[Instrumental] Great Japanese songs without lyrics—perfect as background music for work

Counting StarsNujabes

Nujabes – Counting Stars

Lo-fi hip-hop is perfect for those moments when you want to close your eyes and relax.

“Counting Stars,” included on trackmaker Nujabes’s 2007 release 2nd Collection, is a soothing number.

Its jazzy, airy sound is complemented by acoustic tones.

It’s also perfect for walking around the city with noise-canceling earphones.

Let the warm, emotionally attuned beats heal your heart.

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Pushin’STUTS

STUTS – Renaissance Beat / Pushin’ (Performed with MPC1000) 【Official Music Video】

STUTS is a trackmaker with multifaceted talent, known for participating as an MPC player in Gen Hoshino’s music and producing numerous tracks for TV shows and commercials.

The title track of his 2016 release, “Pushin’,” is an addictive number with a hip-hop-flavored beat.

You’ll get hooked on its funky, bold arrangement.

It’s recommended for listeners who enjoy Western rap as well.

You can also appreciate his meticulous sound design using a sampler.

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revanssora

revans

This is one of Sora’s signature instrumental tracks, whose crystalline piano melody and delicate layers of electronic tones create a dreamlike soundscape that gently guides listeners into a calm state of mind.

It samples and reconstructs the jazz standard “My Foolish Heart,” particularly Bill Evans’s piano performance, unfolding a beautiful sonic world where jazz and electronica fuse seamlessly.

First released on the album “re.sort” in September 2003, it gained word-of-mouth popularity despite no tie-ins, and was later included on the 2009 compilation album “Mellow Beats, Friends & Lovers.” Its cool, nostalgic tones evoke summer twilights and seaside resorts, making it perfect not only as BGM for studying or working, but also for relaxing away from the bustle of everyday life or as a companion for a drive.

just forgetForce of Nature

just forget

This is a masterful piece of instrumental hip-hop by Force of Nature that brilliantly captures the world of the anime Samurai Champloo through music.

It skillfully blends samples from multiple tracks, including The Blossoms’ “Just Remember,” weaving in elements of soul, jazz, and funk to create a rich, compelling sound.

Released in September 2004, this track opens the album Samurai Champloo Music Record: Impression, leaving a strong impression with its gentle yet powerful beat and wistful melody—making it an excellent choice as background music for studying or working.

Maybe I knowThe Jazz Avengers

The Jazz Avengers 『Maybe I know』

This piece is a reimagining of a classic from the 1960s in a modern jazz-fusion style, featuring a dazzling sound crafted by eight female musicians led by Senri Kawaguchi.

The four-horn sax ensemble weaves a rich, full-bodied harmony that, combined with each member’s exceptional musicianship, breathes entirely new life into the song, setting it apart from the original.

Included on the album “THE JAZZ AVENGERS,” released in April 2023, it also received high praise on a nationwide tour.

With no vocals to distract, it lets you focus purely on the music—making it an excellent track for background listening while you work.

Coin of HappinessFukuyama Masaharu

Coin of Happiness

This is a classical guitar solo performed by Masaharu Fukuyama, who commands an overwhelming presence not only as a singer-songwriter but also as an actor.

Created as the main theme for the film The End of the Matinee, released in November 2019, the piece was newly composed by Yugo Kanno and supervised by world-renowned guitarist Shin-ichi Fukuda.

Unlike his usual singing voice, it conveys the story’s emotion and the passage of time solely through the guitar’s timbre, whose delicate resonance quietly stirs the listener’s heart.

It’s also surprising that this marked Fukuyama’s first attempt at classical guitar.

Precisely because it’s an instrumental without lyrics, it’s perfect as background music to enhance concentration while working or studying.

The Blue MarbleDJ Mitsu the Beats

DJ Mitsu the Beats「The Blue Marble」

This is an instrumental track by DJ Mitsu the Beats—also a member of the Sendai-based hip-hop unit GAGLE—that beautifully fuses jazz and hip-hop.

Included on the EP “implosion,” released in April 2022, the piece showcases delicate beat-making and rich musicality.

Although it has no vocals, its unique sound—blending elements of jazz, soul, and funk—is wonderfully pleasing and ideal as background music while working.

Created by a formidable talent who was the only Japanese artist selected for URB magazine’s “Next 100” in L.A.

in 2004, the track is perfect for focused work sessions or relaxing on a quiet night.