted in hardcore punk are truly stirring.
TOSHI-LOW’s powerful vocals seem to give courage to those who listen.
It’s recommended for times when you feel lost in life or want to face yourself.
Be sure to listen to it slowly on a quiet night.
I don’t have an umbrella.Inoue Yosui
It’s a fun date with someone you love, but it’s raining outside… That alone can make you feel pretty depressed, right? Inoue Yosui’s 1972 song “Kasa ga Nai” (“I Don’t Have an Umbrella”) sings about that familiar, everyday gloom that anyone can fall into, as well as the melancholy that overflows in the world.
There are all sorts of problems out there, and sometimes they even affect our own lives.
But the lyrics honestly say that the issue pressing down on me right now is, for me, the most important one of all—and that’s the charm of this song.
Perhaps when we feel down is precisely when we should think about what truly matters and what we truly need.
flower burialL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
It’s one of L’Arc~en~Ciel’s signature songs, notable for its fantastical atmosphere and heartrending lyrics.
Hyde’s translucent vocals and Ken’s arpeggios resonate beautifully together.
Released as a single in July 1998, it was first performed on a TV Asahi music program that March.
The lyrics, imbued with the sorrow of lost love and longing for the past, evoke deep emotions.
If you’re struggling with relationships or feeling a vague sense of anxiety, listening to this song may soothe your heart.
Try giving it a listen alone on a quiet night.
Just being alive is admirable.ReoNa
These are songs by ReoNa whose lyrics feel like raw emotions poured straight from the heart, piercing you to the core.
They’re included on the single “unknown,” released in May 2021.
Against a backdrop of quiet piano melodies, ReoNa’s delicate yet powerful voice resonates.
The phrase “Just being alive is enough” will surely save many people.
If you’re exhausted by daily life and on the verge of losing sight of your self-worth, this is a song I truly want you to hear.
It will stay close to your heart and give you hope for tomorrow.
The strong and fleeting onesCocco
This is a song by Cocco that simultaneously portrays strength and fragility.
Released in November 1997 as her second major-label single, it is known as one of her signature works.
The lyrics, which express the inner conflicts of human beings and the depth of love, resonate strongly with listeners.
Rich in storytelling, it depicts the complex feelings of a man who has returned from a long journey, skillfully expressing a heart swaying between a new encounter and a past romance.
In 1998, its music video won BEST FEMALE CLIP at the SPACE SHOWER Music Video Awards.
It’s a perfect song for when you’re feeling melancholic or struggling with relationships.
Listening to it will surely bring comfort to your heart.
Stars on EarthNakajima Miyuki
This is a memorable song with lyrics and a melody that resonate deeply.
It’s a piece by Miyuki Nakajima, released in July 2000.
Created as the theme song for the NHK program “Project X: Challengers,” it received an enormous response.
The warm lyrics, which draw attention to the light and talent everyone possesses, are especially compelling.
At the 2002 Kōhaku Uta Gassen, Nakajima delivered a powerful performance from the frigid underground tunnel of the Kurobe River No.
4 Power Station, which became a hot topic.
In 2008, it was also featured in a Suntory canned coffee commercial.
It’s a song I recommend to anyone feeling worn out by daily life or on the verge of losing sight of their own worth.
Even if it’s one of a kindNEW!kujira
That sudden sense of loneliness, the impatience that comes from comparing yourself to others.
KujiRa’s “Even If I’m an Only One” gives voice to those feelings that have nowhere to go.
Released digitally in July 2025, the track is also included as the coupling song on the CD single featuring the opening theme for the anime “Shabake.” The lyrics, which capture fragments of contemporary life, and the light yet somehow wistful melody slip right into your heart.
We all have those nights when we worry we’ll never become anyone at all, don’t we? In those moments, KujiRa’s distinctive choice of words is sure to gently loosen a heart grown stiff.
If being alive is painfulNEW!Moriyama Naotaro
It’s a ballad whose shocking opening line makes everyone doubt their ears—and then captures their hearts.
Sung by Naotaro Moriyama, who frames the world from a unique perspective, this masterpiece lays bare both the pain and joy of living.
The lyrics, written by poet Ochanomizu Kazu around 1997, were turned into a song after Moriyama happened upon them.
Released in August 2008 as his 16th single, it also drew attention as the CM song for Shuto Iko, Osaka Isen, and Nagoya Isen.
Its paradoxical wording delivers a message that affirms “living,” one that should especially resonate with those carrying deep worries.
Rather than forcing yourself to be cheerful, why not listen quietly on a night when you want to face your heart with calm?