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: Top 10 recommended hits (1–10)
AliensKirinji
It’s a captivating song that pairs an urban melody resonating like it nestles into the stillness of night with poetic depictions of suburban scenery.
Using the word “alien” to express a sense of social alienation, it delicately weaves the pure love of two lonely people.
Released as a single by Kirinji in October 2000 and later included on the album “3,” the song was featured in a LINE Mobile commercial in 2017 and as an insert song in an NHK BS Premium drama in 2018, winning the hearts of many.
It’s a track that lingers—one that accompanies late-night drives or unhurried moments in a bar lounge, soaking into the hearts of adults.
Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Ten
Teresa Teng was an Asian songstress from Taiwan.
She made her singing debut at the young age of 14.
Her clear, transcendent voice captivates listeners across borders.
This song became a massive hit, selling two million copies.
Sadly, she passed away in 1995 at the age of 42.
The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi
A gem of a ballad that gracefully portrays rainy scenery and the ache of parting.
Yasushi Nakanishi’s transparent vocals exquisitely capture lingering feelings for a lover and a passion verging on madness.
The dramatic piano melody and strings weave an achingly poignant world.
Released in August 1992, the song peaked at No.
16 on the Oricon chart.
It drew attention as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Hitachi Ashita P-KAN Kibun!” and had sold a cumulative total of about 900,000 copies by 1998.
Featured on the album “Yasushi Nakanishi,” among many other releases, it has inspired numerous covers by prominent artists, including Kumi Koda.
A sophisticated track best enjoyed while quietly sipping a drink in a lounge.
On nights when you want to soothe the pain of a broken heart, its soulful voice will gently stay by your side.
Wine Red Heartanzenchitai
What is this mysterious charm that emanates from the whole of Anzen Chitai? To be able to sing with such ennui in his twenties—Koji Tamaki’s voice is truly a gift.
He’s been very active, yet the gentleness you can feel in his voice is wonderful.
Ti AmoEXILE
A story of forbidden love portraying a bittersweet, mature romance.
EXILE’s earnest vocals beautifully capture the feelings of a woman consumed by her relationship with a married man.
The melancholic love depicted alongside the passionate melody is sure to strike a chord with many listeners.
Released in September 2008, the song was also featured in a commercial for Meiji Seika’s Meltykiss chocolate, and went on to win the Grand Prize at both the 50th Japan Record Awards and the 41st Japan Cable Radio Awards that same year.
The music video, set in 1920s Shanghai, superbly brings the work’s world to life.
It’s the perfect track for a late night in a lounge, gazing at the soft glow of candlelight and dreaming of adult romance.
Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenKawashima Eigo
This song irresistibly evokes a man’s melancholy.
The images of a man who drinks, grows tired, and falls asleep, and a woman who cries, grows tired, and falls asleep are deeply affecting.
Eigo Kawashima’s singing style is masculine and bold.
He passed away in 2001 at the young age of 48, and that year his close friend Takao Horiuchi performed this song on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, moving the nation to tears.
Pink sighTakahashi Mariko
This is a masterpiece that fuses an exotic, Mediterranean-inspired atmosphere with an urbane, sophisticated sound.
It paints a dreamlike portrait of a woman who blossoms like a flower when embraced by her lover, expressing both the beauty and the transience of love.
Mariko Takahashi’s delicate yet powerful vocals further deepen the song’s world.
Released in May 1984 as the theme for Mitsutaka’s “Camellia Diamond” commercial, it was also included on the album Triad.
Highly acclaimed—winning the Lyrics Award at the 26th Japan Record Awards—it became a long-running hit.
With a calm ambience that reveals a hidden passion, this song is perfect for spending quiet moments with someone special.