Masterpieces that sing about various lives. Recommended popular songs.

Letter ~Dear You at Fifteen~Anjura Aki

Angela Aki “Letter ~Dear You, Fifteen~” Official Music Video (HD)

This is Angela Aki’s eighth single, released in September 2008.

It gained increased attention after being selected as the required piece for NHK’s National School Music Contest in the junior high division.

The following year, Ikimono-gakari’s “YELL” was chosen as the required piece, so it feels like Angela’s “Tegami” served as a trailblazer connecting artists and schools.

The lyrics, true to the song’s title “Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi e~” (“Letter ~Dear Fifteen-Year-Old Me~”), gently encourage young people who are moving forward despite their struggles.

Even the memorable piano intro alone is enough to bring tears.

It’s a song that will give courage to you when you’re feeling insecure.

DarlingMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE "Darling" Official Music Video

A heartwarming story that portrays the brilliance and uncertainty found in a fleeting moment of youth.

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE expresses it through a lyrical melody that gently embraces young people searching for their identities.

This work delicately captures the moments when one’s true feelings from deep within intersect with honest feelings toward others.

It was born as the theme song for NHK General’s special program “18-sai Matsuri” broadcast in December 2024.

The performance, created together with a thousand 18-year-olds, has left a deep impression on viewers’ hearts.

At life’s turning points that everyone experiences, when taking a new step forward, this song will surely give you the courage to live as yourself and resonate with many people.

sonetACIDMAN

ACIDMAN – sonet Music Video (WOWOW “W Series Drama: Golden Kamuy — Hokkaido Tattooed Prisoner Competition Arc” Final Episode Ending Theme)

This is a sweeping rock ballad that portrays a lonely heart gazing up at the night sky and a prayer for new hope.

Crafted by ACIDMAN with the vast nature of Hokkaido in mind, the song embraces fading dreams and sorrow while conveying the strength to seek out a light toward the future.

Beginning in December 2024, it was chosen as the ending theme for the final episode of WOWOW’s drama “Renodoku Drama W Golden Kamuy,” deepening the lingering resonance of the story.

The beautiful melodies of strings and piano blend perfectly with the band’s sound, powerfully striking the listener’s heart.

It’s a work I wholeheartedly recommend as music that gently stays by your side when you stand at a crossroads in life and need the courage to live true to yourself.

threadNakajima Miyuki

Thread – Miyuki Nakajima (Full)

A beautiful ballad that likens human connections to warp and weft threads soaks into the heart through Miyuki Nakajima’s gentle yet powerful voice.

The lyrics, depicting fateful encounters and the warm fabric of life woven from them, evoke deep empathy—a true masterpiece.

Included on the album EAST ASIA, this song has continued to resonate with many people since its release in October 1992.

In 1998, it was chosen as the theme song for the TBS drama “Seija no Koshin” (March of the Saints), earning even broader acclaim.

It’s a track that soothes the heart at life’s turning points—meetings and farewells, fresh starts, and more.

Celebrated by many, it’s perfect for weddings, anniversaries, and any occasion that honors bonds with loved ones.

Life is full of ups and downs.Shimakura Chiyoko

Life Has Its Ups and Downs – Chiyoko Shimakura – Guitar Solo Cover

Chiyoko Shimakura, one of the leading singers of the Showa-era kayōkyoku scene, released an enormous number of songs—said to be around 2,000.

However, there are also many tracks that were never included on albums and songs for which no recordings remain, so it’s considered difficult to determine the exact number of pieces in her repertoire.

Among the standout hits from the later part of Shimakura’s long career is “Jinsei Iroiro” (“Life Has Its Ups and Downs”).

Unlike an enka-style ballad, this slightly up-tempo song weaves together the subtle emotions found in life and resonated deeply with many listeners.

Reading between the lines, it seems to say: life throws all sorts of things at you, but let’s keep going anyway.

In a long life, having various worries is proof that we’re alive—so perhaps we should laugh them off and carry on.

Love RadiantMisora Hibari

Love Radiant

Hibari Misora began singing in the burnt-out ruins of Tokyo shortly after the war.

Debuting at age 12, the pressure and nerves she faced must have been far greater than we can imagine.

Though she seemed larger than life, she was actually only 147 cm tall.

Perhaps what radiated from her was a “human greatness” that transcended celebrity aura.

This song has something in common with Chiyoko Shimakura’s ‘Jinsei Iroiro’ (Life Has Its Ups and Downs), calmly recounting both the harshness and the kindness found along each person’s path in life.

And yet, in the end, it sings that life is something joyful.

It’s a song we need in life—one that reminds us that having ups and downs is simply normal.

No matter how smallwacci

wacci “Any Little” Lyric Video (Shorts Ver.)

An uplifting song has been born, warmly and gently portraying people who walk on with all their might, even while feeling how hard life can be.

Alongside the friendly melodies woven by the five members of wacci, the courage to face one’s own weaknesses and flaws, and the determination to move forward step by step, are vividly expressed.

Written and composed by Yohei Hashiguchi, the piece speaks to you even in those moments when you feel you’re losing your sense of self, telling you that your efforts have meaning.

It was written as the theme song for the NTV drama “After-School Carte” in October 2024 and is also included on the album “Dressing,” released in January 2025.

It is sure to be cherished as a song that stays close to your heart when you lose your way on the path you chose and come to a halt.