Songs for Sunday. Classic and popular Japanese tracks

Passion Broken Heart ~ A Sunday After the Rainpunapuna minto

03_Rainy Sunday After the Rain

This is a song from an album by Maki Otsuki (now Maki Otsuki), who sang the theme song for the smash-hit anime ONE PIECE.

It’s about falling deeply in love and then suffering a heartbreaking breakup.

For some reason, even after being dumped, she quietly opens the door to her ex’s home, hurting herself even more—but despite that, the song is poppy and upbeat.

Kigashira, an umbrella, and SundaySukima Suichi

Sukima Switch “Me, an Umbrella, and Sunday produced by Takao Tajima (ORIGINAL LOVE)” recording footage

It’s a heartbreak song about a man walking through the city under a clear vinyl umbrella, remembering the days he spent with the girlfriend who left him on a rainy Sunday.

The breakup words came from her, but he says the cause lies with himself—there were so many days they couldn’t meet, and he kept making her endure her loneliness.

It’s a bittersweet song.

A warm and cozy SundayIssun-bōshi

Warm and Cozy Sunday (Kaguya-hime) covered by Issun-boshi

This is a song by Kaguyahime from the early 1970s.

It’s a casual, conversational everyday song describing a first date—pure, simple, and heartwarming—but at the end it sings about a boy who, even past twenty, still lacks confidence.

That might have been fine for that era, but nowadays a boy like that might not get a second date.

Sunday’s SecretHatsune Miku/GUMI

Sunday’s Secret / HoneyWorks feat. Hatsune Miku & GUMI

This is an insert song from the creator unit HoneyWorks’ “I’ve Always Liked You: Confession Executive Committee.” It’s what you’d call an anime song, but what an adorable poem it is! It reminded me of a time like that.

The feelings you can only experience in your teens are precious, aren’t they?

Our Sunday for Twotenchi mari

Mari Amachi “Futari no Nichiyōbi” May 2, 1976 Hakata Dontaku Eve Festival

So nostalgic.

This is a hit song by Mari Amachi, the quintessential idol of that era.

I’ve heard that Keisuke Kuwata from Southern All Stars was also a huge fan of Mari-chan.

She made a comeback after quite a number of years away at one point, but because there were variety show segments where she had to put herself on the line, Kuwata supposedly lamented, saying, “Please, don’t ruin the image.”

Our SundayTerashima Yufu

Well then, Feeling, Our Sunday by Yufu Terashima with Yuru-ffies

Yufu Terashima, who has admired Morning Musume since childhood and is also known as a major yuru-chara enthusiast, is active in various collaborations with mascots from all over Japan.

However, she’s also a highly accomplished woman, having graduated from Waseda University’s Faculty of Letters and holding first-class teaching licenses for junior high and high school.

Her graduation thesis was “on the theme of yuru-chara,” suggesting she’s engaged in research that goes beyond mere fandom.

Sunny SundayMoritaka Chisato

Chisato Moritaka “Sunny Sunday” [Self-Cover]

It’s a song where Chisato Moritaka’s refreshing vocals really shine.

From the title alone, you might imagine it’s about a lovely Sunday, but then these rather suggestive lines drop in here and there.

It’s definitely singing about happiness, yet when it mentions “family service,” that would imply a married woman.

And then there’s the line, “Usually, I used to walk arm in arm with that person,” which makes you wonder—what does that mean? It’s a song that really stirs the imagination.