Masterpieces of Japanese music that delve into various social issues, such as war and environmental problems
Around the world, we are confronted daily with a wide range of social issues, from war to environmental problems.
Some people work tirelessly to address these issues, while others are left frustrated by policies that feel unacceptable.
In this article, we introduce songs that express feelings toward various social problems.
We’ve gathered tracks that delve into all kinds of issues—opposition to war, the horrors of the atomic bomb, children exposed to conflict, nature lost to environmental destruction, animal welfare, and more.
Through music, let’s take another look at the social challenges the world is facing today.
- “Song of War”: A classic that sings of the tragedy and folly of war
- Songs with strong messages. Classic J-Pop masterpieces and recommended popular tracks.
- Classic Japanese songs about Earth: songs that include the word “Earth” in their lyrics
- Anti-war songs that pierce the heart: Japan’s masterpieces conveying prayers for peace
- Masterpieces that sing of despair. Recommended popular songs.
- A classic Japanese song about life. A track that gives you energy.
- A spine-chilling scary song: masterful tracks that evoke fear and eerie recommended songs
- [March 2026] Trending Songs: A roundup of the hottest viral tracks right now
- Masterpieces that sing about various lives. Recommended popular songs.
- [Songs of Worries] Listening will gently lighten your heart. Masterpieces that speak for your feelings
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- [Yami Song] Fight darkness with darkness!? Deep tracks that stay close to your pain
- A collection of classic songs about friends: friendship songs for children
Masterpieces of Japanese music that delve into various social issues such as war and environmental problems (1–10)
Driver’s HighL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
A track notable for its exhilarating, fast-paced sound and fleeting, bittersweet lyrics.
Released in August 1999, it was used as the opening theme for the Fuji TV anime GTO.
Its music video—shot in Las Vegas with a production budget exceeding 100 million yen—also garnered attention.
The song depicts a pursuit of instant thrills and rushes of excitement, conveying a drive to push past limits and keep charging forward.
It’s recommended for those seeking momentary joy beyond the everyday or anyone wanting to fire themselves up.
This is a song that floods listeners with powerful energy and inspires a positive, forward-looking spirit.
NO ~The Flower That Bloomed in the Wake of Life~sutoreitenaa
A Straightener song infused with a strong anti-war message.
Released in July 2015, it was created to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.
Its powerful lyrics, which speak to overcoming past losses and renewing hope and determination for the future, resonate deeply.
The track is also included on the album “COLD DISC” and reached No.
19 on the Oricon charts.
Atsushi Horie, who hails from Nagasaki, drew attention for performing it in chorus with students from his alma mater.
If you want to reflect on war and peace, give this song a listen.
Its crystalline vocals and delicate melodies sink deeply into the listener’s heart.
1985THE BLUE HEARTS
A message song by THE BLUE HEARTS, a rock band formed in 1985.
It feels like the song contains criticism of politics that, for the convenience of adults, tries to arbitrarily sort people out.
It sings, with plenty of irony, about how we were taught that what is wrong is right.
Masterpieces of Japanese music that delve into various social issues such as war and environmental problems (11–20)
Hey HoSEKAI NO OWARI
SEKAI NO OWARI is a four-member mixed-gender band that captivates fans with lyrics spanning from the minimal to the global.
Their 10th major single, “Hey Ho,” was released as a support single for the zero animal euthanasia project “Bremen.” The lyrics depict the difficulty of taking action for someone else, and the reality that there are still beings calling for help—words that may make many listeners stop and think.
It’s a song about the weight of life, where a strong message contrasts with a pop ensemble that tightens the chest.
Dead girlHajime Chitose
Chitose Hajime, a singer who also has a career as an Amami folk vocalist, captivates fans with a voice that speaks straight to the heart.
Her song “The Dead Little Girl,” included on her third album Hanadairo, was chosen as the theme for the film Caterpillar.
The lyrics, written by Turkish poet Nâzım Hikmet and centering on the Hiroshima atomic bombing, painfully convey the horrors of war and the preciousness of lives that can never return.
Produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto, it is an anti-war song sung around the world, and their joint performance in front of the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome also drew wide attention.
Across timeHY
It’s a song themed around war.
It’s rare for HY to sing a song like this.
No matter how many times I listen, it brings me to tears.
War is wrong; we must never repeat the same mistakes, because all it brings is loss.
Lyrics like these pierce straight into my heart.
Island SongTHE BOOM
This classic song by THE BOOM brings to mind Okinawa’s beautiful sea and sky.
A version in Uchināguchi, the Okinawan dialect, was released in 1992, followed by the original standard Japanese version in 1993.
The song is imbued with thoughts of the Battle of Okinawa and its victims, expressing a desire to live in peace and never wage war again.
The sound of the sanshin evokes Okinawa’s calm and refreshing atmosphere.
The lyrics depict feelings for a beloved person who can no longer be met, along with a heartfelt wish to never let war happen again and to live in lasting peace.
As you listen, picture Okinawa’s beautiful scenery and let it renew your wish for peace.