Songs from Spirited Away: theme song and insert songs
We’re introducing the theme and insert songs from Spirited Away, one of the most beloved and moving Studio Ghibli films!
This record-breaking film, the highest-grossing in Japanese box-office history, tells the story of a young girl who wanders into a world inhabited by myriad gods and struggles to return to her original world alongside her parents, who have been turned into pigs by the gods.
Her determination to keep moving forward despite loneliness inspires courage in everyone.
In this article, we’ve gathered the music from Spirited Away.
If you’re thinking, “I want to hear that song again!” or “I want to know the popular tracks!”, be sure to check it out!
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Songs from Spirited Away. Theme song and insert songs (11–20)
YubabaJoe Hisaishi
Titled “Yubaba,” this track was used for the unforgettable first appearance of that iconic character.
It perfectly amplifies the entrance of that potentially traumatizing, ultimate villain with an irresistibly eerie and unsettling mood.
The piano arrangement, brimming with a sense that something is about to happen and loaded with heart-pounding tension, is superb!
Chihiro’s WaltzJoe Hisaishi
This gentle, unhurried waltz titled “Chihiro’s Waltz” is likely a deeply memorable piece for anyone who has seen the film.
It is used in the scene where Haku remembers his own name and returns with Chihiro to Yubaba.
Among the film’s climactic moments, it is a cherished masterpiece that elevates one of the most moving, unforgettable scenes.
oil shopTsunehiko Kamijo
This is a piece used instrumentally in the film, titled “Work Is Tough.” In Spirited Away, the scenes where Chihiro and Lin diligently work are indispensable.
As the title suggests, this track is used in the scene where everyone is scrubbing the floors.
If you add lyrics, the impression changes drastically, but it’s a wonderful vocal song that perfectly conveys how tough work can be.
Work is tough.Joe Hisaishi
Sen somehow managed to land a job, but she’s a girl who has, of course, never really worked before.
This is a song depicting her daily efforts and hard work at the bathhouse where she comes to work in Spirited Away.
It also captures the atmosphere of the establishment very well.
SolitudeJoe Hisaishi
Titled “Solitude,” meaning “loneliness,” this richly emotional, grand piece—composed and arranged by Joe Hisaishi—unfolds with striking shifts in tempo, delivering a dramatic and expansive experience.
However, even those who have seen Spirited Away may find the track unfamiliar.
In fact, this piece is a rare one included only on the image album and does not appear in the film itself.
Lonely, lonely.Monsieur Kamayatsu
It’s the theme song of that iconic character, “No-Face,” a vocal track included on the image album.
Composed by Monsieur Kamayatsu with lyrics by Hayao Miyazaki, it’s a collaboration between the two.
The melody is somehow charming and cheerful, yet it conveys No-Face’s feelings and his emotions toward Chihiro.
Whether it’s love or possessiveness, the song exudes a bizarre atmosphere that even hints at eeriness, making it a curious work overflowing with a mysterious worldview.
Songs from Spirited Away. Theme song and insert songs (21–30)
Night is comingJoe Hisaishi
One of the tracks included on the “Spirited Away Image Album” is “Night Is Coming.” Its melody has a distinctly eerie quality, and some listeners might even find it a bit scary.
Judging from the title, “night” might still carry a somewhat frightening image for children around Chihiro’s age.
Even within that sense of fear, the piece shines with taste and artistry—an unmistakable Joe Hisaishi composition.