Songs that soothe the anxieties I had when I first moved to Tokyo. Classic Japanese hits and recommended popular tracks.

So there was one in Tokyo, too.Fukuyama Masaharu

There was one in Tokyo, too [PV] - Masaharu Fukuyama

It was released in 2007 as Masaharu Fukuyama’s 22nd single.

The song was chosen as the theme for the Shochiku film “Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad,” and was created at the direct request of the film’s original author, Lily Franky.

Both the Tokyo sunset and the sunset of his hometown are cherished landscapes, and this moving song inspires the determination to do one’s best in Tokyo.

crescent moonayaka

Ayaka – Crescent Moon

Here’s a representative song about the loneliness of being separated.

Just picturing the scene makes you feel as if you’re about to be crushed by anxiety and sadness, yet you can see a will to grow stronger in the words, “I won’t cry anymore.” Listening to it soothes your own worries and gives you strength.

lonelyAbe Mao

Mao Abe – Lonely [Official Music Video]

This song is sung for couples in long-distance relationships, and in the opening lines it conveys the anxiety of having just moved to the big city and not knowing your way around.

The tempo is a bit upbeat, so it’s a song that brings both comfort and energy.

Among Mao Abe’s songs, this one is especially uplifting.

STARTJUN SKY WALKER(S)

JUN SKY WALKER(S) – START

It was released in 1991 as JUN SKY WALKER(S)’s fourth single.

The song was used in a LAWSON commercial and reached No.

4 on the Oricon singles chart.

Brimming with a rock sound that eases the anxieties of starting a new life or just having moved to the city, it’s a track that truly lets you get off to a great start.

HEROAmuro Namie

Hero – Namie Amuro (Full)

It was released in 2016 as Namie Amuro’s 45th single.

The song was used as the NHK theme for broadcasts of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and Paralympics, and it was frequently played during emotional moments and highlight reels of the Games.

It’s a positive song about the importance of those who support us and the idea that anyone can become a hero.

hometownMōningu Musume.

Morning Musume. 'Furusato' (Music Video)

It was released in 1999 as Morning Musume’s sixth single.

The song is performed solo by Natsumi Abe, with a six-part chorus by the other members.

The lyrics express gratitude to one’s parents, a feeling realized after moving to Tokyo and living away from home.

The song was written and composed by Tsunku.

The Correct CityShiina Ringo

Correct City / The Exact Main Street - Sheena Ringo

A song included on Ringo Sheena’s first studio album, “Muzai Moratorium,” released in 1999.

She wrote it at age 18, capturing the conversation and emotions when, just before her debut, she said goodbye in Fukuoka to the boyfriend she was dating at the time in order to move to Tokyo.

It’s a song you can sink into with its bittersweetness, and it’s moving.