[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)
The Final RiverCHEMISTRY
A song that thinks of those left behind after one’s own departure.
Its unadorned lyrics, recounting an unbroken flow of happiness—always joyful, with not a single regret—bring me to tears again.
“Saigo no Kawa” also evokes the Sanzu River, the river one crosses to the underworld.
It’s a track that drew attention for its music video featuring Ren Osugi.
A memorial song you’ll want to share with someone.
[Memorial Song] Moving Masterpieces and Love Songs to Send to a Beloved Departing for Heaven (51–60)
Hiraethmoumoon
A track from FELT SENSE, the album released in July 2023 by moumoon, the musical duo of vocalist YUKA and guitarist MASAKI.
It’s a heartrending love song about feelings for a beloved person who has departed for the sky.
Longings like “I just want you by my side” and “I want to hear your voice,” which never arose when their presence was a given.
The wish—“I’ll come to see you someday for sure, so please wait until then”—conveys unwavering love for someone precious and a resolve to live with strength.
dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo
This song, which was also used as the theme for the film Hanamizuki that portrays pure love, is one you’ll want to dedicate to someone special.
While the lyrics can be interpreted in various ways depending on the listener, the words about an irreplaceable person truly resonate.
Even if you’re grieving the loss of someone dear, I believe this song will surely stay by your side.
Even if I’m not there.Hirai Dai
This is a heartwarming ballad themed around a letter to an unborn child.
Carried by gentle piano and strings, Dai Hirai’s clear, pure vocals delicately weave a message of love to the children of the future.
As it conjures images of family, it expresses a profound love and a powerful wish that they live happily even after we are gone—conveying the depth of affection for an irreplaceable presence.
Released digitally in January 2022, the song is included on the album “HOPE / WISH.” Its music video, a collaboration with Tekken’s flipbook-style animation, also garnered a strong response.
It’s a song to listen to when you want to sort out your feelings for someone precious or when you feel anxious about the future.
Wrapped in warm affection, the vocals are sure to soothe your heart.
A world without goodbyesŌhashi Torio
A medium-tempo ballad woven from a gently soul-soothing voice and richly expressive strings.
The melody spun by Ohashi Trio seems to tell us that, while parting from someone dear is unavoidable, there is a world without “goodbyes” that spreads within our hearts, where memories continue to shine forever.
Listening to this song, some of you may have quietly pictured someone you can no longer meet.
Released in September 2022, this work colored the story as the theme song for the drama “Sayonara no Mukougawa.” Rather than overcoming the sorrow of farewell, it tenderly stays close to those who wish to embrace their goodbyes as warm memories and keep living with them.
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.
the same storyHanbaato Hanbaato
It’s a song that makes you feel the emotions addressed to someone you can no longer meet.
The call-and-response structure evokes a sense of missed connections and gives it a faintly melancholic tone.
The lyrics about how we can’t make new memories anymore, so we end up repeating the same stories over and over, are deeply sad.
The song proceeds in a calm, understated way, yet it makes you want to keep listening forever.