The Wind Rises songs: theme song and insert songs
The Wind Rises, a Studio Ghibli film released in 2013.
If you remember that time, you likely recall the news that director Hayao Miyazaki would retire after this film, which caused quite a stir.
The protagonist, Jiro Horikoshi, is absorbed in building airplanes.
And the heroine, Nahoko Satomi, fights illness.
Their relationship, the story itself, and the historical backdrop—all of it sinks deep into the heart.
Many viewers probably found themselves in tears by the end.
This article compiles the many famous pieces of music used in The Wind Rises.
Each and every one is profoundly moving.
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The Wind Rises songs. Theme and insert songs (21–30)
Caproni (A Designer’s Dream)Hisaishi Joe
This is the theme song of Caproni, the aircraft designer who appears in the film The Wind Rises.
The piano’s freely roaming notes beautifully capture his elusive yet dignified character.
You can feel the longing people once had for the dream of flying.
Like a European marching song, it’s a fun piece that fills listeners with excitement.
Journey (Parting)Hisaishi Joe
This is the piece Journeys (Farewell), used in the film The Wind Rises.
Saying goodbye to someone dear is heartbreaking for anyone.
The steadfast strength Nahoko showed Jiro at the end did not cast him into utter despair; instead, it gave him the courage to go on living.
It’s a song that lets you feel a kind of freshness alongside profound sadness.
Journey (Kingdom of Dreams)Hisaishi Joe
This piece is titled “Journey (Kingdom of Dreams).” Ever since he was a child, Jiro dreamed of becoming an aircraft designer.
Caproni, the German designer he admired, often appeared in Jiro’s dreams to offer him advice.
In dreams, impossible things that defy ordinary logic can happen.
This is a song that carries listeners into a mysterious world—just like Jiro’s dreams.
Journey (Younger Sister)Hisaishi Joe
This is the piece “Journey,” often heard in commercials and trailers for the film The Wind Rises.
Jiro quietly looks back on days swept up by war, disasters, work, and marriage.
The traditional Chinese instrument, the yueqin, is used.
The bright, dry timbre of the strings—like a guitar or mandolin—is very pleasant to listen to.
It feels laid-back, yet somehow bittersweet.
A mysterious track.
shooting starHisaishi Joe
This is the piece “Shooting Star,” used in the film The Wind Rises.
Its beautiful, somehow nostalgic piano timbre conjures up stars scattered across the night sky.
Like a shooting star that vanishes before you can even make a wish, the playful piano performance feels very fleeting and romantic.
It also prompts you to reflect anew on the preciousness of encounters and of life that the film conveys.