[Thank You] A classic song expressing gratitude to one’s parents. A number loved across generations.
In everyday, fleeting moments and at life’s milestones, many of us feel the urge to express our gratitude to our parents.
In this article, we introduce famous songs filled with appreciation for parents.
They’re perfect not only for bouquet presentations and reading letters to parents at weddings, but also as a surprise on birthdays and anniversaries.
Why not send the thanks you don’t usually put into words, along with a moving song that speaks for your feelings?
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[Thank You] Classic songs expressing gratitude to parents: beloved numbers across generations (1–10)
Mother’s SongYoshida Yamada
A moving, heartwarming song that wishes for a mother’s happiness.
It’s a track by the male duo music unit Yoshida Yamada, included on their fourth album “47,” released in 2016.
Its straightforward message really strikes a chord.
Happiness ForeverMISIA
MISIA is a singer whose overwhelming vocal power moves listeners to their core.
“Shiawase o Forever” is a single released in 2013, a masterpiece written specifically as the commercial song for the wedding magazine Zexy.
It’s filled with the joyful atmosphere of proposals and weddings, and its grand, gospel-inspired chorus is truly moving.
The music video featuring Noriyuki Higashiyama and Kie Kitagawa also drew attention.
The song carries a warm feeling that naturally evokes both the resolve to embark on a new life and gratitude to the parents who raised you to this point.
It is also included on the album “NEW MORNING” and continues to be cherished as a wedding staple.
How about choosing it as a song to express thanks to your parents on your special day of new beginnings?
Motherkariyushi 58
This is “Anma” by Kariyushi 58, an artist from Okinawa.
The word “anma,” which appears in both the title and the chorus, means “mother” in the Okinawan language.
I’ve heard that when Kariyushi 58 was on the verge of breaking up and the next CD might have been their last, the vocalist, Shingo Maekawa, said, “If the next one is going to be our last, I want to turn my feelings for the most important person into a song,” and that’s how this song was made.
Whenever I listen to it, I think of my own parents and can’t help but cry.
It’s truly a wonderful song.
[Thank You] Classic songs of gratitude to parents. Beloved across generations (11–20)
FamilyORANGE RANGE
This is a song by ORANGE RANGE.
It’s a warm number that paints a picture of Okinawa’s peaceful everyday life and family scenes, expressing gratitude for ordinary happiness and the passing of the baton of life.
Written specifically for NHK’s Minna no Uta and broadcast from October 2018, this piece—created after the era of the album ELEVEN PIECE—features gentle string tones that resonate deeply.
It reminds us of the gratitude we come to feel for our parents as we grow up, and the preciousness of our unassuming days.
During the LIVE TOUR 018-019, it was performed with a choir, wrapping the entire venue in a warm atmosphere.
When you want to say “thank you,” something that can feel embarrassing in everyday life, this song will surely give you a gentle push.
A masterpiece.
mothermakaroni enpitsu
A classic by Macaroni Empitsu whose sound evokes ’90s power pop and whose emotional vocals strike straight to the heart.
The lyrics, which express feelings for the place one should protect and return to, leave a gentle, warming afterglow in the listener’s heart.
Included on their major-label debut EP “Ai wo Shirazuni Mahō wa Tsukaenai,” released in November 2020, the song became widely beloved as the ending theme for the TV anime Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai.
Also featured on the album “Happy End e no Kitai wa,” it stands as an emblematic track of their major debut era.
Why not play it at moments when you want to convey your honest feelings to someone important—such as during a bouquet presentation at a wedding or when sending a letter of thanks to parents living far away?
Daphne (winter daphne)DISH//
This song by DISH// is characterized by a positive, march-like atmosphere.
It was also used as the theme song for the drama “The Winner in February: The Classroom of Guaranteed Success.” Co-written by vocalist Takumi Kitamura and Hattori, the singer-guitarist of the rock band Macaroni Enpitsu, it expresses a bright hope for moving toward the future, while conveying gratitude to the mother who supported that journey at all times.
The track has a warm feel, as if savoring happiness.
AlwaysNishino Kana
The 19th single, released in November 2012, is a grand ballad in which Kana Nishino—the charismatic queen of love songs—sings about her love for everyone who supports her.
It drew attention as the theme song for Sony’s MDR-1 series headphones commercial and won Best Female Video at MTV VMAJ 2013.
Rather than focusing on a specific person, this work faces a greater, universal “love.” It reminds us of everyday kindness that’s so natural we tend to overlook it, and the warmth of family by our side.
It’s perfect for expressing a heartfelt “thank you” that’s hard to say out loud—whether in a letter to your parents at a wedding or a surprise on an anniversary.