[Memorial Song] A moving classic and love song dedicated to a beloved person embarking on a journey to heaven
Farewells to loved ones, to those who are precious to us, are something that will inevitably come as long as we are alive.
Even if we think we’re prepared in our hearts, when the moment actually arrives, it’s never easy to accept.
We can feel overwhelmed by loneliness and sorrow.
In this article, we’ve gathered songs of remembrance for those dear to us who have departed.
What we, the ones left behind, can do is simply send them off to heaven with heartfelt words: “Thank you for everything” and “I’ll never forget you.”
Here are timeless songs to gently embrace the moment of parting between you and someone you hold dear.
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[Memorial Songs] Moving masterpieces and love songs dedicated to cherished people departing for heaven (41–50)
Becoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashi
Isn’t this the very first memorial song that comes to mind? Its lyrics—saying that the departed return to nature, remain always by your side, and watch over you—make me cry no matter how many times I read them.
It also seems to tell us that “the sorrow of losing someone will one day heal.” I hope this is a song that will be passed down and sung forever.
brilliant; radiant; dazzlingMiura Daichi
Woven with a melody envisioned as a letter to someone who has passed away, this heartwarming piece resonates deeply with listeners.
Daichi Miura’s delicate vocals and beautiful voice gently enfold feelings for a loved one in this tender ballad.
Released in June 2022, the song served as the theme for the NHK morning drama Chimudondon and won the Best Drama Song at the 113th The Television Drama Academy Awards.
Filled with profound love and gratitude for a grandmother, it radiates a gentle, comforting warmth.
When your heart is stirred by thoughts of someone dear or gratitude for family, listening to this song will bring healing.
Hiroamazarashi
“Hiro” is a song filled with feelings for a friend whom one can no longer meet.
It was written by Hiromu Akita, the vocalist of the rock band amazarashi.
The lyrics are addressed to a friend who passed away at the age of 19, giving voice to grief and sorrow that have nowhere to go.
His singing conveys both emotions that change with the passage of time and feelings that remain unchanged, resonating deeply in the heart.
No matter how harsh the reality before us, the song speaks to the fragility and strength of living.
Instead of saying goodbye in words, why not listen to this song?
Anytime Anywheremilet
A song by milet woven with a heart-touching voice on the theme of parting with a loved one.
Released in January 2024 as the ending theme for the TV anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, this piece gently embraces the feeling of trying to move forward while cherishing memories of someone you’ve lost forever.
The message that “memories of those who have passed away become part of your very being and a source of strength to live” carries strong conviction.
Seamlessly aligning with the anime’s worldview while also resonating with each listener’s own memories of someone precious, this work is a gentle song that softly accompanies those who bear the sorrow of losing a loved one and those who wish to face those memories.
Let’s go home.Fuji Kaze
A masterpiece by Fujii Kaze that gently depicts the boundary between life and death.
Closing out the album HELP EVER HURT NEVER, this work was released in May 2020.
With abstract, poetic language, it weaves reflections on parting from a loved one and thoughts about the world after one’s own absence.
In the music video, set in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture, the striking image of walking down a straight road while pushing a sofa on wheels stands out.
Embracing the feelings of trying to move forward while letting go of inner conflict and sorrow, this piece quietly envelops the hearts of those who have lost someone dear.
Spirit Boat (Shoro Nagashi)sadamasashi
A musical prayer that gently enfolds the pain of losing a loved one in a tender, wistful melody.
The poignant story Masashi Sada weaves—set around a traditional festival in Nagasaki—delicately captures the feelings of those left behind.
Through cherished promises made in life, keepsakes crafted together, and the changing shape of family, a profound love and loneliness well up in the heart.
Released by Grape in April 1974, the song gradually spread, especially in the Chukyo region, climbing to No.
2 on the Oricon chart and selling 1.3 million copies.
It shone once again in 2003 as the theme song for an NHK drama.
A gem of a ballad that quietly stays close to anyone who has said goodbye to someone important.
cherry blossomBUCK-TICK
Since their debut in 1987, BUCK-TICK—a Japanese rock band the world can be proud of—has never undergone a lineup change or taken a long hiatus.
They have continued to release works that embody both energetic live performances and cutting-edge musicality, cultivating a fervent, cross-generational fan base.
The song “Sakura” introduced here is included on the classic 1991 album “Kurutta Taiyō,” and was later also featured as the B-side when “JUPITER,” one of their signature songs, was released as a single.
It is extremely popular among fans and remains an important number that is still occasionally included in their live setlists.
The lyrics, written by the charismatic vocalist Atsushi Sakurai for his late mother, are suffused with a distinctive poetic sensibility; rather than a straightforwardly moving memorial song, its heartrending emotion unsettles listeners to the depths of their hearts.
Even if you’re not a BUCK-TICK fan, you should definitely give it a listen.
