Rain Songs: A curated selection of tracks that feature rain in the lyrics — including many nostalgic Japanese hits
Japan has words for rainy seasons and seasonal rains, such as tsuyu (the rainy season), harusame (spring rain), and shigure (late autumn showers).
In Japanese popular music, there are masterpieces that depict the look of “rain” in each season, as well as lyrics that poignantly link rain with one’s emotions.
In this article, we’ve selected songs that feature the word “rain” in their lyrics.
We’ll cover a wide range, from nostalgic classics everyone knows to the latest hits.
Please relax and enjoy to the end as you picture scenes of rain.
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[Rain Songs] Carefully selected tracks with “rain” in the lyrics! Many nostalgic Japanese hit songs also appear (1–10)
RAINSEKAI NO OWARI
A gentle, hope-filled pop ballad that evokes a rainbow after the rain.
While depicting life’s hardships and tears as “rain,” it warms the listener’s heart with the message that a bright future always awaits beyond them.
Released in July 2017, this song moved many as the theme for the animated film “Mary and The Witch’s Flower,” and it also won the Excellence Award at the Japan Record Awards that same year.
When you stumble and hang your head, this song becomes a quiet umbrella and gives you the courage to look up.
It’s a track that stays close to you in just that way.
I hope it’s sunny.DREAMS COME TRUE
This is a DREAMS COME TRUE song that sings of warm memories with family and hopes for the future.
Released as a single in October 1992, it was used as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Hirari.” The lyrics, which depict someone who was protected by their parents as a child growing up and resolving that it’s now their turn to support the family, are truly moving.
When you listen to it as an adult in a moment of nostalgia, it might renew your gratitude and love for your family—and make you think, this time, I’ll be the one to drive.
It always begins with rain.ASKA
A signature work by ASKA, released in March 1991.
It gained instant attention when it was featured as the commercial song for Panasonic’s “HALF Component” stereo system.
The lyrics depict the feelings exchanged between lovers in the rain, perfectly matched by ASKA’s clear, soaring vocals.
Listening to it on a rainy day can make you feel as if your heart has been cleansed.
[Rain Songs] Carefully selected tracks with “rain” in the lyrics! Many nostalgic J‑pop hits included (11–20)
Rain, then Sunshine Hallelujahyuzu
This is a song by the folk duo Yuzu, notable for its elegant shinobue (Japanese bamboo flute) tones.
Released in November 2013, it became a major topic as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Gochisosan.” Carrying a message of hope—that no matter how hard the downpour, the blue sky will surely open up someday—the song is sung over a gentle waltz in 3/4 time.
Its lyrics, which mirror characters who keep looking forward even in difficult circumstances, and its warm, grand sound make it an encouraging piece.
Standing at a crossroads in life, you’ll find it quietly illuminating your heart as you take a new step forward.
Red Sweet PeaMatsuda Seiko
Swayed by a spring-colored train and dreaming of a future with the one you love—many of us can relate to that kind of sweet and slightly bittersweet feeling, can’t we? This is Seiko Matsuda’s eighth single, and reportedly one of her personal favorites.
Released in January 1982, it features lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto and music by Yumi Matsutoya, and it was also used in a Fujifilm commercial.
Some listeners may be surprised to learn that the word “rain” appears in the song.
In this work, the pure feelings of longing for someone are carefully sung, even as the unclosing distance between the two brings a sense of frustration.
Spurred by the song’s success, a flower that hadn’t previously existed was created through selective breeding—another reason this can be called a signature classic of its era.
Love RadiantMisora Hibari
A classic by Hibari Misora imbued with deep emotion.
It sings of life’s joys and sorrows and the preciousness of love.
Released in May 1986, it initially struggled but went on to become a long-running hit, ultimately ranking as the 12th best-selling single of her career.
The lyrics by Kei Ogura brilliantly express the importance of love found beyond life’s hardships, and Misora’s voice elevates them even further.
Listen to it on a rainy day, and it will warm your heart and remind you of the preciousness of life.
ENDLESS RAINX JAPAN
A classic song that paints a poignant scene of rain.
YOSHIKI’s delicate piano and TOSHI’s clear, translucent vocals are especially striking.
Included on the album “BLUE BLOOD,” this track drew significant attention as X JAPAN’s major-label debut and has been beloved by many fans since its 1989 release.
With lyrics that liken the pain of heartbreak to rain, it resonates even more when listened to during the rainy season or on a rainy day.
It’s a perfect song for those who love a melancholic atmosphere or want to soothe their heart.