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Songs with titles that start with “te.” Perfect for shiritori karaoke or song-title shiritori!

Can you think of any words that start with “te”? There are lots, whether in Japanese or English—like “tegami” (letter), “tentai” (celestial bodies), “teen,” and “take,” to name a few.

In this article, I’ll introduce a selection of songs that start with such words—tracks with titles beginning with “te.” Feel free to use this as a hint for karaoke shiritori where you connect the last character of a song title to the next, or for shiritori played with song titles only.

Since I’m assuming you might sing them at karaoke, I’ll mainly feature well-known J-pop this time.

Songs with titles starting with “Te”. Perfect for Shiritori karaoke or song-title Shiritori! (421–430)

Place of the AngelsYazawa Eikichi

This is a track included on the B-side of the sixth single, “I say Good-bye, So Good-bye,” released in 1979.

Unusually for Eikichi Yazawa, it’s a number that features the ukulele.

The lyrics were written by Shigesato Itoi, the well-known copywriter from Hobonichi (Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun).

In 1978, the autobiographical book “Nariagari” was published.

The planning, interviews, and editing for that book were handled by Shigesato Itoi, and it’s believed that connection led him to write the lyrics for this song.

In 1980, he also penned the lyrics for Kenji Sawada’s “TOKIO,” becoming a darling of the era.

Teenage Nekura Popishiburo

Stone Bath / Teenage Gloom Pop [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]
Teenage Nekura Popishiburo

A catchy rock number is implied to be the best! This is a song by Vocaloid producer Ishifuro, who also plays guitar in the rock band Necrytalkie, included on his major-label debut album released in 2013.

The nicely distorted guitar sound, a rhythm section that combines lightness with power, and miki’s straightforward vocals all fit together perfectly.

It’s the kind of track you’ll want to listen to while watching the sunset.

For beginners, a song at about this tempo should be an easy first challenge.

An angel would suffocate to death on earth.Shinsei Kamattechan

An angel would suffocate to death on the surface — PV by Shinsei Kamattechan
An angel would suffocate to death on earth.Shinsei Kamattechan

‘Tenshi ja chijo ja chissoku shi’ vividly portrays the raw emotions of a moment when “you’re just sick of everything.” The song is included on ‘Tsumanne,’ the album released in 2010 by Shinsei Kamattechan, a band beloved in Japan and abroad.

It gives voice to the unfiltered feelings that surface when you’re inescapably down, resonating over a rock sound with a slightly thrilling edge.

From calm delivery to near-shouted lines, vocalist Noko’s performance conveys the ebb and flow of emotion in this rock number.

From that astronomical numberShinsei Kamattechan

Shinsei Kamattechan – From That Astronomical Number 2016.9.7 Shibuya WWW X
From that astronomical numberShinsei Kamattechan

This is a romantic love song by Shinsei Kamattechan, included on their 2016 mini-album “Natsu.

Install.” The track uses the night sky and constellations as motifs, and even mentions Tanabata in the lyrics.

It drew attention because it features a solo part by member Chibagin.

Songs with titles starting with “Te”. Perfect for shiritori karaoke or song-title shiritori! (431–440)

As heaven willsJinno Mika

Mika Jinno “As Heaven Wills” Music Video
As heaven willsJinno Mika

Released in March 2024 as the second installment of Mika Jinno’s 40th-anniversary commemorative songs, “Ten no I no Mama” (“As Heaven Wills”) is a powerful track created by an all-star team: lyrics by Toyohisa Araki, composition by Tetsuya Gen, and arrangement by Yoshichika Inomata.

With its majestic sense of scale, the song captivates with a message that celebrates life.

Jinno’s vibrant vocals amplify its worldview, making it shine even more.

It’s a piece that fully showcases Jinno’s musicality and her stance as an artist.

When you find yourself at a crossroads in life, this song will surely give you a gentle push forward.

To the Sun in the Palm of Your Handdōyō

“Te no Hira o Taiyo ni” is a Japanese children’s song with lyrics by Takashi Yanase and music by Taku Izumi, written in 1961.

The song celebrates the warmth you feel when you hold your palms up to the sun and the joy of being alive.

It’s a beloved classic that teaches the preciousness of life, reminding us that even the smallest creatures are alive.

Since it was broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 1962, it has been cherished for generations and is included in elementary school music textbooks.

For many older people, it may be a song they fondly remember singing in their childhood.

If everyone raises their voices together, it’s sure to lift your spirits.

Please, try singing it together.

Tell Me A Bedtime StoryKasai Kimiko

Kimiko Kasai with Herbie Hancock – Tell Me A Bedtime Story (Butterfly, 1979)
Tell Me A Bedtime StoryKasai Kimiko

Kimiko Kasai, a legendary singer on Japan’s jazz scene in the 1970s and a city pop artist who has drawn intense attention from music fans worldwide since the ’80s, hails from Kyoto.

Alongside her musical career, she also worked as a jewelry designer, and in 1998—marking her 30th anniversary—she cleanly withdrew from the music industry.

That decisiveness, too, might be part of what makes her legendary.

Her 1979 album Butterfly, released as a co-billed project with jazz giant Herbie Hancock, wove together cutting-edge sounds—fusion, disco, and city pop sensibilities reflective of the era.

It’s said that its value wasn’t fully recognized at the time of release.

If anything, its reputation has only grown with time; it has been reissued multiple times and is now beloved not only in Japan but by music fans overseas as well.

Kasai’s vocals, putting her own spin on Hancock’s classics, radiate a truly magical allure, and her cover of Stevie Wonder’s As is a standout, too.

A must-hear not only for jazz aficionados but also for younger listeners curious about city pop!