[Tanabata Song] Exquisite Japanese love songs to listen to under the starry sky
When it comes to Tanabata on July 7, the famous story is that it’s the one day of the year when Orihime and Hikoboshi are allowed to meet.
Maybe because of that episode, don’t you find yourself wanting to listen to fleeting, bittersweet love songs when Tanabata comes around? In this article, we’ll introduce love songs with a Tanabata theme that we recommend, as well as tracks that will move those in long-distance relationships and romantic songs that are perfect for the night sky.
If you’re looking for BGM for a Tanabata event or want to expand your karaoke repertoire, be sure to check it out!
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- A timeless masterpiece that lets you feel the cosmos. A space-themed song filled with dreams and love, evoking starry skies and galaxies.
- Masterpieces that sing of the stars. Star songs that resonate in the heart, best heard beneath the night sky.
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- A love song for grown-ups. A romantic tune to listen to at night.
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- Love songs you want to listen to in summer. Love songs that color the summer.
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- Hidden gems of Japanese love songs. Recommended popular tracks.
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[Tanabata Songs] Exquisite Japanese love songs to listen to under the starry sky (1–10)
Wish Upon a StarAYANE
A gem of a ballad by AYANE that sings of longing for a loved one far away, much like the tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi.
Released in June 2023, this emotionally rich piece was written and composed by AYANE herself together with Haruhito Nishi.
Its delicate piano and string arrangement, paired with her translucent vocals, crafts a beautiful melody that tenderly portrays the ache of wishing for a reunion.
It will surely resonate deeply with those spending lonely nights in a long-distance relationship or eagerly awaiting the moment they can see someone dear again.
Listen under the Tanabata night sky, and the wishes you entrust to the stars will etch themselves even more deeply into your heart.
On a day when stars fallaiko
Under a sky full of stars, this gem of a love ballad by aiko is sung with heartfelt feelings for someone special.
With the starry night as its motif, its delicate lyrics intertwine aching longing and hope, resonating deeply in the heart.
Released in November 2023 as her 44th single, it drew major attention as aiko’s first release marking the 25th anniversary of her debut.
For couples in long-distance relationships or those who can’t easily see someone dear to them, it’s sure to be a song that offers emotional support.
Listen to it with your partner on the night of Tanabata, and, overlaying your feelings with those of Orihime and Hikoboshi, you’ll feel your bond grow even stronger.
City of StardustGosuperāzu
A gem-like ballad by The Gospellers that sings of the bittersweetness of long-distance love and the warmth of affection, woven into a beautiful harmony like stars shining in the night sky.
In this piece, each member is given a solo part, and their distinct voices overlap to create a stunning harmony, like a constellation.
Released in November 2002, the song was also loved as the theme for the Fuji TV drama “The Life of Genius Professor Yanagisawa,” and it reached No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.
It’s the perfect song for those holding thoughts of a loved one far away, or for couples who want to spend Tanabata night with someone special.
[Tanabata Songs] Exquisite Japanese Love Songs to Listen to Under the Starry Sky (11–20)
On the starHirai Dai
This is a beautiful ballad by Dai Hirai that sings of a bittersweet love, entrusting one’s feelings to the stars shimmering in the Tanabata night sky.
Included on the May 2015 album “Slow & Easy,” the song is marked by a gentle melody woven from surf music and acoustic sounds.
It will deeply resonate with those in long-distance relationships or anyone carrying feelings for someone they can’t easily meet.
Sung with Hirai’s warm vocals, the lyrics are sure to make for a special moment when listened to under the starry sky.
On Tanabata night, why not listen to it while gazing up at the heavens with someone you love?
Milky WayMatsuyama Yuta
A gem of a love ballad that echoes on Tanabata night, sung over a sweet and wistful melody.
Released in 2010, this song by Yuta Matsuyama is a classic that, inspired by the tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi, richly expresses feelings for a lover far away.
In 2021, a newly rearranged acoustic version—imbued with 11 years of sentiment—was also released and used as the tie-in song for the YouTube voice drama “The Milky Way’s Intertwined Harp Sings of Love.” It’s the perfect track for couples in long-distance relationships or for anyone wanting to spend a romantic moment under the starry sky.
The Story You Don’t Knowsupercell
Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari, one of supercell’s most popular songs, was chosen as the ending theme for the UHF anime Bakemonogatari.
It’s a perfect fit for Tanabata! That’s because the lyrics use words that evoke the festival.
It’s an unrequited love song that depicts a bittersweet romance ending without the feelings of “love” ever being conveyed.
Surely, every time you look at the summer constellations, you’ll be reminded of the person you like.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to on a Tanabata night under the starry sky.
At the star-street stationtuki.
A gem-like ballad by tuki.
that sings of feelings for a loved one separated by distance and the hope of reunion.
Released in June 2024, this song is also included on her first album, “15,” which she created at the age of 15, and it’s filled with raw, genuine emotion.
The lyrics, carried by her clear, transparent voice, express a brave resolve that refuses to lose hope for the future despite the loneliness and pain of being unable to meet.
They will deeply resonate with those in long-distance relationships or spending much time apart from someone dear.
Listen to it on the night of Tanabata, gazing up at the starry sky, and it will surely stay close to your heart.