![[Music Funeral] BGM to Remember the Deceased | Spotlight on Requiems and Dirges Praying for Peace](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/MYo5alIaUOk/maxresdefault.webp)
In recent years, the term “music funeral” has become more common, and it’s increasingly popular to play music at funerals to honor the deceased.
It’s also said that more people are choosing songs in advance during their lifetime, entrusting their feelings to music as a way to express gratitude and love.
In this article, we introduce several recommended songs for remembering the departed and for use as funeral background music.
We’ve gathered a variety of pieces—songs that express feelings for the deceased, songs that convey gratitude for the past, classical works including requiems, and calm J-pop—so please use this as a reference.
- Songs to Play at My Own Funeral: Timeless Gems to Make Farewells Uniquely My Own
- [Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing someone dear. Tracks to listen to while thinking of a loved one.
- [Thank-You Song] A song to convey your feelings of “thank you” to someone special
- [Bereavement Song] To you whom I can no longer meet... Tear-jerking songs about death
- [Memorial Song] A moving classic and love song dedicated to a beloved person embarking on a journey to heaven
- Masterpieces of requiems and dirges
- A song I want people who have lost a beloved partner to listen to
- Great songs recommended for people in their 80s: a collection of tracks with lyrics that touch the heart
- A gentle song. A classic that calms the heart. A song that makes you feel kind.
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- A nostalgic song—a timeless classic that somehow feels familiar and touches the heart.
- [Standard] A compilation of popular songs recommended for award ceremonies [Classical / BGM]
- [For when you want to cry or feel sad] Tear-jerking masterpieces that make you cry when you listen
[Music Funeral] BGM to Remember the Deceased | Also Noteworthy: Requiems and Dirges Wishing for Peace (1–10)
I long to see you now.MISIA
MISIA, whose soul-stirring vocals have earned her a wide range of fans.
This song, “Aitakute Ima,” is also known for being the theme song of the hugely popular drama JIN, starring Takao Osawa.
As the title suggests, the lyrics are addressed to someone you long to see but cannot meet.
For those who have lost someone dear, or who, even after a long time has passed since their loved one’s passing, still ache with the desire to see them—this is an unforgettable, tear-inducing song that gently stays close to those feelings.
contrailMatsutōya Yumi
This is a song by Yumi Matsutoya, released in November 1973 as the B-side to the single “Kitto Ieru,” and then, about two weeks later, as the title track of an album.
Forty years later, in 2013, it was featured as the theme song for Hayao Miyazaki’s film The Wind Rises, bringing it renewed attention.
Hikōki Gumo was reportedly inspired by a classmate from elementary school who suffered from muscular dystrophy and passed away young.
The lyrics “Longing for the sky, that child ran off” convey a wish for a friend who endured illness to be freed from all pain and live happily.
era; age; time; periodNakajima Miyuki
This song, Miyuki Nakajima’s “Jidai,” which was selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs”—a collection of songs that represent Japan and that we hope will be sung for generations—was released in 1975.
It stands as one of Nakajima’s signature pieces and has been covered by numerous musicians.
It’s a number that fits perfectly with many moments in life—meetings and partings, times when you’re feeling down—and feels like an anthem that cheers you on.
It is also a profoundly moving song for remembering those who have passed away.
I miss youRADWIMPS
A gem of a song by RADWIMPS, with the repeated words “I want to see you” pressing on the heart.
It’s included on the album “2+0+2+1+3+1+1 = 10 years 10 songs,” released to mark ten years since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
It’s striking how the thoughts for the lives lost and the emotions of those left behind are expressed quietly yet powerfully.
The gentle sound of the guitar and Yojiro Noda’s vocals stay close to the listener’s heart.
It’s a song that can gently be there for those who have experienced parting with someone dear.
Along with warm memories, it may help those left behind take a new step forward.
Like the flow of a riverMisora Hibari
“Like the Flow of the River,” released in 1989 by Hibari Misora, is a song that represents Japan and one of Misora’s signature pieces.
Her gently soothing voice that seems to seep straight into the heart, along with lyrics that trace the course of a long life, make it a perfect song for remembering someone who has passed away.
It’s a piece you’ll want to listen to calmly and at ease—one that allows you to reflect on your own life as you cherish the memory of the departed.
Letter to the SkyGReeeeN
This is a song by GReeeeN, the popular music group known for hits like “Kiseki.” It was included on their 2009 album ‘Shio, Kosho.’ True to their style of singing straightforward messages to loved ones, this track was created after the band received messages from fans saying things like, “It was a favorite of someone who passed away, so we played it at the funeral.” The lyrics, written in GReeeeN’s characteristic, down-to-earth language, are a farewell message—poignant yet warm, a timeless song that gently seeps into the heart.
A song dedicated to my belovedKuwata Keisuke
Keisuke Kuwata, who suits the summer and the sea so well.
Although “A Song Dedicated to My Beloved” is about feelings for a loved one who is no longer here, it still carries a refreshing tone—very much a Kuwata-style number.
The song is included on Kuwata’s third best-of album, I LOVE YOU -now & forever-, released in 2012.
It’s a heartrending track that makes you think of someone precious and brings tears to your eyes before you know it.