[Nostalgic Songs] Gentle Drizzle Rain Songs: A Collection of Classic Japanese Hits
When you gaze out the window and see the steady patter of rain…
just putting it into words makes the scene come to life, doesn’t it?
There are probably many people who would say, “I love rainy days.”
In this feature, we’re introducing classic Japanese songs that take rain as their theme—tunes that will fill you with nostalgia the moment you hear them.
We’ve picked “nostalgic hits” from the ’90s and earlier, so it might strike a chord with a wide range of generations.
Please read through to the end.
You’re sure to rediscover the music of your memories.
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[Nostalgic Songs] Gentle Drizzle Rain Songs: A Collection of Japanese Classics (1–10)
A street corner where even lovers get wetNakamura Masatoshi
When you’re in the mood for a smooth yet cool mood-kayo-style rain song, the top pick is “Koibito mo Nureru Machikado” (“Street Corners Where Lovers Also Get Wet”).
It’s the 17th single released in 1982 by Masatoshi Nakamura, who has been active across various fields, primarily as an actor and singer.
Keisuke Kuwata of Southern All Stars handled both the lyrics and composition, and even people from the Heisei generation might feel a sense of nostalgia.
Set in Yokohama, its mature worldview and the depictions of filling loneliness in the rain resonate poignantly.
The seductive tone of the music interwoven with Nakamura’s husky vocals is exceptional—above all, it’s just incredibly cool.
RainŌe Senri
A signature song by Senri Oe, who is currently active in the United States as a jazz pianist.
When it comes to classic rain-themed songs by male artists, many people probably think of this “Rain.” It’s an album track from 1234, and at first it held the position of a hidden gem, continuously supported by musicians and music fans.
Covers by Noriyuki Makihara and Motohiro Hata, as well as a stripped-down performance by Fujii Kaze, brought it into the spotlight and helped it spread among younger generations.
Because of that history, it feels both nostalgic and somehow fresh.
This song portrays the uniquely unsettled emotions of a rainy day.
At first glance it seems like a breakup song, but it also suggests a longtime couple laying their true feelings bare and moving forward together afterward.
You can imagine that kind of future.
It’s bittersweet yet light, and on a rainy day it grips the heart with a tight little squeeze.
Rainy BlueTokunaga Hideaki
When it comes to rain songs by male artists, many timeless classics were born and have been sung for years from the Showa era into Heisei.
Rainy Blue is one of them.
It was the debut single of singer-songwriter Hideaki Tokunaga, released in 1986.
Though a nostalgic tune, it has been performed frequently on various music programs and covered by many artists, making it beloved across generations—truly a quintessential rain song.
The lyrics were written by Makoto Ogi, and the music was composed by Tokunaga himself.
Tokunaga’s high, clear voice pairs exquisitely with the fragile lyrical world, evoking a unique rainy scene for each listener.
It’s a beautiful masterpiece.
[Nostalgic Songs] Drizzly Rain Songs: A Collection of Classic Japanese Hits (11–20)
Rainy MidosujiŌyō Fifi
One of the rain songs most familiar to people in Osaka is “Ame no Midosuji.” It was originally a piece released by the American instrumental rock band The Ventures, and Fei Fei Ouyang covered it in 1971.
That cover was her debut single.
It’s a local favorite that’s still often heard, especially on music programs in the Kansai area.
The lyrics mention place names like Umeda Shindo and Shinsaibashi.
The singer roams in search of the one she longs for, and the bass rhythm seems to mirror her aimless wandering.
Fei Fei Ouyang’s cool vocals and subtly mysterious aura make it a stylish rain song.
In the Rain of RemembranceFukuyama Masaharu
In the Rain of Reminiscence is a song about rain washing everything away.
It was the 1990 debut single of Masaharu Fukuyama, who went on to become a defining actor and singer-songwriter of the Heisei era.
Although it’s a breakup song, its energetic band sound and dancing piano make it a dazzling anthem about rain! He apparently set out to create an unmistakably upbeat track.
Kicked off with the line, “This is my song of beginnings,” it’s a number that gets crowds even more excited at live shows.
It wraps you in a brightness that blows away pain and hardship.
Even on a rainy day, it leaves you feeling refreshed!
A Tale of Rainiruka
Speaking of Iruka, her classic “Nagori Yuki” is famous, but she also has a masterpiece that depicts rain.
Released in 1977, it became a hit second only to “Nagori Yuki.” This one, too, was written and composed by Shozo Ise.
It portrays a richly lyrical romance between adults and is incredibly heartrending.
Listening to it when you’re out of sync with your lover or on the verge of breaking up will likely deepen your sense of empathy.
The song shines with Ise’s signature literary scene-setting, and the deeply expressive guitar tone further enhances its appeal.
rainMoritaka Chisato
Chisato Moritaka’s hit song “Ame (Rain),” released in 1990, is also known as a track that many artists have covered.
Love songs about rain tend to be mellow and sad, and this one, too, sings of a broken heart.
The lyrics feel like a farewell to one’s own feelings—emotions that anyone who’s experienced a breakup can surely relate to.
It’s a love song swaying between the desire to be drenched by the rain and wash everything clean, and the wish to hold on and not forget because you’re still in love.
