[2026] A roundup of popular theme and opening songs from TV period dramas

An important genre in the history of Japanese film and television drama is the jidaigeki period drama.

Originally developed in cinema, jidaigeki later declined as a boom, but it went on to find a new home on television and has continued to produce many classics.

Many actors became popular stars through jidaigeki, and unforgettable theme tunes and songs are also indispensable when talking about the genre.

This article presents a roundup of representative jidaigeki theme music and theme songs.

It also includes dramas produced from the 2000s onward, so it’s something viewers of all generations can enjoy!

Playlist

[2026] A roundup of popular theme and opening songs from TV period dramas
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Beloved DaysHoriuchi Takao		The Byakkotai theme song moves people across time
2	Last Samurai StandingŌmama Kō		The overwhelming soundtrack music of Netflix’s “Ixagami”
3	Toyotomi brothers!Kimura Hideaki		The Hot Anthem of the Toyotomi Brothers’ Quest for Unifying the Realm
4	Theme of the Oedo Detective NetworkTAMAKI Hiroki		The theme song of Ōedo Sōsamo: the allure of irregular time signatures
5	Ah, there are tears in life.Satomi Kôtarô, Yokouchi Masashi		The famous song from Mito Komon, singing of life's hopes
6	draft (cold air seeping through gaps)Sugi Ryōtarō		Theme song of 'Tōyama no Kin-san', a masterpiece by Ryōtarō Sugi
7	Lone Wolf and CubHashi to Wakakusa Jidou Gasshoudan		A classic song that portrays the bond and bittersweetness of parent and child through raindrops
8	Eve FestivalSatomi Kotarō		An evocative masterpiece that portrays a festival night
9	Man of FireKitajima Saburō		Saburō Kitajima’s period drama theme song, singing of courage and resolve
10	Someday, the day of loveMitsui Yumiko		Yumiko Mitsui, a disciple of Masaaki Hirao; ending theme of a period drama
11	Spinning Wheel of MemoriesMitamura Kunihiko		The iconic ending theme song of Hissatsu Shigotonin
12	daylilyNakaijō Kiyoshi		Introducing the classic song “Wasuregusa” from Hissatsu Shigotonin III
13	A Man’s YearsSatomi Kotarō		Kotaro Satomi's period drama theme song 'Otoko no Saigetsu'
14	Flower in the mirror, moon on the waterThe SHIGOTONIN		The theme song of Shigotonin 2009, a melancholic masterpiece
15	Theme of the Unruly ShogunKikuchi Shunsuke		The heroic theme song of 'Abarenbō Shōgun'
16	Smile at meSatomi Kotarō		The theme song of 'Choshichiro Edo Nikki' starring Kotaro Satomi
17	In a dreamKobayashi Akira		A theme song that conveys emotion with a deep, mellow singing voice
18	Taiheiki Main ThemeSaegusa Shigeaki		Theme song of Taiheiki, Shigeaki Saegusa’s moving melody
19	Opening ThemeTsushima Toshiaki		Onihei opening: a masterpiece that’s heavy and brimming with tension
20	in the flower of (one’s) youthMatsukata Hiroki		Theme song of Tōyama no Kin-san, sung by Hiroki Matsukata.
21	Love MandalaUmezawa Fumio		Umezawa Tomio’s “Koi Mandala” is striking.
22	Ōoka Echizen Main ThemeYamashita Takeo		The opening theme of Ooka Echizen has a memorable whistling.
23	Zenigata HeijiKitaōji Kin’ya		The theme song of Heiji Zenigata, a heartwarming performance by Kinya Kitaoji
24	wishSaigō Teruhiko		A wistful theme song colors the heart of the period drama.
25	Onihei Crime RecordsKinoshita Tadashi		Onihei Hankachō, a classic theme from a masterpiece period drama
26	Hattori Hanzō: Shadow Warriors Main ThemesupeKUTORAMU		SPECTRUM’s Hattori Hanzō theme song, a track brimming with a sense of speed
27	The Whirlwind of Edo Main ThemeHattori Katsuhisa		Edo Whirlwind 2, a cool detective-drama-style theme song
28	Dream LightMatsudaira Ken		Makoto Matsudaira’s “Yumeakari” is a famous song from Abarenbō Shōgun.
29	The Three Swordsmen Slash! Main ThemeKobayashi Asei		The rousing period drama’s theme song about three masterless samurai cutting down evil
30	Tetego BridgeBābu Satake		The famous parent-and-child travel theme song from 'Lone Wolf and Cub'
31	Someone in the windKamijō Tsunehiko		A Song of Sorrow and Hope for Traveling Monjirō
32	A pair of two travelersAmachi Shigeru		Fangs of Edo: the special investigative unit under the town magistrate
33	madder-red cloudskawada tomoko		Hissatsu Shiojin Theme Song - Tomoko Kawada’s Masterpiece
34	shadowChiba Shinichi		Kage no Gundan concludes with Sonny Chiba singing and new costumes.
35	Gaman HillKitajima Saburō		The shogun’s theme song sung by Saburo Kitajima
36	Footsteps ~Be StrongMr.Children		A new song that sings of hope and courage for the future
37	At the end of the wildernessYamashita Yūzō		In the 1970s, Yuzo Yamashita’s masterpiece resonates in the heart.
38	Hama Chidori Love StoryKanazawa Akiko		The memorable ending theme of Hissatsu Shigotonin
39	Wandering SongOzawa Miyuki		Sure-hit, sure-kill melancholy ending theme
40	Set it up, kill, and the sun goes down.Hirao Masaaki		Masao Hirao’s “Hissatsu Shigotonin” Opening Theme
41	A woman is like the sea.Izumi Ayukawa		The moving theme song of Hissatsu Shigotonin V: Gekitō-hen
42	Song of Momotaro the SamuraiMinami Haruo		The theme song of Momo Taro Samurai, a famous piece by Haruo Minami.
43	The Black Panther of EdoSugi Ryōtarō		Melancholy and justice of men, the soul of the Showa era
44	Moonlit Shadow: Theme of Ishikawa GoemonAgatsuma Hiromitsu		Hirokazu Agatsuma's Ishikawa Goemon Theme Song
45	Traveling crowItsuki Hiroshi		Theme song of a period drama based on Shin Hasegawa's original work
46	the sunKatsu Shintarō		The first Zatoichi TV drama is born.
47	Hurry like the windHirata Takao to Serusutāzu		A period drama about a female Nezumi Kozō fighting evil
48	Song of Osen the Traveling SparrowMatsuyama Yōko		The theme song of the period drama “Tabigarasu”
49	DEEPNESSMISIA		MISIA's deep singing voice and expressive emotional power
50	Go with the flowItsuki Hiroshi		A classic enka song that sings of hope and love for life
51	Hurry like the windHirata Takao to Serusutāzu		A masterpiece packed with the charm of Showa-era kayōkyoku (classic Japanese pop)
52	Zenigata HeijiFunaki Kazuo		Theme song of Kazuo Funaki’s period drama “Zenigata Heiji”
53	The Young Lord Samurai of Flowering EdoHashi Yukio		The Tale of the Sake-Loving Samurai: Young Lord Samurai Casebook