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

Last Samurai StandingŌmama Kō

Last Samurai Standing

This piece is marked by a thrilling yet weighty resonance, as if you can hear the fierce heartbeats of samurai fighting for survival.

Composed by Takashi Ohmama, a leading figure in the world of screen music, it boasts a grand sense of scale enhanced by the participation of the taiko performing arts group Kodo.

It opens the album “IKUSAGAMI (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series),” which began streaming in November 2025, and colored the story as the defining track of the Netflix series IKUSAGAMI’s world.

Ohmama’s prowess is beyond question—he won the Excellence in Music Award at the 48th Japan Academy Film Prize the same year.

The taut atmosphere and powerful rhythms of this work make it perfect for psyching yourself up before a challenge or when you want to experience an extraordinary rush.

Confession (Confession) (Japanese Version)KIM CHAE WON

Confession (Japanese Version)

A bittersweet yet warm medium-tempo tune sung by KIM CHAEWON, the leader of LE SSERAFIM.

It’s a modern Japanese-language cover of a classic from 1999, where her intimate, conversational vocals delicately convey an unspoken love.

The song was released in September 2025 as the theme for the Netflix series “Anonymous Lovers,” starring Shun Oguri and Han Hyo-joo.

It resonated alongside the drama’s unfolding story and memorably reached No.

1 on Spotify’s Viral Chart in October of the same year.

It’s perfect for those who feel timid about love or for moments when you want to honestly express your feelings to someone important.

Let the lingering emotions of the story wash over you as you take your time and listen.

Glass HeartTENBLANK

TENBLANK – Glass Heart [Official Music Video]

The Netflix series “Glass Heart,” released in July 2025.

Lead actor Takeru Satoh was deeply involved in production, and it made waves when the in-show band TENBLANK leapt into the real world.

Written and composed by Yojiro Noda of RADWIMPS, the song is a grand rock ballad where stillness and passion intertwine.

Its lyrics delicately trace hope, inner conflict, and fateful encounters, resonating even more deeply when layered with the drama’s story.

It’s included on their debut album “Glass Heart,” released in August 2025, allowing you to relive the emotion connected to the live scenes in the show.

It’s a track to play on nights when you want to linger in the afterglow of the story or reignite intense feelings.

CarnivalVaundy

Carnival / Vaundy: Music Video

Singer-songwriter Vaundy, who has won support for his genre-defying musicality.

Featured on his second album, “replica,” released in November 2023, this track was written as the theme song for the Netflix series “Burning Betrayal: The Mitarai House.” It sensitively aligns with the heavy theme of revenge, and its sound strikingly exposes the characters’ inner passions and pain.

The thrilling development layered with his heartrending vocals creates a mysterious pull that unsettles the listener’s heart.

It also drew attention for featuring lead actress Mei Nagano in the music video.

It’s a perfect song not only for lingering in the afterglow of the drama, but also for adding a slightly stimulating spice to everyday life.

Prologuefox capture plan

Prologue

This number was created by the instrumental band fox capture plan, known for their modern jazz-rock ethos and passionate piano trio sound.

It was written specifically for the Netflix series “Like Asura,” which began streaming in January 2025, and released the following month as the opening track of the soundtrack “Like Asura (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series).” The performance, which fuses jazz with classical elements, strikingly invites listeners into the world of the drama—Hirokazu Kore-eda’s contemporary revival of Kuniko Mukoda’s masterwork.

Its sound, where the atmosphere of the Showa era intersects with a modern beat, brims with a sense of promise befitting the opening of the story.

Be sure to savor this piece when you want to linger in the afterglow of the show or on a quiet night.

Love SongKawasaki Takaya

Takaya Kawasaki - Love Song [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A high-energy pop tune that captures both the sparkle and the bittersweetness of youth.

Its straightforward message about earnestly caring for someone—awkward yet sincere—and its fresh, spring-breeze melody will gently nudge listeners forward.

Created by singer-songwriter Takaya Kawasaki, who has captivated countless listeners following a viral breakout on social media, this single was released in March 2023 as the theme song for the Netflix live-action adaptation of the popular manga Kimi ni Todoke.

It was reportedly produced with careful rereading of the original work and was later included on the album Nukumori.

It’s a heartwarming number that gives you courage—not only when you want to convey your feelings to someone important, but also when you’re feeling anxious in a new environment.

AzaleaYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Azalea × “The Continuation of Goodbye” Special MV

This work seeps into the heart with its velvety piano and cool-tinged beat.

It’s a newly written number chosen as the theme song for the Netflix series “The Sequel to Goodbye,” starring Kasumi Arimura and Kentaro Sakaguchi.

The worldview—capturing the sense of loss after a lover’s death and the lingering pull between two people despite it—overlaps with the drama’s scenes and squeezes your chest, doesn’t it? Released in November 2024, the track also made waves for setting a new standalone all-time record on the digital charts.

Following the album LOST CORNER, the refined sound co-arranged with Yaffle reveals a new side of Kenshi Yonezu.

It’s the kind of song you’ll want to listen to alone on a quiet night, thinking of someone dear.