Songs to listen to in autumn: Ranking of popular Japanese bands [2026]

The Autumn SongELLEGARDEN8rank/position

ELLEGARDEN – The Autumn Song LIVE 2007 (4/26)

This song, which expresses the loneliness and poignancy of autumn through a rock sound, was included in the compilation album “Figureheads Compilation” in July 2007 and later selected for the best-of album “Ellegarden Best (1999–2008),” making it a popular track.

While its energetic sound and exhilarating, fast-paced melodies are quintessential ELLEGARDEN, a closer look at the English lyrics reveals a delicate portrayal of the solitude and sense of loss that the autumn season brings.

It’s a curious song that vividly revives memories of school days spent with friends when you listen to it.

Give it a spin on a long autumn night when you want to immerse yourself in music alone.

Moonlight FlowerJanne Da Arc9rank/position

Janne Da Arc – Gekkouka (Moonlight Flower)

A poignant autumn classic that depicts fleeting love and the sorrow of heartbreak.

Known as one of Janne Da Arc’s signature songs, this single was released in January 2005 and was also used as the opening theme for the popular anime Black Jack.

Its distinctive arrangement blends ethereal strings with rock sounds, highlighted by Yasu’s expansive, resonant vocals.

The lyrics, which liken feelings for a lost lover to flowers, make it a song you’ll want to savor on long autumn nights.

With a karaoke-friendly melody line, it’s a track that evokes nostalgia for those who came of age in their 30s.

Have you seen the crimson-red sky?BUMP OF CHICKEN10rank/position

BUMP OF CHICKEN "Have You Seen the Crimson Sky?"

Born from a sunset Masukiyo Fujiwara witnessed during a creative slump, this track is a high-velocity rock number whose lyrics carry a nursery rhyme–like gentleness.

The uncertain distance—unsure whether the other person saw that red sky—evokes the ache of unrequited love.

It was included as the B-side to the single “Namida no Furusato” released in November 2006, and later collected on the B-sides compilation “present from you.” Having been completed after a period of anguish when he couldn’t write songs, the lyrics vividly reflect the struggles of creation and a thirst for expression.

It’s a song for anyone who’s ever been moved by a beautiful sunset—or who feels stuck and needs something to stir their heart.

KoiAndrop11rank/position

androp – “Koi” Music Video, theme song for the film “Until I Meet September’s Love”

androp is a four-piece rock band acclaimed for their meticulous sonic approach.

This song was written as the theme for the film “Until I Meet September’s Love” and released in February 2019 as their 11th single.

Even when fate stands in the way and meeting becomes impossible, an unwavering resolve to keep thinking of the other person is conveyed through delicate piano tones and a crystal-clear vocal.

Its pure, unadorned lyrics quietly stir the listener’s heart.

It’s a perfect classic for moments when you want to reaffirm your feelings for someone special, wrapped in the slightly wistful air of autumn.

Night of Osmanthuskinoko teikoku12rank/position

Kinoko Teikoku — Night of the Osmanthus

This song by Kinoko Teikoku delicately portrays the sentimental feelings that arrive in fleeting moments on autumn nights.

Carried by a beautiful, slightly ephemeral guitar tone, it quietly speaks of longing for someone unforgettable.

With the scent of fragrant olive stirring old memories, the lyrics—steeped in the ache of time that can never return—perfectly accompany the uniquely melancholic mood of autumn.

It was included on the album Time Lapse, released in September 2018.

An emotional yet gentle track, ideal for listening to at night when you’re spending time alone.

Crimson-colored sunsetFujifaburikku13rank/position

Fujifabric – Akane-Colored Sunset

The autumn-tinted evening sky has a way of stirring a certain wistful sadness, doesn’t it? A perfect match for such a scene is a classic ballad by the rock band Fujifabric.

It captures the loneliness of being far from home, and yet the glimmers of hope one still manages to find, resonating with a lyrical melody.

It’s not merely sorrowful—there’s a curious strength to it that lets you look forward just a little, even as you reflect on the past.

After first appearing as a demo on their indie-era mini album “a la mold,” the song was released as a single in September 2005.

It was also used as the ending theme for the TV Kanagawa program “saku saku.” It’s a track you’ll want to listen to on nights when you want to bask in summer memories, or when you wish to quietly sink into your thoughts alone.

astronomical observationBUMP OF CHICKEN14rank/position

BUMP OF CHICKEN “Stargazing”

BUMP OF CHICKEN’s signature song “Tentai Kansoku” became a major hit as an insert song for a drama of the same name.

The intro that starts with a guitar said to depict a shooting star is unforgettable, isn’t it? Vocalist and lyricist Motoo Fujiwara said, “It’s not a love song, it’s a song about rain,” but the lyrics are like a constellation that changes shape depending on how you look at it, with the story shifting based on the listener.

As the weather gets colder and the night sky grows clearer, stargazing might be a nice way to feel the approach of winter.

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Housui Sachiyo

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