[Autumn Classics] Japanese Songs to Listen to and Sing in October: A Curated Selection of Beloved, Heartfelt Hits
October, when you can feel autumn’s arrival.
As the weather cools a little, what kind of songs do you feel like listening to? When a song suddenly resonates with you—while strolling through a park with falling leaves or on your way to school or work—it makes the changing seasons feel even more vivid.
In this article, we’ll introduce songs that are perfect for October.
Autumn evokes many elements: the sentimental glow of a crimson sunset, the moon, flowers, and more.
From tracks that conjure nostalgic memories of fall to songs you’ll want to listen to right now, you’re sure to find one that speaks to your heart!
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[Autumn Classics] Japanese songs to listen to and sing in October! Carefully selected heartfelt hits (71–80)
osmanthus (fragrant orange osmanthus; sweet olive)natori
Singer-songwriter Natori, who shot to fame with the 2022 smash hit “Overdose.” This new track is a jazzy pop tune, perfect for an autumn night.
Sung in a whispery voice, it paints the sudden melancholy that creeps into a humdrum daily life and the complicated feelings toward the “you” by one’s side.
You can almost picture the sweet scent of flowers gently wrapping those restless emotions.
It’s also fun to listen while interpreting the poetically written lyrics in your own way.
Released in August 2023, the song is also included on the album “Gekijou” (Theater).
On a long autumn night, when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood, why not sing it with an ennui-tinged vibe?
Moon DropsShibasaki Kou
Ko Shibasaki is a singer who exudes an overwhelming presence as an actor and also has the profile of a businesswoman.
The song Tsuki no Shizuku, used as both an insert song and the main theme for the film Yomigaeri, was released under the name RUI, the character she plays in the movie.
The contrast between its oriental melody and the dreamy ensemble featuring piano evokes the image of an autumn sky with the moon floating above.
As a well-known song, it’s sure to draw attention at karaoke—an emotional ballad number you can’t go wrong with.
MissingKubota Toshinobu
This is a gem of a ballad by Toshinobu Kubota, known for his uniquely groovy style, perfect for an autumn night.
It poignantly conveys, with a soulful voice, the helpless love between a man and a woman who care deeply for each other yet can never be together.
The struggle of wanting to forget but being unable to, and the regret of wishing they had met earlier, really hits home.
The song was included on his debut album, “SHAKE IT PARADISE,” released in September 1986, and was used as an ending theme for shows like World Pro Wrestling.
Though it wasn’t released as a single, it remains one of his most beloved signature songs.
It feels like a gentle companion to the quiet loneliness that follows the bustle of summer.
[Autumn Classics] Japanese songs to listen to and sing in October! A curated selection of touching hits (81–90)
Serene and sweet autumn evening lyricismUNISON SQUARE GARDEN
This song, with its quiet, beautiful melody that evokes an autumn evening, sinks deep into the heart.
It’s a track by the three-piece rock band UNISON SQUARE GARDEN.
The piece seems to depict both the loneliness of a passing season and a gentle warmth that cherishes precious memories.
It’s bittersweet, yet somehow soothing in a mysterious way.
The song is included on their seventh album, MODE MOOD MODE, released in January 2018.
The harmony between Kosuke Saito’s clear, translucent vocals and the band’s delicate sound is wonderful.
It’s a song I’d love for you to listen to alone on a slightly chilly night, strolling through a park where fallen leaves are dancing.
Tokyo Sunsetback number
For those who find themselves layering a sentimental mood over the cityscape on an autumn evening, this classic by back number is highly recommended.
It delicately portrays the protagonist’s feelings as they struggle with loneliness and inner conflict in an unfamiliar city, yet try to find hope in the beautiful sunset unfolding before their eyes.
The song is included on the album “Chandelier,” released in December 2015, which topped the Oricon weekly chart for two consecutive weeks.
If you listen to it on your slightly chilly walk home when a sudden pang of loneliness hits, its bittersweet yet warm melody will likely wrap gently around your heart.
It’s a tender cheery anthem that seems to give you a gentle push—“Let’s do our best again tomorrow.”
Like this tonightaimyon
Singer-songwriter Aimyon, known for her nostalgic acoustic sound, has won wide popularity.
Released in November 2018 as her sixth single, this song drew attention when it was selected as the theme for the TV drama “We Can’t Become Beasts.” The lyrics are striking, comparing emotions to beer foam and portraying the frustration of hiding our bitter-sweet feelings and true thoughts in everyday life.
The words, which suggest that even a painful situation can turn into happiness with a small change, seem to gently comfort the melancholy heart of an autumn night.
With its light, pleasant beat, it’s a track you’ll want to listen to in the season when you long for connection.
osmanthus (fragrant orange osmanthus; sweet olive)Aina ji Endo
A song themed around the sweet fragrance that drifts through the autumn season.
Sung by Aina The End, also known as a member of BiSH, it was included on her 2021 album THE END.
Completed together with Seiji Kameda, it has been shaped into a grand ballad.
The lyrics—depicting memories revived by scent and a confrontation with one’s own weaknesses—are distinctive, and resonate deeply alongside her one-of-a-kind husky voice.
The track is based on a demo created about six years before she joined BiSH, and while listening to this beautiful number, graced by a melancholic piano tone, why not spend a sentimental autumn night?