Moody Japanese classics: recommended popular songs

First LoveUtada Hikaru

Hikaru Utada – First Love

Weren’t you shocked the first time you listened to this song? I heard that Hikaru Utada, who sings it, was 15 years old when it was released.

What kind of experiences could one have in just 15 years of life to be able to write a song like this? Besides this track, I also really love songs like “Hanataba wo Kimi ni.”

Magic of a Summer Nightindigo la End

indigo la End “Summer Night Magic”

A gem of a love song that beautifully paints a delicate nighttime scene and a bittersweet longing.

The uniquely emotional inner landscapes of indigo la End stir the heart with a mature allure.

Featured on the single “Before We Get Sad,” released in June 2015, this track stands out with its tender melody that gently wraps a fleeting summer night, and its smooth, understated band sound.

The scents of the night city, the sounds of festivals, and faint memories of young love are portrayed with a lingering resonance, making it a song that accompanies quiet evenings with someone special or moments when you want to sink into a reflective mood.

Sharks and MermaidsOkamura Kazuyoshi

Kazuyoshi Okamura – “Shark and Mermaid” MUSIC VIDEO

It’s truly a song that captures the subtleties of adult romance.

The unit “Okamura-Kazuyoshi,” formed by Yasuyuki Okamura and Kazuyoshi Saito, released it as a digital single in April 2024.

As their first ballad, it’s drawing a lot of attention.

The way it portrays someone overcoming embarrassment to express their true feelings, and the deepening of a private bond in the stillness of night, is striking.

The special connection, framed by the contrast between a shark and a mermaid, resonates with listeners.

It’s a track you’ll want to listen to with someone special at dusk or late at night.

Its moody atmosphere is perfect for setting an adult, intimate vibe.

NightmareSugiyama Kiyotaka

Kiyotaka Sugiyama – Nightmare (Official Music Video)

A song that feels like it stays close to you on a wistful night—that’s Kiyotaka Sugiyama’s latest work.

Its deep emotions and powerful melody blend exquisitely, leaving a quiet afterglow in the listener’s heart.

Included on the album “FREEDOM,” released in May 2023, it drew attention as his first new release in about three years.

Written by Sugiyama himself, the lyrics weave together reflections on past experiences, nostalgia for days gone by, and hope for the future.

It’s perfect as background music for spending time alone with a lover or someone special.

It’s also recommended for those who want to enjoy a relaxing night by themselves.

Wrapped in its comforting tones, this is a song that lets you feel the energy to face tomorrow.

rootKing Gnu

King Gnu – Root

A warm, gem-like mid-tempo ballad that sings of the value found even in those who don’t stand out.

Alongside the characteristically beautiful piano and strings of King Gnu, nursery rhyme–style choral parts and contemporary beats are interwoven, culminating in a weighty track that evokes the passage of time.

It’s a precious song imbued with deep affection—quietly accompanying one’s feelings and gently embracing care for someone dear.

Written as the theme song for the TBS Sunday drama “Diamonds Sleeping in the Sea” in October 2024, it’s equally at home soundtracking peaceful moments with someone special or a nighttime drive, letting you savor a refined, adult-tinged ballad.

Hide-and-seekYuuri

Yuuri “Kakurenbo” Official Music Video

Yuri’s debut work, which likens a heartrending unrequited love to a game of hide-and-seek, is a soul-stirring ballad that delicately portrays loneliness and the pain of parting.

In a room left behind after his live-in girlfriend has gone, the man’s feelings—surrounded by objects that still evoke her presence—are woven together by a gentle, translucent voice.

Released in December 2019, the piece is a labor of love born from street performances following the breakup of the rock band THE BUGZY.

The warm timbre of the acoustic guitar closely follows the man’s earnest emotions.

It’s a song recommended for those who wish to soothe the pain of heartbreak—perfect for a nighttime drive or for quietly sipping a drink alone at home.

Close your eyesHirai Ken

Hitomi wo Tojite – Ken Hirai (Full)

A gem of a ballad suffused with the lingering ache of deep, bittersweet love.

Ken Hirai’s delicate, soul-stirring vocals beautifully convey the profound longing and sense of loss for a departed lover.

Sung with the purest feeling of closing one’s eyes and picturing the one you love, this work was released as a single in April 2004.

Chosen as the theme song for the film “Crying Out Love in the Center of the World,” it topped the Oricon year-end chart.

Its heart-piercing vocals and beautiful melody line make it a refined track for adults—perfect for a night drive or a quiet moment alone.