Popularity Ranking of Rentaro Taki’s Songs [2026]

regretTaki Rentarō15rank/position

resentment (uramI)

Rentaro Taki, who composed children’s songs and art songs that every Japanese person knows—such as “Kojo no Tsuki” (Moon Over Ruined Castle) and “Oshogatsu” (New Year)—left an indelible mark on the history of Japanese music.

Although he died far too young at the age of 23, his best-known works are the songs mentioned at the outset.

Yet in the dawn of Western music in Japan during the Meiji era, Taki was deeply influenced by German music and studied in Germany as the third Japanese musician sent to Europe.

He also became the first Japanese composer to write a piano solo piece, the “Minuet.” The piece introduced here, “Kan” (Regret), is one of Taki’s rare piano works and effectively his final composition.

Characterized by a beautiful yet faintly wistful melody, “Kan” is said—just as its title suggests—to embody Taki’s poignant feelings as he sensed his own approaching death.

One can’t help but wonder how the history of music in Japan and the world might have unfolded if Taki had lived longer; it may be worthwhile to listen to this piece while imagining such possibilities.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

MoonTaki Rentarō16rank/position

The Moon (Autumn Moon) / Rentaro Taki Michiko Tai

There are many children’s songs with the moon as their theme, but among them, “Tsuki” composed by Rentarō Taki is perhaps especially famous.

Although Taki is known as a composer, he actually wrote the lyrics for this “Tsuki” as well.

Picture the moon floating in the autumn sky and give it a listen.