Masashi Sada Popular Song Ranking [2026]

From the North Country: From the Distant Landsadamasashi8rank/position

From the North Country 2010: From the Distant Land – Hotaru's Theme

This piece is distinguished by a gentle, lyrical melody that evokes Hokkaido’s vast natural landscapes.

According to a well-known anecdote, Masashi Sada completed the basic structure in just about ten minutes, and its unique lyrics—made up solely of the two sounds “a” and “n”—leave a striking impression.

Released in September 1982 as a double A-side single, it became widely beloved as the theme song for a TV drama that began airing in 1981.

As a song emblematic of Hokkaido, it is frequently used on variety shows and at regional product fairs.

It’s a soothing track recommended for anyone seeking a cleansing, restorative escape from the bustle of everyday life.

Atonementsadamasashi9rank/position

Atonement

This song is well-known, isn’t it? The lyrics are based on a real experience of a woman I know.

They express the feelings of not knowing how to accept an apology from the person responsible after she lost her husband in a traffic accident.

It also seems the offender is a very sincere person and has been sending compensation without fail.

The Lion Standing in the Windsadamasashi10rank/position

The Lion Standing in the Wind

Here’s one you’ll want to sing as if telling a story, while feeling the vast African land beneath your feet.

It’s a song by Masashi Sada, a singer-songwriter from Nagasaki Prefecture, included on his album “Yume Kaikisen,” released in July 1987.

Framed as a letter from a doctor fighting on the medical front lines in Kenya to his lover in Japan, this is a grand-scale number.

It reportedly took about 15 years to complete.

Though it runs over eight minutes, the soaring climax is overwhelming and draws you in so completely you forget the length.

In 2015, it was adapted into a film starring Takao Osawa, and the song was used as the theme.

With its weighty theme that asks us to consider the preciousness of life, it’s perfect for moments when you want to deliver a heartfelt, gentle performance.

And it’s also a great choice to sing when you want to spur yourself on!

scarecrowsadamasashi11rank/position

scarecrow

Masashi Sada is a singer-songwriter who also works as a novelist, weaving countless stories.

Many listeners have surely been moved by his delicate, lyrical worldview.

Among his works, the one I’d like you to hear in the spring season of new departures is this piece, released in November 1977.

Its lyrics, like a letter worrying about siblings living in the city, deeply convey the love of family back home.

It’s a celebrated song that opens the album “Watashihana-shū,” and in 2011 it was also used as the theme song for the drama “Furusato: Musume no Tabidachi” (Hometown: A Daughter’s Departure).

The bittersweet yet warm melody, inspired by the image of someone standing in the snow, is sure to gently support anyone feeling anxious about a new chapter in life.

Please, remember your beloved hometown and listen quietly.

cosmos (flower)sadamasashi12rank/position

cosmos (flower)

A classic by Masashi Sada that begins with the image of delicate pale-pink blossoms swaying in the autumn sunlight.

Its lyrical portrayal of the bond between mother and daughter gently warms the hearts of listeners.

Included on the album “Watashihanashū,” released in March 1978, the song has since been covered by many artists and continues to be loved across generations.

Performed three times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, it has become deeply rooted in the Japanese music scene.

When facing a farewell with someone dear or the start of a new chapter in life, why not listen to this song and let it be a companion to your heart?

Birthdaysadamasashi13rank/position

Birthday Masashi Sada

Masashi Sada’s “Birthday,” selected as the theme song for NHK’s “Tsurube no Kazoku ni Kanpai,” stands out among birthday-related songs.

While many such songs express the feelings of the ones doing the celebrating, this piece portrays the happiness of the one being celebrated.

Its melody, which conveys heartfelt gratitude for the words “happy birthday,” is not only bright and festive, but also set in a relatively high key.

That higher range perfectly expresses sheer joy.

Don’t strain yourself, but with practice, definitely try tackling the original key!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

yuri

Report a problem

The sky of Hiroshimasadamasashi14rank/position

Hiroshima Sky by Masashi Sada

Created in 1987 and included on commemorative albums such as “Gekko,” this work is imbued with a prayer for peace.

Masashi Sada, a native of Nagasaki, composed the song based on his aunt’s experience as a Hiroshima bombing survivor, rendering the tragedy through quiet acoustic sounds and a poignantly transparent vocal that leaves a strong impression.

It is performed without fail at the annual concert held in Nagasaki on August 6.

You can sense Sada’s characteristic sense of mission to pass historical truth on to future generations.

Precisely because memories of war are fading in the present day, this is a masterpiece to which we should listen closely.

Take a moment to reflect quietly on the preciousness of peace.