RAG Music
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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.

Playlist

Songs that hit home when you're feeling blue: masterpieces of Japanese music
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastEven if it’s one of a kindkujira
Even if it's one of a kindkujiraplay_arrow
Whale songs ease the anxieties of the heart
2eastmoonlightOnitsuka Chihiro
moonlightOnitsuka Chihiroplay_arrow
A dark yet gentle, healing masterpiece wrapped in moonlight
3eastTitle of mineBUMP OF CHICKEN
Title of mineBUMP OF CHICKENplay_arrow
BUMP’s dark masterpiece
4eastIf being alive is painfulMoriyama Naotaro
If being alive is painfulMoriyama Naotaroplay_arrow
Naotaro Moriyama’s classic—a ballad that affirms life
5eastARRIVAL TIMEBRAHMAN
ARRIVAL TIMEBRAHMANplay_arrow
BRAHMAN, a song of profound emotions that gently accompanies the heart
6eastflower burialL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
flower burialL'Arc〜en〜Cielplay_arrow
Signature songs of L’Arc~en~Ciel
7eastI don’t have an umbrella.Inoue Yosui
I don't have an umbrella.Inoue Yosuiplay_arrow
Rainy-Day Dates and the Melancholy of Life
8eastJust being alive is admirable.ReoNa
Just being alive is admirable.ReoNaplay_arrow
ReoNa’s songs are close to the heart
9eastThe strong and fleeting onesCocco
The strong and fleeting onesCoccoplay_arrow
Cocco’s signature work, a moving classic that resonates with the heart
10eastStars on EarthNakajima Miyuki
Stars on EarthNakajima Miyukiplay_arrow
Miyuki Nakajima’s heartwarming cheer song
11eastseclusion from the worldElefanto Kashimashi
seclusion from the worldElefanto Kashimashiplay_arrow
A famous rock band formed in the 1980s that is still active today
12eastDrops of the SunAjimine Kiwako
Drops of the SunAjimine Kiwakoplay_arrow
When heartbroken, let your tears fall with “Sun’s Droplets” and move forward.
13eastHello, my friendMatsutōya Yumi
Hello, my friendMatsutōya Yumiplay_arrow
Yumi Matsutoya’s bittersweet summer classic
14eastRoom and IllusionYoeko
Room and IllusionYoekoplay_arrow
Yoeko’s songs that portray a sense of loss and anger
15eastI want to be loved.Mioyamazaki
I want to be loved.Mioyamazakiplay_arrow
A song that vividly portrays a heartrending love
16eastDelayed BrainNUMBER GIRL
Delayed BrainNUMBER GIRLplay_arrow
A song that reflects NUMBER GIRL’s mental fatigue
17eastPlaying dumbyurayura teikoku
Playing dumbyurayura teikokuplay_arrow
A classic by Yura Yura Teikoku that soothes a melancholic mood
18eastI bear a grudge.Nakajima Miyuki
I bear a grudge.Nakajima Miyukiplay_arrow
A piercing song that depicts the pain of heartbreak
19eastBlack Sheepthe pillows
Black Sheepthe pillowsplay_arrow
The classic song by the pillows that clears away your hazy feelings
20eastFamily feat. KOHHhannya
Family feat. KOHHhannyaplay_arrow
A hip-hop track that portrays complex feelings about family
21eastBlue amberback number
Blue amberback numberplay_arrow
Back Number’s masterpiece: a deep story of sorrow and love
22eastrainAoba Ichiko
rainAoba Ichikoplay_arrow
Artistic musician of acoustic music
23eastI thought about killing myselfNakajima Mika
I thought about killing myselfNakajima Mikaplay_arrow
Mika Nakashima's theme song about human relationships
24eastG actRADWIMPS
G actRADWIMPSplay_arrow
A RADWIMPS song portraying excuses and self-loathing
25eastseamUeno Daiki
seamUeno Daikiplay_arrow
A song's tale of facing the anxieties of memory
26eastYES~free flower~My Little Lover
YES~free flower~My Little Loverplay_arrow
Kobayashi Takeshi’s unit: the melancholic allure of music
27eastHeavenMrs. GREEN APPLE
HeavenMrs. GREEN APPLEplay_arrow
A heart-stirring movie theme song, the depths of emotion
28eastcrimsonX JAPAN
crimsonX JAPANplay_arrow
X JAPAN's signature songs are legendary
29eastPart-time jobresu
Part-time jobresuplay_arrow
The reality of working under the pressure of living expenses while feeling anxious about the future
30eastIlluminatiMALICE MIZER
IlluminatiMALICE MIZERplay_arrow
A classic song by a visual kei band
31eastDropCornelius
DropCorneliusplay_arrow
A 2001 track by Cornelius. The worldview of throwing objects is striking.
32eastAn empty houseMUCC
An empty houseMUCCplay_arrow
Dark songs by visual kei bands from the 90s
33eastSunday ParkYEN TOWN BAND
Sunday ParkYEN TOWN BANDplay_arrow
The band from the movie Swallowtail
34eastAnswerIkuta Rira
AnswerIkuta Riraplay_arrow
Cheering songs that give you the strength to look forward: the music of Rira Ikuta
35eastgolden mudAJICO
golden mudAJICOplay_arrow
Band songs by UA and Kenichi Asai
36eastLonelinessMrs. GREEN APPLE
LonelinessMrs. GREEN APPLEplay_arrow
A song about embracing loneliness and deciding to take the first step
37eastEveryday lifeOfisharu Higedan Dism
Everyday lifeOfisharu Higedan Dismplay_arrow
A song depicting everyday despair and small salvations
38eastOmelet riceReoNa
Omelet riceReoNaplay_arrow
ReoNa’s new song sings of loneliness and hope.
39eastin my placeHiguchi Ai
in my placeHiguchi Aiplay_arrow
A song about hugging yourself and finding the courage to move forward
40eastSong of the Depressingly/Beautiful PeopleMakishimamu Za Horumon
Song of the Depressingly/Beautiful PeopleMakishimamu Za Horumonplay_arrow
A Message Song for the Hardships of Living
41easthydrangeaPEOPLE 1
hydrangeaPEOPLE 1play_arrow
A poignant ballad, a timeless song that resonates with the heart
42eastpickled plumsupittsu
pickled plumsupittsuplay_arrow
A 90s hit band led by Masamune Kusano
43eastA water tank without waterYamazaki Masayoshi
A water tank without waterYamazaki Masayoshiplay_arrow
Music where loneliness and illusion melt together
44eastAkariMy Hair is Bad
AkariMy Hair is Badplay_arrow
A heartwarming rock song that helps you face forward after exhaustion
45eastSurely this life had no meaning.Kitanitatsuya
Surely this life had no meaning.Kitanitatsuyaplay_arrow
Music that sings of Tatsuya Kitani’s anguish and inner conflict
46eastIt should be a little better when the moon gets closer.ASKA
It should be a little better when the moon gets closer.ASKAplay_arrow
Introducing ASKA’s songs that are suited for nighttime
47eastAnytime smokin’ cigaretteglobe
Anytime smokin' cigaretteglobeplay_arrow
The feelings of a strong, resilient woman
48eastNew WorldThe Back Horn
New WorldThe Back Hornplay_arrow
Powerful music that overcomes despair
49eastCan you be alone?dauntaun
Can you be alone?dauntaunplay_arrow
Melancholy of a man’s heart: the inner feelings sung by Downtown
50eastto clear up (weather)Yorushika
to clear up (weather)Yorushikaplay_arrow
Symbolically expressing hope in a refreshing song that evokes the arrival of spring
51eastSorrowful EkayanaYorushika
Sorrowful EkayanaYorushikaplay_arrow
A floating narrative that is liberated from loss
52eastCrescent Moon MelancholyBābī Bōizu
Crescent Moon MelancholyBābī Bōizuplay_arrow
A bittersweet love song by Barbee Boys
53eastAlkalemiamol-74
Alkalemiamol-74play_arrow
A moving piece of music that portrays regret and sorrow
54eastabnormalizeRin to shite Shigure
abnormalizeRin to shite Shigureplay_arrow
A song that expresses Ling tosite sigure’s sense of emptiness in the heart
55eastNothing I do goes well.meiyo
Nothing I do goes well.meiyoplay_arrow
An emotional song portraying self-loathing and inner conflict
56eastOur FailureMorita Doji
Our FailureMorita Dojiplay_arrow
Morita Doji’s signature acoustic guitar solo-vocal songs
57eastAbsolute GirlfriendOmori Seiko
Absolute GirlfriendOmori Seikoplay_arrow
Introduction to Seiko Omori’s upbeat songs
58eastThere was no meaning to being born.mafumafu
There was no meaning to being born.mafumafuplay_arrow
A heart’s song beyond loneliness, a melody of hope
59eastIt’s not that I want to die.Asanomachi
It's not that I want to die.Asanomachiplay_arrow
KAFU’s fleeting, heartrending singing voice resonates in the heart.
60eastLet’s walk looking downamazarashi
Let's walk looking downamazarashiplay_arrow
The lyrical appeal of amazarashi's new song
61eastHe was alive, wasn’t he?aimyon
He was alive, wasn’t he?aimyonplay_arrow
Aimyon, a song that questions life and the meaning of living
62eastLoser Man, the Inferior StudentMiyuhan
Loser Man, the Inferior StudentMiyuhanplay_arrow
With powerful lyrics, the courage to live life positively
63eastWhy Don’t You Play in Hell?Hoshino Gen
Why Don't You Play in Hell?Hoshino Genplay_arrow
A moving song that paints hope between life and death
64eastSPECIALZKing Gnu
SPECIALZKing Gnuplay_arrow
King Gnu song, Jujutsu Kaisen opening theme
65eastself-questioningMukai Hidetoku (ZAZEN BOYS)
self-questioningMukai Hidetoku (ZAZEN BOYS)play_arrow
A distinctive rock band that questions the realities of urban life