Moody Japanese classics: recommended popular songs
I’ve put together a playlist of moody Japanese songs—popular hits, timeless classics, and hidden gems—perfect for twilight or nighttime, when you want to savor some grown-up time.
It’s great for relaxing alone, or for listening quietly with your spouse, partner, or someone special.
Enjoy a wonderful time.
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Moody Japanese Classics: Recommended Popular Songs (41–50)
Hide-and-seekYuuri
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
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.
White LoversKuwata Keisuke
A heartwarming ballad that delicately paints winter scenes, transforming the bittersweet memory of a lost love into a feeling of blessing.
While looking back on a past romance, it carries a positive message about cherishing the love that was shared, resonating through Keisuke Kuwata’s warm, soulful vocals.
Released in October 2001 as his seventh single, this gem won the Gold Prize at the 43rd Japan Record Awards that same year.
Also featured in Coca-Cola’s “No Reason” campaign commercial, the song won the hearts of listeners across generations.
It’s the perfect soundtrack for spending unhurried time with someone special in a relaxed lounge, or for quietly gazing at a winter nightscape alone with a glass in hand.
Sharks and MermaidsOkamura Kazuyoshi
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.
Lovers AgainEXILE
While it’s a bittersweet romantic ballad, this song is also a masterpiece that exudes mature allure.
Released in January 2007, it originated as the required piece for EXILE’s vocalist audition and was featured in au’s “LISMO!” campaign commercial.
It reached No.
2 on the Oricon chart, selling over 250,000 copies, and ranked in the top 10 of karaoke charts for three consecutive years.
The melodic composition and deeply poetic lyrics that portray two lovers draw listeners in.
This track is perfect for a night when you want to spend time leisurely by candlelight or reminisce about precious memories with someone special.
It also makes a great soundtrack for a calm nighttime drive.
Be sure to give this sophisticated, adult-tinged song a listen.
Magic of a Summer Nightindigo la End
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.
I can’t forget it.Sakanakushon
Released in 2019, this song became a hot topic for its deliberate nods to the 1980s in every aspect—the sound, the music video’s direction, the costumes, and even the fact that it was put out on an 8cm CD.
True to the title “Wasurerarenai no” (“I Can’t Forget”), reading the lyrics brings to mind those things you can’t forget—or don’t want to forget—that suddenly surface in your head.
Paired with a melody that evokes the AOR flavor popular in the ’80s, it comes together as a track that perfectly suits an urban night.
