Ranking of Popular Ghibli Songs [2026]

Love is a flower, and you are its seed.Miyako Harumi36rank/position

Love is a flower, and you are its seed.

A gem of a ballad that graced the end credits of the film “Only Yesterday.” With lyrics and music by Amanda McBroom and originally sung by Bette Midler as the classic “The Rose,” director Isao Takahata himself crafted the Japanese lyrics for this version.

Legendary enka singer Harumi Miyako performs it, her voice expressing both the sternness and warmth of love.

Released as a single in July 1991, and arranged by Masaru Hoshi, who scored the film, it’s a marvelous piece that deepens the afterglow of the work.

Its lyrics touch the depths of life and will resonate more profoundly as you grow older.

With its gentle, unhurried melody, it’s perfect for moments when you want to sing calmly and with care.

Name of LifeHisaishi Joe37rank/position

Name of Life [Easy Piano] - Ghibli “Spirited Away”

Composed by Joe Hisaishi, this piece is a gem created for the film Spirited Away.

The beautiful melody woven by piano and strings resonates deeply with listeners.

Its delicate lines skillfully portray anxiety and hope, a sense of loss and rediscovery, perfectly expressing the film’s worldview.

For the left hand, it’s fine to start with single notes; once you get the hang of it, try capturing the harmonies with chords.

With its relaxed tempo, this is a recommended piece for beginners who want to play something wistful and gentle.

Dragon BoyHisaishi Joe38rank/position

Spirited Away – Dragon Boy ( Daizo Edit Extended)

From Studio Ghibli’s hugely famous film Spirited Away, this is “The Dragon Boy.” The “dragon” refers to Haku, and the piece is used in the scene where Haku and Chihiro meet and then depart from the bathhouse.

In the film, the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra performs it: a mystical tone born from layered harp and piano leads into flowing horn lines, while the woodwinds stack in perfect fourths to evoke a traditional Japanese atmosphere.

This performance is a longer version than the one in the film, making “The Dragon Boy” even more powerful.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sai-kisaragi

Report a problem

globeYonezu Kenshi39rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Spinning Globe

Kenshi Yonezu is a singer-songwriter who continues to captivate many listeners with his original, imaginative world.

Centered on themes of loss and rebirth, the lyrics of this piece resonate deeply, while the organic ensemble of piano and strings quietly stirs the listener’s emotions.

Marking the 100th song released under the name Kenshi Yonezu, it came out in July 2023 and was written as the theme song for Hayao Miyazaki’s film “The Boy and the Heron.” With a relatively narrow vocal range and a leisurely melody, it’s easy to hum along to even for those not confident in their singing.

It’s a beautiful yet powerful ballad, one to sing with care while savoring the lingering emotions of the story.

When I was in my first loveTeshima Aoi40rank/position

The Little Owl’s Favorite Song: When First Love Began

This song, used as an insert track in From Up on Poppy Hill, is a heart-fluttering tune that, just as the title suggests, depicts the fresh feelings of first love.

Although it’s sung as something in the past, singing it in front of someone you like might just get your feelings across.

Highly recommended!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

Always With MeHisaishi Joe41rank/position

“Always With Me” from Spirited Away, string quartet

From Spirited Away.

The original song is by Yumi Kimura.

Wakako Kaku, who also wrote the lyrics for this piece, is active as a lyricist, poet, and singer-songwriter, and has provided lyrics for a variety of artists including SMAP and Rimi Natsukawa.

This song won honors such as the Gold Prize at the 43rd Japan Record Awards.

She also wrote the lyrics for “Mother Sea,” a song from the Studio Ghibli film Ponyo.

Known by many alongside the film, it’s a piece whose lyrics evoke death yet, with a somehow calming melody, resonates deeply in the heart.

In this city in AsiaJōjō Taihūn42rank/position

[Healing Effect] Ghibli Music Box: Pom Poko — In This Asian Town (BGM for Work and Sleep)

This is an insert song from Pom Poko.

On a personal note, the first movie I ever saw was Pom Poko.

I often hear music box versions of its songs played in massage parlors and relaxation salons.

It’s a work that lets you feel a strong sense of connection.