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.

Playlist

For When You Want to Get Sentimental: Classic Japanese Songs Overflowing with a Melancholic Atmosphere
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	mintSuchmos		Suchmos’ new song, friendship theme
2	Cassis orangeBAK		BAK 'Cassis Orange' is a song that depicts the emotions of a breakup.
3	Sentimental Kiss (Acoustic ver.)Shio Reira		Introducing sentimental songs to listen to after a breakup
4	Night Flightnishina		Nishinaga sings an autumn-appropriate song, Night Flight
5	creamyama		yama’s second release, a melancholic track provided by Kujira
6	Mr. Summertimesaakasu		The circus’s cover song is a million seller.
7	Come Back To Mem-flo		Introduction to m-flo's emotional ballad works
8	Dress DownAkimoto Kaoru		Kaoru Akimoto’s nostalgic yet fresh love-support song
9	Just like back thenBureddo & Batā		Bread & Butter captivatingly sing Showa-era pop songs
10	Time is a heat hazeKarurosu Toshiki & Omega Toraibu		A masterpiece by Toshiki Kadomatsu
11	In the midst of the trivialHoshino Gen		Gen Hoshino’s song episode: speaking about the importance of everyday life
12	cotton candyback number		A bittersweet ballad by back number
13	NatsuneYuuri		Yuri's Natsune portrays a bittersweet love.
14	Boy Friendsutoreitenaa		Straightener's bittersweet love song
15	Song of the Eternal NightKami wa saikoro o furanai		Ballad of God Does Not Play Dice
16	It’ll get stained.Chatto Monchī		The true feelings of a weak woman who puts on a brave front
17	Sayonara ColorSUPER BUTTER DOG		The delicate masterpiece by SUPER BUTTER DOG
18	milk teaUA		UA’s 1998 “Milk Tea”
19	Before morning comesHata Motohiro		Expressing loneliness and time in a song by Motohiro Hata
20	MelodyTamaki Kōji		A ballad singing about Koji Tamaki’s past
21	Sentimental KissShio Reira		A song that depicts an unbreakable, lingering love
22	Stars are falling.Senchimirimentaru		A heartbreaking winter ballad that sings of unrequited love
23	Night of Osmanthuskinoko teikoku		A wistful autumn song by Kinoko Teikoku
24	What is happiness?Chiba Yūki		A moving masterpiece that questions the essence of happiness
25	366 daysHY		A haunting, heart-wrenching ballad that sings of the pain of heartbreak
26	hydrangeaPEOPLE 1		A poignant ballad, a timeless song that resonates with the heart
27	1991Yonezu Kenshi		Kenshi Yonezu’s 1991, a masterpiece that portrays emotions
28	JANE DOEYonezu Kenshi, Utada Hikaru		Yonezu and Utada’s classic song from the Chainsaw Man ending
29	I want to be loved.Oku Hanako		A song about the earnest desire to be loved
30	tearsHitsuji Bungaku		A soul-stirring song that portrays the love and anxieties between parent and child
31	LemonYonezu Kenshi		Kenshi Yonezu’s theme song “Lemon” is a moving masterpiece that resonates with the heart.
32	waxing; filling up; becoming full; growing (e.g., the moon growing fuller)Fuji Kaze		Singing of the emptiness and fulfillment of love, and the acceptance of change
33	SubtitleOfisharu Higedan Dism		The theme song of “silent,” a famous track by Official HIGE DANDism.
34	rendezvousshaitoopu		Sheitoupe, popular on social media, depicts the pain of heartbreak.
35	I want to be loved.Mioyamazaki		Mio Yamazaki’s heartrending vocals that soothe loneliness
36	L.A. NightsAgawa Yasuko		Yasuko Agawa's Los Angeles Recollection
37	PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism		Depicting the poignant feelings of a man who gives up on love
38	Maplesupittsu		Spitz's poignant, heart-touching ballad
39	I want to be kinder.Saitō Kazuyoshi		Kazuyoshi Saito’s classic: the complex emotions of self and love
40	Agate Caressed by NightAyase		A wistful ballad depicting a farewell to a loved one
41	Thread of feelingstonun		Tonun's new ballad song
42	spin; weave; compose (e.g., a story)tota		Tota-san’s “Tsumugu” is a song that expresses parting through the weather.
43	bergamotTomonari Sora		A retro-futuristic city pop that portrays urban loneliness
44	Crescent Moon SunsetSakanakushon		Impressive songs by Sakanaction
45	moon bathingYorushika		A mesmerizing song that evokes the end of summer
46	Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)Yonezu Kenshi		A youth song by Kenshi Yonezu and Masaki Suda
47	Late Summer (A Season for One)Arai Yumi		The end of love layered over the seasons’ scenery
48	Memory LaneCIMBA		Simba’s sentimental R&B classic
49	to shake; to sway; to waverDADAKAKA		Introduction to Dadakaka's neo-soul music works
50	I’m falling in love with you againbiriibanban		Bilibanban: a sentimental masterpiece singing of love
51	Picnickiseru		Kicell 2001, portraying the bittersweetness of a picnic
52	metropoliskurisutaru kingu		Crystal King's smash-hit classic
53	Sakuragichōyuzu		A ballad that accepts a farewell, filled with memories of Sakuragichō
54	Goodbye, SunsetSuga Shikao		A ballad that overlays the pain of parting onto the city’s evening skyline
55	string telephonenatori		A bittersweet love-ballad by Natori
56	moonlightSenchimirimentaru		Music of vitality within resignation
57	LonelyNulbarich		A heartrending love song that portrays loneliness and farewell
58	Last FragranceAmatsuki		A ballad that likens memories to a fragrance
59	Immoral Cafenarumiya		Narumiya’s new song delicately expresses the ache of unrequited love.
60	A deserted seaToa e moa		An encouraging enka-pop song filled with love
61	Words I will never forgetAjimine Kiwako		A masterpiece of enchanting music that soothes the soul
62	willNakajima Mika		A sentimental classic that portrays a boyish heart searching for stars and love
63	KanadeSukima Suichi		A gemlike ballad by Sukima Switch
64	tokyo towerKadamatsu Toshiki		A sentimental song themed around Tokyo Tower
65	ElegyBONNIE PINK		BONNIE PINK’s ballad of hope and prayer
66	That wonderful love once moreKatō Kazuhiko, Kitayama Osamu		An earnest longing for lost love and youth
67	meaning of lifeDj masterkey feat. Hi-Timez & Juju		A song that questions the meaning of life through rap and vocals
68	Sexual MethodHarvard		A heartbreaking love song classic from Harvard
69	spiral squallKeyco		Keiko's sentimental masterpiece
70	The first cry of love, the wail of sorrowLeina		Delicately portraying the emotions of love and parting
71	yellow magic carnivalManá		An AOR classic with cute vocals
72	Blues in the Closetzutto mayonaka de ii no ni.		A jazz-pop fusion song with complex emotional depiction
73	Words of FarewellKaientai		A classic graduation song by Tetsuya Takeda, themed around parting and kindness.
74	Sans toi, ma mieKoshiji Fubuki		An enka song that paints a scene of heartbreak with a deep, intimidating vocal
75	HandleDOUBLE		A sentimental masterpiece that reflects on the diva’s past
76	Strawberry Statement Once Againbanba hirofumi		Banba Hirofumi's melancholic masterpiece
77	BoyhoodInoue Yosui		Inoue Yosui’s sentimental classic, a song about nostalgic memories
78	I’m in loveAran Tomoko		A classic song that sings of Tomoko Aran’s loneliness
79	wrap (as in: wrap up filming)Yamazaki Ikusaburo		Ikusaburo Yamazaki's heartbreaking farewell ballad
80	Try to sayTouyama Hitomi		Get sentimental with a melody of reminiscence
81	I want to go far away.Jerī Fujio		A classic album from the Showa era, with gentle melodies and a gritty vocal
82	cold rainhaifaisetto		Wandering in the rain, I pour out feelings that cannot be forgiven.
83	Ah, Ueno StationIzawa Hachirō		Singing gratitude to my parents, set at Ueno Station
84	Unforgettable DaysMISIA		Misia’s classic, cherishing the lost days as treasures
85	Midnight JokeTakako Mamiya		Takako Mamiya’s jazzy classic perfect for a night drive