Songs to listen to in autumn: Ranking of popular Japanese bands [2026]
Since it’s the season of autumn music, how about lending an ear this year to artists you don’t usually listen to?
We’ve selected songs from Japanese bands that are perfect for fall, so you’re sure to find one or two that strike a chord.
Let’s make it a season full of diverse interests!
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Songs to Listen to in Autumn: Popular Japanese Band Track Rankings [2026] (71–80)
Beyond a thousand nightsAqua Timez71rank/position
This song was chosen as the theme for the anime Bleach: Memories of Nobody.
It’s one of the signature tracks by the rock band Aqua Timez and was released in 2006 as their second single.
It’s a pure love song that sings, “Among all the truths I found in the life I’ve walked, there is just one: I love you—and I want to tell you that.” The overwhelming sincerity of the feelings for the other person will loosen your tear ducts.
It feels perfectly suited to autumn, a season that, oddly enough, deepens our sense of loneliness.
Islanders’ TreasureBEGIN72rank/position
When you think of Okinawa, you think of summer! And when you think of BEGIN, you think of summer too! That might be true, but since this song has a relaxed tempo, it makes you want to listen to it in autumn as well.
The gentle singing truly soothes the heart.
Even if it’s not Okinawa, it makes you remember your hometown and your family.
AnswerBUMP OF CHICKEN73rank/position
This is a song by BUMP OF CHICKEN, a popular rock band from Chiba Prefecture.
It was released in 2016 as a digital-only single.
Written specifically as the theme song for the anime March Comes in Like a Lion, it drew a lot of attention.
The refreshing sound and vocals are really pleasant.
Song of the WheelsBUMP OF CHICKEN74rank/position
It’s a beloved classic supported by many fans.
Although it has a bright, country-style feel, it depicts a morning farewell with someone precious.
You give a person you may never see again a ride on your bicycle and head to the station at dawn.
The bittersweet story comes vividly to mind and tightens your chest.
The mandolin’s tone perfectly matches the sentimental atmosphere of late autumn.
The song was released in December 2004 as a single from the masterpiece Yggdrasil.
On those long autumn nights when you find yourself longing for company, please take your time and give it a careful listen.
threadBank Band75rank/position
Bank Band is a supergroup centered around Mr.
Children’s vocalist Kazutoshi Sakurai and music producer Takeshi Kobayashi.
Their rendition of Miyuki Nakajima’s “Ito” is filled with a bittersweetness that only Bank Band can evoke.
Set to a slow tempo with a simple, steady rhythm, the sound is accented by a stylish saxophone that appears partway through.
Sakurai’s husky yet high-toned vocals are a perfect fit for autumn.
Be sure to give this arrangement—packed with both poignancy and sophistication—a listen at least once!
OtonokeCreepy Nuts76rank/position
It’s a song that makes you feel a mysterious power, as if the music itself possesses your heart like a supernatural phenomenon.
Crafted by the hugely popular hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts, known for their exceptional skill, this piece portrays a deep connection between creator and listener that seems to resonate with pain and sorrow.
The driving beat and the occult-tinged, enigmatic lyrics create a world you can’t help but get hooked on.
Released in October 2024, it also drew major attention as the opening theme for the anime “Dandadan.” It’s perfect for heightening the mood when you want to create a slightly thrilling, mysterious short video for a long autumn night.
It’s a small worldKing Gnu77rank/position
When it comes to a King Gnu song to listen to in early autumn, “It’s a small world” is the one.
Many of their tracks have a unique worldview, but this song especially leaves a strong impression.
Both the music and the lyrics evoke a sense of claustrophobia.
The repeated lines “You don’t have to become an adult” and “I want to live in your world” may be what connects to the song’s title.
The track is included on the 2019 album “Sympa.” It’s a song you’ll want to sit with alone on an autumn night.
SPECIALZKing Gnu78rank/position
This is a provocative number by King Gnu, written as the opening theme for Season 2 of the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen: Shibuya Incident.
Its dark, weighty sound powerfully captures the chaotic worldview of the original story.
The song likens life to a labyrinth and belts out feelings for a special someone found within it.
Setting itself apart from run-of-the-mill love songs, its raw, headlong energy sparked such fervor that it became the band’s fastest track to surpass 100 million total streams on the Billboard JAPAN charts, doing so in just 12 weeks.
It’s the perfect song for a long autumn night when you don’t just want to wallow in sentimentality, but crave something that will shake you to your core.
walnutMr.Children79rank/position
The title “Kurumi” personifies the “future that’s about to come.” The song is about life, with its meetings and farewells, and it’s a perfect fit for autumn, when you can’t help but feel a little melancholic.
If you listen to it when you feel like crying or when you’re tired, it will lift your spirits, so please give it a try.
Regarding “Kurumi,” Sakurai has said, “I didn’t think so at first, but this song feels like the origin of Mr.Children.”
Shadows of SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE80rank/position
Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, known for popular songs like “Lilac” and “Dancehall,” released a perfect end-of-summer track in August 2025.
It’s their first summer-themed song in about seven years since “Ao to Natsu.” The lyrics capture an indescribable, sentimental feeling that comes with the changing seasons.
There’s a bittersweetness in the way the protagonist blames their pounding heart and hesitation on the summer heat and the lengthening shadows.
Give it a listen as you savor the passing days of summer.