Songs That Bring Back the Shows: Beloved Drama Theme Songs
Dramas that make people’s hearts race with excitement, no matter the era.
Whether it’s the flutter of a love story or the nail-biting tension of a suspenseful plot, many of us can’t wait for the day our favorite drama airs each week!
And what’s indispensable to those dramas are the theme songs that embody their worlds.
In this article, we’ll introduce some nostalgic drama theme songs.
We’ve gathered a selection of masterpieces that will make you want to watch those dramas all over again the moment you hear the music.
Whether you watched them when they first aired or are discovering them for the first time, give them a listen and immerse yourself in the world of the dramas!
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Remember the Works! Nostalgic Drama Theme Songs (11–20)
Hello, my friendMatsutōya Yumi
The theme song for the Fuji TV Monday 9 p.m.
drama “A Summer with You,” written by Eriko Kitagawa, was Yumi Matsutoya’s “Hello, my friend.” It’s also a popular song people love to listen to in summer! Released on July 27, 1994, it became a million-seller and a huge hit.
While pop, it carries a poignancy only Yuming can express, making it a classic that’s perfect for the end of summer.
More than twenty years after its release, it still quietly stays close to our hearts, bringing back memories of the drama from that time.
TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya
The drama that became a huge hit through the tag team of Fumi Saimon and Eriko Kitagawa was Asunaro Hakusho.
The theme song chosen was TRUE LOVE, the second single released under Fumiya Fujii’s solo name, which also became one of his signature songs.
Its acoustic guitar intro is beautiful, and Fumiya’s gentle yet velvety vocals make it a timeless masterpiece that resonates in the heart.
It’s also popular as a wedding song, so it might be nice to listen to it with that special someone with whom you’ve pledged your true love.
I should be able to fly (in the sky).supittsu
Hakusen Nagashi is a coming-of-age drama starring Tomoya Nagase, set at a high school in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture.
Spitz’s “Sora mo Toberu Hazu” was originally released in 1994, but when it was featured in the drama in 1996, it was reissued and became a million-selling hit.
The miraculous story—where Nagase’s character, a night school student, becomes involved with someone by chance—and the song’s lyrics are a perfect match, aren’t they? It’s a classic that lets you savor Masamune Kusano’s gentle high-tenor voice and the song’s uniquely crafted lyrical world.
Love Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasa
The song chosen as the theme for Fumi Saimon’s legendary TV drama Tokyo Love Story—and which became a massive hit—was Kazumasa Oda’s Love Story wa Totsuzen ni.
The drama, broadcast in 1991, was a huge success, with its final episode averaging a 32.3% viewership rating.
It was remade as a streaming drama in 2020 and became a hot topic again.
Known for his soft, crystal-clear vocals, Kazumasa Oda gently envelops you with a masterpiece that feels like it purifies the heart.
Just as the title suggests, perhaps love stories really do begin with sudden encounters!
Cactus FlowerZaitsu Kazuo
The hugely popular TV drama that aired in 1993 and turned the line “Is there love there?” into a buzzword was Under One Roof.
Thanks to the show’s high ratings, Kazuo Zaitsu’s theme song Saboten no Hana (Cactus Flower) sold over 600,000 copies.
It’s a poignant breakup song about a love lost over a small incident.
Zaitsu’s gentle, soothing vocals make it a timeless classic that resonates in the heart.
Even when love ends, it’s a song that gives you a push to keep moving forward with your life.
Kiss me right nowLINDBERG
The song chosen as the theme for the 1990 Fuji TV Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Sekai de Ichiban Kimi ga Suki!” starring Atsuko Asano was LINDBERG’s “Ima Sugu Kiss Me.” Its upbeat, fast-paced chorus is catchy enough for anyone to hum along to, and it became one of LINDBERG’s signature tracks.
In the drama’s opening sequence, the two leads even perform a kiss scene just like in the lyrics, making it a perfect fit for the show’s atmosphere.
If you’re in the midst of a heart-pounding romance or hoping to fall in love, be sure to give it a listen!
Remembering the works! Theme songs from nostalgic dramas (21–30)
HANABIMr.Children
An inspiring song that sings, in striking metaphors, of fireworks’ light as a symbol of dreams and hopes forever out of reach.
In September 2008, Mr.Children released this serene mid-tempo ballad as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Code Blue: Doctor Heli Kinkyu Kyumei.” Since then, it has remained a signature piece for the series and continues to be loved by many.
The lyrics, which gently and transparently depict the subtleties of our hearts in modern society, are sure to kindle a steady light in the hearts of those who feel uncertain about their self-worth or have experienced parting with someone dear.