A special feature on Mariya Takeuchi’s best songs: a must-hear collection of masterpieces for both longtime fans and first-time listeners.

Let’s go home (My Sweet Home)Takeuchi Mariya

Mariya Takeuchi – Let's Go Home (My Sweet Home) [Live Version / 2000 @ Nippon Budokan]

It’s her 21st single, and it has been used as a drama theme song as well as in various commercials over many years.

That alone shows how widely the lyrics resonate with people, and its pleasant sound has won broad popularity.

There’s no doubt it’s a classic.

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Yoshizaki Keiko

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Rainy driveTakeuchi Mariya

Mariya Takeuchi / Rainy Drive [cover]

This is a masterpiece that resonates deeply, weaving an urban, sophisticated rain sound with jazz piano into a mature love story.

Mariya Takeuchi, often called the queen of city pop, paints an evening drive in the rain.

The lyrics delicately capture the twilight scenery reflected in the car window and the subtle shifts of the heart, gently stirring the listener’s senses.

Featured on the album “Miss M,” released in December 1980, this gem from the Tokyo recording sessions stands out with an evocative piano solo by Nobuyuki Shimizu.

It’s a work of passion, with both lyrics and music by Takeuchi herself.

Perfect for a rainy-day drive date or a quiet night by the window lost in thought.

A heartfelt recommendation for those who savor a lingering adult mood or are interested in Japanese ballads with a jazz-inflected touch.

Lonely WomanTakeuchi Mariya

Released on November 18, 1996 (Heisei 8).

Featured in the TBS drama “Gimu to Engi” (“Duty and Performance”).

Based on Makiko Uchidate’s novel and starring Yuko Asano, it followed the popular pattern of the time: dramas watched by working women.

The lyrics vividly portray the emotional push-and-pull between men and women.

It peaked at No.

13, with sales of 166,000 copies.

Angel’s SighTakeuchi Mariya

Mariya Takeuchi – An Angel’s Sigh (Official Music Video)

A song released in 1999 that served as the theme for the film “Himitsu.” It explores the loneliness people carry and was also composed as a requiem for her late best friend.

Its wistful, solitary, hymn-like sound is especially striking.

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Yoshizaki Keiko

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Storm of LoveTakeuchi Mariya

Love Storm (Mariya Takeuchi)

A song released in 1986.

Although the lyrics depict an extramarital affair, the bright rhythm keeps it from feeling heavy.

The light chorus at the beginning is striking, and even though it’s a painful love, it somehow makes your heart dance…

It’s a quintessential song of hers that captures the feelings of a woman in that situation.

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Yoshizaki Keiko

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ReplyTakeuchi Mariya

Mariya Takeuchi – Reply (Official Music Video)

This is the song that became the theme for the 2006 film “Sea Without Exit,” with the arrangement handled by her husband, Tatsuro Yamashita.

Its wistful melody and heartrending lyrics tighten the chest and move the listener’s heart.

Reading the lyrics carefully stirs even deeper emotions.

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Yoshizaki Keiko

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Silent LegendTakeuchi Mariya

Mariya Takeuchi – Quiet Legend (Official Music Video)

Mariya Takeuchi’s new song “Shizukana Densetsu (Legend)” is built around acoustic guitar, with touches of folk and blues here and there.

That said, the vocal line is classic J‑pop.

There aren’t any particularly difficult parts, so even those who can’t hit high notes or aren’t confident in their singing can relax.

Although it’s a brand‑new track, it’s wrapped in a nostalgic melody, so women in their 40s should definitely give it a try.

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Ryo

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