Masterpieces of poignant anime songs. Recommended popular tracks.
I think it’s quite common that listening to songs tied in with anime makes you recall the work they’re from.
If the story was a sad one, hearing the song can leave you feeling wistful.
Here, I’ve picked out some Japanese pop songs—melancholic anime tracks—that evoke that feeling.
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Masterpieces of heart-wrenching anime songs: Recommended popular tracks (61–70)
Cutie HoneyMaekawa Yōko
Yoko Maekawa’s “Cutie Honey” is just irresistibly cute.
The song’s charming blend of grown-up innocence has long been loved, leading to several cover versions over the years, but the original is in a league of its own.
It’s an anime song that exudes a mysterious allure.
GeGeGe no KitaroYoshi Ikuzo
Ikuzo Yoshi is now a leading enka singer.
His song “GeGeGe no Kitaro,” as the title suggests, is known as the ending theme for the anime GeGeGe no Kitaro.
It’s a classic, with Yoshi’s gentle vocals resonating in the heart.
If you haven’t heard it yet, please give it a listen.
Ninja Hattori-kunHori Ayako
Junko Hori’s “Ninja Hattori-kun” is the theme song of a popular anime.
For anyone who watched Ninja Hattori-kun in real time, it’s a song that evokes deep nostalgia and a bittersweet ache for childhood memories.
In the past, it was common for anime theme songs to be titled after the main character.
Aim for the Ace!Ōsugi Kumiko
Kumiko Osugi’s “Aim for the Ace” is the theme song of the well-known youth sports drama anime Aim for the Ace.
It’s incredibly nostalgic.
Listening to it makes me feel like I’m transported back to those Showa-era days.
The lyrics are amazing, the melody is amazing.
It brings me to tears when I listen to it.
TouchIwasaki Yoshimi
Speaking of Yoshimi Iwasaki’s “Touch,” it gained popularity as the theme song for the beloved national baseball anime Touch.
Just like the anime, which portrays bittersweet youth, the theme song preserves that worldview and stands as a poignant coming-of-age song.
Always With MeKimura Yumi
“Itsumo Nando Demo” by Yumi Kimura is, as everyone knows, the theme song of Studio Ghibli’s blockbuster anime Spirited Away.
Its fresh and light tones gently envelop the listener’s heart.
It’s an anime song with a touch of bittersweetness.
cat’s eyesAnri
Speaking of Anri’s “Cat’s Eye,” it’s the theme song of the popular anime Cat’s Eye.
The song was an enormous hit—so much so that it’s no exaggeration to say it became even more popular than the anime itself in a way.
It’s a quintessential anime song that evokes nostalgia with a lingering sense of wistfulness.