[2026] A Compilation of Theme Songs from Netflix Original Japanese Dramas

Are you serious?Awich

Awich – Are you serious? (Prod. Chaki Zulu) / The Queen of Villains: Ruthless Queen

This is the song that serves as the theme for the Netflix series “The Queen of Villains,” starring Yuriyan Retriever and depicting the world of women’s professional wrestling in the 1980s.

Speaking of Awich, she’s a rapper with Okinawan roots, known for her razor-sharp word choice and impeccable sense of rhythm.

In this track, those strengths are on full display, resulting in a piece that’s sure to set listeners’ hearts ablaze.

Looking at the production background, her close collaborator Chaki Zulu composed the music, and it was written specifically for the drama in September 2024.

This work links the mindset of the protagonist—who resolves to live as a heel—with Awich’s own convictions.

It’s highly recommended for moments when you want to push through the surrounding noise or fire yourself up when it really counts!

ALICE IN BORDERLANDyamada yutaka

ALICE IN BORDERLAND

A weighty, thrilling instrumental piece that epitomizes the world of a globally acclaimed survival drama.

Composed by Yutaka Yamada, who is based in LA, the fusion of orchestral and electronic sounds vividly conveys the loneliness and urgency of a desolate city.

Spanning roughly 11 minutes, its structure features a heartbeat-like beat that gradually rises from silence, stirring the listener’s emotions.

Written as a score for the Netflix Original Series “Alice in Borderland,” the track is included on the album “NETFLIX Original ‘Alice in Borderland’ ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK,” released in December 2020.

It’s a highly recommended piece for reliving the tension of the show or as background music to boost concentration during work.

My WishIwasaki Taisei

My Wish

The Netflix series “The Naked Director,” which portrays the frenzy and fervor of the Showa era, shocked audiences around the world.

This piece, created as the opening theme for Season 2, was composed by the renowned score composer Taisei Iwasaki.

Released in June 2021 alongside the start of the season’s streaming, it resounds with a thrilling, adult sound that announces the beginning of the story.

Its exhilarating beat, fusing jazz and funk, conveys the raw energy of the tumultuous era the protagonists raced through.

Though it runs just under a minute, it’s an addictive number that sticks in your ears after a single listen.

Give it a spin when you want to savor the afterglow of the drama—or as the perfect BGM to fire yourself up when it counts.

The Last Night TrainMISIA

The Last Night Train

Are you familiar with the theme song of the Netflix drama “Jimmy: The True Story That Seems Like a Joke,” planned and produced by Sanma Akashiya? Adding color to this laugh-and-cry story depicting the mentor-mentee bond between Jimmy Onishi and Sanma, as well as their interactions with those around them, is MISIA, the songstress from Nagasaki Prefecture.

She delivered a jazzy cover—arranged by New York–based trumpeter Takuya Kuroda—of the classic first released by Kai Band in 1977.

Closing out the album “MISIA SOUL JAZZ SESSION,” released in July 2017, this track seeps into the heart with MISIA’s embracing vocals and a sound that feels urban yet somehow nostalgic.

It’s the kind of mature ballad you’ll want to savor in the quiet of the night, letting it linger after you finish the drama.

Our HouseTomo Nakayama and Yuuki Matthews

Gotta Get A Hold Of Myself

House of Ninjas is a Netflix series that portrays a family of modern-day shinobi.

Its opening features a cover of Our House, the classic 1970 song by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

For this project, Seattle-based artists Tomo Nakayama and Yuuki Matthews teamed up to create a contemporary reconstruction, pairing Tomo’s delicate vocals with Yuuki’s spacious sound design.

Released in February 2024 to coincide with the show’s debut, the track beautifully complements a story where covert ninja missions intersect with a yearning for ordinary happiness.

Its gentle yet faintly wistful arrangement is perfect for a relaxed weekend afternoon when you want to feel the warmth of family.

Crazy for yousino R fine

sino R fine「Crazy for you」

Ryoko Shinohara has resumed her singing career after 19 years.

Released under the name “sino R fine,” this ballad was distributed in February 2022 as the theme song for the Netflix series Fishbowl Wives.

The name carries the meaning of “until it ends,” closely aligning with the drama’s world.

Its simple arrangement of just piano highlights Shinohara’s delicate breathwork, painfully conveying the forbidden love and inner conflict depicted in the story.

Miliyah Kato and others participated in the production, and the song was also used as the theme for the Fuji TV drama Hiruagari no Onna-tachi.

Portraying the feelings of someone struggling with an impermissible love while trying to face their true emotions, this piece is a wistful number for adults—one you’ll want to listen to alone on a quiet night.

Akanekanojo in the display

SHE IN THE DISPLAY “Akane” MUSIC VIDEO (Ending theme of the Netflix drama “Erased”)

This is a track by a five-piece rock band that was active out of Fukuoka, where a sense of speed coexists with aching poignancy.

The emotional rock sound is layered with delicate keyboard tones, stirring the listener’s heart.

It’s the lead song from the 2017 mini-album “GOLD EXPERIENCE REQUIEM,” and it was chosen as the ending theme for the Netflix original drama “Erased.” There’s even an anecdote that the drama’s director was moved to tears upon hearing the demo, and the finished piece links beautifully with the world of the show.

The lyrics carry a message of trying to face forward while looking back on the past, resonating atop a passionate performance.

How about giving it a listen on nights when you want to linger in the afterglow of the drama, or when you want to release the emotions tucked away deep in your chest?