Classic songs that celebrate courage. Recommended popular tracks.
I’ve put together a playlist of classic Japanese songs with the theme of courage.
Because the lyrics are in Japanese, I think the songs’ messages can reach listeners more directly.
When you want to push yourself a bit more, need a nudge, or want some encouragement, music will be there by your side.
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Masterpieces that sing of courage. Recommended popular songs (71–80)
lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE
A masterful song by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE that delicately portrays the radiance and anxieties of youth, as well as the conflicts we carry while growing up.
Chosen as the opening theme for the anime “Oblivion Battery,” which began airing on TV Tokyo in April 2024, this piece gently embraces the memories accumulated as time passes and the feelings of confronting the unease hidden in everyday life.
Its refreshingly youthful guitar sound and clear, transparent vocals resonate with listeners’ hearts and give them courage.
It won the 66th Japan Record Award, marking the band’s first-ever back-to-back victory.
When you feel lost or anxious, or when you wish someone would give you a push forward, give it a listen.
You’ll surely find a budding feeling of cherishing yourself.
ff (fortissimo)HOUND DOG
With a powerful, resonant melody and a passionate message, this song has captured the hearts of many as an anthem that encourages listeners to push forward toward their dreams and goals.
The lyrics, which forcefully express the protagonist’s strong resolve and deep love, convey universal feelings that anyone can relate to.
Released in August 1985 and featured in a Nissin Cup Noodles TV commercial, it became one of HOUND DOG’s signature songs.
Since March 2018, it has also been used as the departure melody at JR Sendai Station.
This piece is a song that gently gives you a push when you need the courage to believe in yourself and the strength to move forward.
TRAIN-TRAINTHE BLUE HEARTS
A powerful portrayal of relentlessly sprinting toward one’s goals, this signature work by THE BLUE HEARTS is set in the real world—not a utopia or a hell—and boldly declares that life itself has meaning even if we can’t be perfect.
Released in November 1988, this track, which lends its name to the album TRAIN-TRAIN, uses piano for the first time in the band’s history to create a sense of exhilarating momentum and reached No.
5 on the Oricon singles chart.
In 1989, it was also chosen as the theme song for the TBS drama “High School Rakugaki.” For those standing at a crossroads in life, this is a song that will be a powerful ally.
When you’re torn about a decision, let it be a source of courage that gives you a push forward.
Stars on EarthNakajima Miyuki
This song is imbued with a warm gaze and deep respect for people who usually remain out of the spotlight.
Miyuki Nakajima portrays those who strive to live in places where no one looks, using beautiful metaphors.
It is an ode to unsung heroes who keep making efforts in various places, shining like stars in everyday life.
Released in July 2000, the piece was chosen as the theme song for NHK’s documentary program Project X: Challengers, and together with the program’s moving content, it deeply resonated with many viewers.
It set a record by staying on Oricon’s Weekly Singles Chart for 174 consecutive weeks.
It is a song that gives you a powerful push forward in those moments when the pressures of daily life make you want to stop.
CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi
This is one of Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s signature works, carrying a warm message of blessing to celebrate new beginnings.
Loved by many as an anthem cheering on those stepping onto life’s big stage, it’s a heartwarming piano folk ballad that gently stands by you and gives you the courage to move forward.
Released in September 1980, the song was born from the feeling of congratulating a friend on their wedding, then re-recorded in 1988 and became a major hit.
It also became familiar as the theme song for Kirin Lager Beer commercials in the 1990s.
It’s a powerful song of encouragement that stays close when you or your friends are at life’s milestones or starting anew, and when you need a lift yourself.
RPGSEKAI NO OWARI
This is a striking song with a grand narrative that likens life to an adventure.
The protagonist keeps moving forward, gazing up at the stars alone while holding precious memories close.
Their resilience in overcoming loneliness and setbacks, and their resolve to face forward with hope, is deeply moving.
SEKAI NO OWARI’s otherworldly sound blends beautifully with the symphonic arrangement.
Released in May 2013, the track was used as the theme song for the animated film Crayon Shin-chan: Very Tasty! B-class Gourmet Survival!! and is also included on the album Tree.
It’s a song that stays by your side when you’re at a crossroads in life, when you want to find your own path, and when you’re ready to take a new step on your journey.
Why Don’t You Play in Hell?Hoshino Gen
This is a celebrated song by Gen Hoshino that sings of a light of hope found in lonely darkness.
Chosen as the theme song for the film of the same name released in October 2013, it carries profound insights born from experiences in a hospital room.
The message—that “lies” and “fabrications” can become supports for the heart and help us find the strength to endure a painful reality—is filled with tenderness and poignancy.
While harmonizing with the film’s worldview, the arrangement shines with Gen Hoshino’s signature pop melodies woven together with elements of jazz and funk.
In the brisk sound and layered vocals, you can feel a strong resolve to face harsh realities and still keep moving forward.
It’s a song that resonates deeply with those who struggle to live yet want to find hope, and with those who, for the sake of someone important, find themselves in situations where they must tell a lie.