Masterpieces of poignant anime songs. Recommended popular tracks.

Unchanging ThingsHanako Oku

Unchanging Things

A piano ballad that lets you sink into a wistful mood, as if longing for the summer that has passed.

The singer is Hanako Oku, a singer-songwriter often praised as someone whose “voice alone can move you to tears.” This work centers on the irreplaceable nature of everyday life and feelings that never fade, even as time goes by.

Its message—yearning to reach someone you may never meet again, transcending time and distance—truly strikes the heart.

Included on the single “Garnet,” released in July 2006, it served as an insert song in the feature-length animated film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, heightening the emotion of its climactic scenes.

It’s a number you’ll want to listen to on a slightly chilly evening at dusk, as you look back on your summer memories.

JANE DOEKenshi Yonezu, Hikaru Utada

Kenshi Yonezu, Hikaru Utada – JANE DOE

This collaborative song, the first time two of Japan’s leading singer-songwriters have joined forces, serves as the ending theme for the theatrical anime film Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc.

Its lyrics capture a longing for someone lost and the fragility of memory.

Written and composed by Kenshi Yonezu, the track features Hikaru Utada’s clear, airy vocals that sweep through like the wind.

Set for release in September 2025, it will come out as a double A-side single, IRIS OUT / JANE DOE, in multiple CD editions, with the cover illustration newly drawn by Yonezu himself.

It’s a song that offers deep comfort to those who have experienced parting from someone dear or who are tormented by indelible memories.

REASONyuzu

Yuzu 'REASON'

“REASON,” known as the theme song for the popular anime HUNTER×HUNTER, is performed by the two members of the popular male duo Yuzu.

It’s a wonderful ballad that, above all, preserves the anime’s world view without compromise.

MöbiusJanne Da Arc

Janne Da Arc – Möbius

This song portrays the emotions of a protagonist lost in an endless labyrinth of love.

The cosmic sweep of the synthesizer tones blends with Yasu’s heartrending vocals to vividly depict a love you can’t escape—like a Möbius strip.

The structure, which dramatically shifts from digital sound in the verse to a weighty band ensemble in the chorus, is sure to seize listeners’ hearts.

Released in May 2006, the track was also used as the opening theme for the anime Yo-kai Ninpōchō: Yōgyakumon (Ninpū Kamui Gaiden).

On nights when your heart is thrown into turmoil by feelings you can’t possibly sever, immerse yourself deeply in this work’s world.

RIVERTatsuya Ishii

Tatsuya Ishii “RIVER” [TATSUYA ISHII CONCERT TOUR 2003 “ISHYST”]

A solo work by Tatsuya Ishii, released in 2003 as the ending theme for the third cour of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.

Its lyrics, which sing of the resolve to face hardship, align perfectly with the struggles of characters buffeted by war, leaving a profound afterglow within the world of the series.

This dramatic ballad fuses the expressive power he honed through his activities with Kome Kome Club and a unique aesthetic sensibility informed by his art background.

In the later HD Remaster version, the song was replaced due to rights issues, prompting regret from some fans.

It’s a recommended track for those confronting difficult moments in life or wishing to linger in the afterglow of a grand narrative.

AitaiMiliyah Kato

Miliyah Kato - “Aitai”

It’s a heartrending love song about longing for someone who’s looking at somebody else.

Included on the acclaimed 2009 album “Ring,” this fan favorite became a hit with over 700,000 downloads despite not being released as a single.

It also adds deep resonance to the film “Villain” as an in-film track.

Even if I’m not your number one, even if I know I’ll get hurt, it has to be you… That desperate cry from the heart tightens the listener’s chest.

When you fall for someone, reason can’t do a thing about it.

If you’re suffering from an unrequited love, this is a song that will surely stay close to your heart.

I'll give you romanceUshio Hashimoto

Ushio Hashimoto – I'll Give You Romantic

Romantic Ageru yo, sung by Shio Hashimoto, is a ballad also famous as the first ending theme of the popular anime Dragon Ball.

The melody is so heartrending that just listening to it makes you feel like you might cry.

It’s a wonderful song.