threadNakajima Miyuki1rank/position

thread

Miyuki Nakajima’s “Ito” evokes the warmth of human connection.

First released in 1992 as a track on the album “EAST ASIA,” it later became widely cherished as a double A-side single after being chosen as the theme song for the 1998 drama “Seija no Koshin” (March of the Saints).

Its universal lyrics, likening life and encounters to the vertical and horizontal threads of a woven fabric, carry a gentle warmth that nestles close to the listener’s heart.

Loved for many years—including winning the Gold Award at the 2017 JASRAC Awards—this song is a timeless masterpiece filled with kindness, one that loosens the tautness of a weary heart under daily pressures.

Be sure to listen to it on a quiet night spent alone.

Go for it!Nakajima Miyuki2rank/position

Go for it!

This is a work that carries a warmth that gently gives you a push when you’re burdened with heavy weights on your heart.

Sung by Miyuki Nakajima, the song is a powerful yet earnest anthem for those who keep facing forward while living with unreasonable realities and loneliness.

After being included as the 7-minute-03-second final track on the classic album “Yokan,” released in March 1983, it was re-released as a double A-side single in May 1994.

It has continued to be embraced by many, featured in numerous advertisements—beginning with a 1994 Sumitomo Life commercial, then CalorieMate in 2012, UNIQLO in 2020—and in the 2017 drama “Yasuragi no Sato.” It’s a song to listen to quietly when you’re exhausted by days that don’t go as planned and you need the courage to face yourself.

era; age; time; periodNakajima Miyuki3rank/position

era; age; time; period

A classic penned by Miyuki Nakajima, one of Japan’s leading singer-songwriters.

The original version was released in December 1975 as her second single, drawing major attention after winning awards at the 10th Popular Song Contest and the 6th World Popular Song Festival.

She later released a self-cover in December 1993, and the song was used as the theme for the January 2020 film “Kiokuya: Anata o Wasurenai,” among many other media appearances over the years.

With a profound message that warmly embraces life’s milestones—meetings and partings alike—this number resonates deeply.

Its relaxed tempo and easy-to-remember melody make it a safe choice to sing at karaoke gatherings across generations.

Stars on EarthNakajima Miyuki4rank/position

Stars on the Ground / Miyuki Nakajima [Official]

The 37th single by Miyuki Nakajima, a singer-songwriter beloved across generations.

Chosen as the theme song for the documentary series “Project X: Challengers,” its powerful lyrics—filled with respect and encouragement for unsung challengers—perfectly align with the show’s worldview.

Sprinkling in keywords like wind and stars, the song shines a light on people who work quietly and steadily, resonating deeply with listeners of all ages.

Although released in July 2000, it became an exceptional long-running hit: after her performance at the 2002 Kohaku Uta Gassen, it reached No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Chart roughly 130 weeks after its release, and it remains a karaoke staple.

BirthNakajima Miyuki5rank/position

Birth

This is a song by Miyuki Nakajima that gently encourages those who have decided to restart their lives and step into a future with a new partner.

Even if you have the strength to live on your own, it carries a warm message that life becomes richer when you walk together with someone.

The song was released in March 1992 as the theme for the film “Kiseki no Yama: Sayonara, Meiken Heiji,” and is also included on the album “EAST ASIA.” Its sweeping melody tenderly seeps into hearts hesitant to take a step forward due to past experiences, as if blessing a new love.

Doesn’t it feel like a future where you can affirm each other’s very existence is unfolding right before your eyes?

The Wheat SongNakajima Miyuki6rank/position

Miyuki Nakajima “Song of Wheat” Music Video (Short Ver.) [Official]

This heartwarming song by Miyuki Nakajima begins with the emotive sound of Scottish bagpipes, into which Japanese lyrical melodies gently blend.

Tenderly singing of life abroad, farewells to loved ones, and hope for new beginnings, it offers a profound exploration of life’s subtleties.

Released in October 2014, the song was written as the theme for the NHK morning drama “Massan,” musically illuminating the true story of the couple who helped give birth to Japanese whisky.

It was also performed at the 65th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen that same year, moving many viewers.

How about humming it together during music recreation time? Its gentle tune and deep lyrics are sure to resonate with your heart.

At HomeNakajima Miyuki7rank/position

At Home

This is a work by Miyuki Nakajima that portrays the resolve to sever ties with the place one ought to return to and to live in the place one stands now.

Watching the last train bound for her hometown depart, the protagonist deliberately chooses not to go back—an image that overlaps with the loneliness and determination of someone breaking away from their past life to walk a new path alone.

The piece was included on the acclaimed 1977 June release “A-RI-GA-TO-U” and is also widely known as the B-side to the smash single “Wakare Uta.” It has been cherished as a song that colors the world of dramas crafted by So Kuramoto as well.

The warm folk sound seems to gently envelop both the loneliness that follows a major decision and the strength to keep looking forward despite it.