Songs to Play at My Own Funeral: Timeless Gems to Make Farewells Uniquely My Own
Have you ever thought, “If they play a song at my own funeral, I’d like it to be this one”? Some of you may also have felt, “I want to send off someone precious to me with this song.” In this article, we’ve gathered songs that are perfect for playing at your own funeral or for expressing gratitude to those who have supported you until now.
From massive hits to little-known gems, we’ve selected a wide range of tracks.
If you’re looking for music to color a final farewell, please use this as a reference.
Songs to Play at My Funeral | Timeless Gems to Color Your Farewell in Your Own Way (1–10)
SoranjiMrs. GREEN APPLE
This is a ballad imbued with messages that explore the meaning of life and touch the depths of the human experience.
Written as the theme song for the film “From Siberia With Love,” starring Kazunari Ninomiya and Keiko Kitagawa, it was released in November 2022.
Reflecting the world of the movie, the lyrics gently convey the preciousness of life and the importance of bonds with loved ones.
Its grand arrangement incorporating strings and its moving vocals are especially memorable.
When you feel lost in life or think of someone dear to you, this song is sure to give you courage.
the scent of flowersMr.Children
A four-piece rock band, Mr.Children, has released countless masterpieces and continues to exert a profound influence on up-and-coming artists.
This is their first digital-only single.
The song was chosen as the theme for the 2008 version of the film “I Want to Be a Shellfish,” and its ethereal arrangement—evoking the fragility of life—is truly beautiful.
Words of gratitude that can never be said enough, and farewells that can no longer be spoken may be eloquently conveyed simply by playing this track.
With a message that we will meet again someday, it’s a tear-jerking number that gently nudges your heart forward.
I miss youRADWIMPS
A gem of a song by RADWIMPS, with the repeated words “I want to see you” pressing on the heart.
It’s included on the album “2+0+2+1+3+1+1 = 10 years 10 songs,” released to mark ten years since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
It’s striking how the thoughts for the lives lost and the emotions of those left behind are expressed quietly yet powerfully.
The gentle sound of the guitar and Yojiro Noda’s vocals stay close to the listener’s heart.
It’s a song that can gently be there for those who have experienced parting with someone dear.
Along with warm memories, it may help those left behind take a new step forward.
threadNakajima Miyuki
Miyuki Nakajima’s song, whose beautiful lyrics liken encounters between people to warp and weft threads, resonates deeply.
It was released in November 1992 as a track on the album “EAST ASIA.” In 1998, it was chosen as the theme song for the TBS drama “March of the Saints,” capturing the hearts of many.
Thanks to a cover by Bank Band, it became widely recognized across different generations and is still beloved as a wedding classic.
This work conveys the importance of the encounters in life and the meaning of supporting one another.
It’s a recommended song for times when you want to look back on the bonds you’ve shared, especially before parting with someone dear.
A Bouquet for YouUtada Hikaru
Since debuting as a teenager and taking the J-POP scene by storm, singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada—who broadened her expressive range through her “human activities”—released this as her fourth digital-only single.
Chosen as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series Toto Nee-chan, the track features an exquisite, simple, and translucent arrangement centered on piano and strings.
Its lyrics, which evoke a message to someone who has passed away, resonate with the feelings of many attendees and seem to gently color the final farewell.
A medium-tempo ballad that, while tinged with sadness, still conveys a certain brightness—perfect for a last goodbye.
NonfictionHirai Ken
This is a song by Ken Hirai that powerfully voices the pain and sense of defeat in life.
Its striking lyrics reflect on a lost friend and question the meaning of living.
Released in June 2017, it was also used as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “Little Giant.” Set in a nighttime amusement park, the music video beautifully fuses Hirai’s vocals with a dancer’s performance.
Expressing life, death, and the emotions that sway in between, this piece is a song that gently accompanies those facing a final farewell.
The Final RiverCHEMISTRY
Saigo no Kawa, CHEMISTRY’s 22nd single released in 2007.
The song was the theme for the film The Elephant’s Back, which portrays family love through the story of a protagonist who has been given a terminal prognosis.
Both the original story of the film and the song’s lyrics were written by Yasushi Akimoto, and the lyrics, which link closely with the story, are deeply moving.
While songs in remembrance of the deceased often reflect the feelings of those left behind, this one depicts the feelings of the person who has passed away, the one who set off on the journey first.
Becoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashi
This is the debut single by singer Masafumi Akikawa, who works in crossover genres with a foundation in classical vocal music.
The song is a Japanese translation and composition by composer Man Arai of “Do not stand at my grave and weep,” which drew attention in the United States.
Its lyrics, which upend the widely shared cultural practice of praying at the graves of the deceased, became a major talking point.
Conveying the message that, with the end of life, one is released from the body and watches over loved ones as a free presence, the piece offers love and hope to those left behind.
It is a solemn number that brings a refreshing hue to the somber setting of a funeral.
dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo
This is the fifth single by female singer Yo Hitoto, known for numerous tie-ins including the theme song for the film Hanamizuki as well as various commercials and TV dramas.
Written as an anti-war song in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, it’s a track widely recognized across a broad audience and was the most-sung song of the Heisei era in karaoke.
The lyrics, which wish for the lasting happiness of a loved one, are likely to resonate with many attendees at funerals as a message from the deceased.
It’s a peaceful number that speaks on behalf of the feelings toward those who cared for us.
Thank youikimonogakari
This is the 18th single by Ikimono-gakari, a two-person band that made their major debut after performing street lives and is known for having tie-ins for all their A-side singles since debut.
Written as the theme song for the NHK morning drama Gegege no Nyobo, it is one of Ikimono-gakari’s signature tracks.
Its lyrics of gratitude, expressed in simple words that anyone can understand, can be taken as messages from those left behind to the departed, and from the departed to those who remain.
It’s a number that adds a bright touch to a funeral—seen as a new departure—while instilling a positive feeling.