[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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[Tanabata Songs] Exquisite Japanese love songs to listen to under the starry sky (21–30)
Stardust SunsetYU-KI
This is a gem-like ballad by YUKI that overlays the sparkle of stars scattered across the twilight sky with the dazzling moments of youth.
Released to the world in August 2007 as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “Papa to Musume no Nanokakan” (Seven Days of a Daddy and His Daughter), it marked YUKI’s first tie-in with a TV drama.
The lyrics, sung over a gentle and heartwarming melody, are sure to resonate with anyone who keeps feelings for someone dear tucked away in their heart.
Listen to it while gazing up at the Tanabata night sky, and you’ll find yourself wanting to make a wish upon the stars.
cometYunna
This is one of Younha’s signature ballads, sung with a clear, translucent voice that captures the bittersweetness of youth and a yearning for dreams.
The beautiful lyrics—woven in the Japanese she taught herself despite being from Korea—carry a pure, heartfelt wish to a shooting star glittering in the night sky.
Released in June 2005, it was loved by many as an ending theme for the popular anime BLEACH and reached a peak position of 15 on the Oricon charts.
It’s the perfect song for those who quietly hold thoughts of someone special while gazing up at the stars, or for anyone in a long-distance relationship who wants to express their feelings through song.
shooting starNakajima Mika
A gem-like ballad by Mika Nakashima that sings of feelings for a love that has passed, while gazing at shimmering shooting stars in the night sky.
Many fans praise its beautiful lyrics—sung with a clear, translucent voice—as “so heartrending that words can’t describe it.” Released in November 2009 as her 30th single, the song was also featured in a TV commercial for the housing information service Housemate.
The lyrics, carried by a gentle, warm melody, are sure to resonate deeply with those in long-distance relationships.
If you listen while looking up at the Tanabata night sky, your heart will tighten without you even realizing it.
Tears Sparkle☆supittsu
Some of you might often sing it at karaoke.
It was released in 1995 as the 12th single.
The lyrics’ word choices are lovely—stars in the summer night sky you gaze up at with someone you love.
The overall tone is refreshing, and the guitar’s rich, dimensional timbre leaves a strong impression.
It feels like a song you can enjoy not only for Tanabata, but throughout the entire summer.
astronomical observationBUMP OF CHICKEN
BUMP OF CHICKEN’s signature song “Tentai Kansoku” (Stargazing) became a hot topic as an insert song for a drama of the same name.
Its intro, starting with guitar said to depict a shooting star, leaves a strong impression.
The vocalist and lyricist Motoo Fujiwara remarked that it’s “not a love song but a song about rain,” yet the lyrics seem to let different stories surface depending on the listener.
Isn’t that a bit like constellations, which change shape depending on how you look at them?
July 7, sunnyDREAMS COME TRUE
This is a song by Dreams Come True that was tied in as the theme for the 1996 film “July 7th, Clear Skies.” It’s a slightly bittersweet Tanabata song that sings about believing in miracles and making wishes on Tanabata.
It makes you feel like you wish your feelings for the person you want to see could reach them on Tanabata.
meteorKobukuro
Released in 2010, Kobukuro’s ballad “Ryusei” centers on the theme of stars.
A grand, star-filled sky and the sight of a wish-bearing shooting star are expressed through Kobukuro’s harmonies and lyrics.
It’s a love song that conveys the feeling of a fate pulling two lovers together even as they pass each other by.