Sakanaction’s classic and popular songs

Shandy gaffSakanakushon

Shandy gaff

Among the tracks on the concept album “Adapt,” this is a hidden gem that conveys the warmth of everyday life.

Featured on the album released in March 2022, it may not have had any major tie-ins, but the groove born from the band’s sessions feels incredibly comfortable.

As vocalist Ichiro Yamaguchi mentioned on the radio, calling it “the song of the Noborito house,” it carries an intimate atmosphere—less like a vast stadium and more like relaxing at home.

It paints everyday scenes, like spending time with a cocktail in hand, and its lyrics, which quietly recount loneliness and solitude, sink deep into the heart.

Flashy dance numbers have their charm, but this is a perfect song to listen to alone on a quiet night with a drink.

Immerse yourself in the profound world of Sakanaction.

Matches and PeanutsSakanakushon

Matches and Peanuts

This highly addictive track beautifully fuses the wistful charm of Showa-era kayōkyoku with a body-swaying disco beat.

“Match to Peanuts,” included on Sakanaction’s double album 834.194 released in June 2019, is said to have been crafted by vocalist Ichiro Yamaguchi with the sensibilities of 1970s music and old manga in mind.

Its lyrics, depicting the dampness and dryness that linger in a late-night room, combine with the repetitive rhythm to create a strange sensation that seems to seep into the listener’s senses.

While it may not have a flashy tie-in, it’s an essential track that shapes the flow of the album.

This piece is perfectly suited for those sleepless nights when you want to quietly sink into your thoughts, or when you’re in the mood for something a little uncanny.

834.194Sakanakushon

834.194

This track, which shares its name with the album title, symbolizes the deep world of Sakanaction’s album “834.194.” Released in June 2019, it’s an epic piece running over seven minutes, created in collaboration with Sapporo-born musician Kuniyuki Takahashi.

Though it’s an instrumental with no vocals, listening to it evokes the distance between the two cities of Sapporo and Tokyo, as well as the long journey the band has taken—like waves of sound washing over you.

While it transcends the boundaries of conventional pop with its experimental sound, it somehow resonates with a unique sense of comfort that only they can achieve.

It’s astonishingly well-suited to quiet nights alone with the lights turned down, or aimless late-night drives through the city.

Precisely because there are no words, you can project your own emotions onto it—making for a deeply immersive track.

streamlineSakanakushon

streamline

A track that leaves a strong impression with its sensation of drifting between waves of sound and its intentionally gritty texture.

The band Sakanaction, known for fusing rock and dance music with their unique aesthetic, included it on their album DocumentaLy, released in September 2011.

Based on an original song Ichiro Yamaguchi composed as a solo vocal-and-guitar piece, the production deliberately uses a rough recording take and degrades the sound with tape, reflecting a meticulous approach to sound design.

Rather than emphasizing melodic highs and lows, the structure pursues acoustic comfort, creating an addictive quality that deepens with each listen.

It pairs well with ethereal lighting effects and has been presented live with strong visual elements.

It’s a perfect number for late-night drives or for nights when you want to quietly immerse yourself in the world of music alone.

tea stalk standing upright (in a cup)Sakanakushon

tea stalk standing upright (in a cup)

It’s a piece filled with tranquility and comfort, as if the fragrance of tea were wafting through the air.

Inspired by an encounter with the tea shop GEN GEN AN in Shibuya, the work beautifully depicts the small moments of happiness that appear in everyday life as a sonic landscape.

Included on DISC-2 of the album “834.194,” released in June 2019, it encapsulates their unique aesthetics of space within its brief 3 minutes and 46 seconds.

Different from the exhilaration of dance music, its minimal sound seems to steady the listener’s heartbeat.

Why not give it a listen when you’re worn out by busy days or during a quiet, relaxing time savoring a warm drink on your own?

Crescent Moon SunsetSakanakushon

Sakanaction / Crescent Moon Sunset -Music Video-

Mr.

Yamaguchi himself said, “In the sense that it changed every time we layered on more time, it’s the most Sakanakution-like song.” It’s very easy to listen to, and you can sense that it was “casually made while looking at the moon” in its tone.

Me and FlowersSakanakushon

Sakanaction / Me and the Flower -Music Video-

This song was used as the theme song for the drama “A 37-Year-Old Became a Doctor: A Purehearted Intern’s Story,” starring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi.

The flow of the lyrics in this song is also very pleasant, and you can’t help but get absorbed in it.

Lyrics like these aren’t about stringing together meaningless words just for the flow; it’s said that the writer searches and searches for words that truly express what they want to say, and that’s how such a wonderfully smooth, comforting set of lyrics is created.