For When You Want to Get Sentimental: Classic Japanese Songs Overflowing with a Melancholic Atmosphere
There are times when you suddenly find yourself feeling sentimental, aren’t there?
Cheering yourself up is one way to go, but it might also be nice to just let yourself be as you are in those moments.
In this article, we’ve picked out songs you can sink into on a sentimental day.
Letting yourself go with the flow and listening to classics like these can be surprisingly soothing.
These tracks aren’t just for autumn nights—you can enjoy them in all sorts of seasons and situations.
Hopefully you’ll find a song that fits your sentimental mood.
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- A nostalgic song—a timeless classic that somehow feels familiar and touches the heart.
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[For when you want to feel sentimental] Classic Japanese songs overflowing with a melancholic vibe (71–80)
yellow magic carnivalManá
This is a masterpiece by Mana, who masterfully rides on cute vocals with superb taste, blending elements of AOR and city pop.
The sensibility of a charming female perspective approaches memories of bygone days, creating a fresh worldview, and the result is a sentimental song that lets you slip naturally into the music.
Blues in the Closetzutto mayonaka de ii no ni.
A captivating track that fuses jazz and pop.
The lyrics portray emotional complexity and inner conflict, leaving a deep impression that sinks in as you listen.
Released in June 2024 as an insert song for the film “Even If I Like You, I’ll Play Hard to Get,” it’s a richly layered piece that resonates with the film’s world.
It might be perfect for those slightly lonely feelings on a summer evening.
Amid awkward communication—empty gestures and timid conversations—you can sense the true feelings hidden beneath.
Savor this song packed with a fresh side of Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni.
(“ZUTOMAYO”).
Words of FarewellKaientai
This is a renowned song by Kaientai, centered around Tetsuya Takeda, which has also become famous as a standard graduation song.
With parting as its theme, its lyrics—encouraging listeners to cry as much as they need because greater sadness fosters greater kindness—have resonated with many, captivating countless listeners.
As a sentimental piece, its presence has a universal, enduring significance in Japan.
Sans toi, ma mieKoshiji Fubuki
With exquisitely gritty, resonant vocals that pierce the heart with sorrow, this song blends a smoky, chanson-like atmosphere with a distinctly Japanese enka feel.
From the very beginning, the lyrics vividly evoke the concrete scenes of heartbreak, creating a deeply affecting, sentimental piece that exudes a panoramic sense of the cityscape.
HandleDOUBLE
It’s a masterpiece with a sophisticated, mature vibe: lyrics that fondly contemplate the past of Japan’s proud diva duo while letting the mind wander at the wheel.
The beautiful, floating track pairs with gorgeous vocals, creating a sentimental song that evokes the radiant scenes of a once-beautiful romance.
Strawberry Statement Once Againbanba hirofumi
This is a classic song sung by Hirofumi Bamba that radiates popularity and presence, often selected among the greatest hits of Showa-era kayōkyoku.
While looking back on student days spent with a lover, its wistful melody and vocals evoke sadness, and the vividly descriptive lyrics conjure up scenes that stir a deeply sentimental emotion.
BoyhoodInoue Yosui
A masterpiece by Yosui Inoue—one of the quintessential sentimental songs representing Japan.
It nostalgically recalls boyhood memories against summer scenery, then spans all four seasons in its lyrical world, singing of reality, dreams, and every shade of sentiment.
With masterful vocal control and an excellent melodic line, the song has earned immense acclaim and popularity.