“Song of War”: A classic that sings of the tragedy and folly of war
Songs of war that are etched deeply into the human heart.
Within those voices lie prayers for peace, love for family, and memories that should be passed down across generations.
Living in the present, we can reflect anew on the horrors of war and the preciousness of peace through these songs.
In this article, we introduce moving songs themed around “war” that have left their mark on the history of Japanese music.
Shall we take a fresh look—through music—at the importance of a peaceful, conflict-free everyday life that we must protect?
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[War Songs] Masterpieces that sing of the tragedy and folly of war (61–70)
Pathetic.Tonneruzu
The 17th single by the comedy duo Tunnels, who created numerous legendary variety shows and are also known for their work as singers.
The song was used as the ending theme for their eponymous variety program “Tunnels no Minasan no Okage Desu.” Originally written with comic-song-style lyrics, it was rewritten by Yasushi Akimoto—now also known as the producer of the AKB group—and became a major hit.
The lyrics, which satirize the Gulf War that broke out in 1991 and Japan’s response to it, are filled with a kind of irony and sorrow that still ring true today.
It’s a number that resonates precisely because it’s a message from comedians, casting a stone at conflicts that arise in every era.
War and PoliticiansZa gojuukaitenzu
The 50 Kaitenz are a three-piece rock band that operates under the concept that its members were once confined in the Osaka Rock ’n’ Roll Juvenile Reformatory.
Their song “War and Politicians,” included on their second album, 50 Kaitenz no Biribiri!!, stands out for its old-school ensemble feel.
The lyrics calmly criticize who starts wars and for whom, succinctly and precisely capturing the folly of history repeating itself.
It’s a song that portrays a cry for peace—melancholic yet catchy.
INORI ~Prayer~Kumiko
This is a song expressing a wish for peace, with lyrics written by Yuji Sasaki, the nephew of Sadako Sasaki—the model for the “Children’s Peace Monument” in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
Interwoven is the story of Sadako, a Hibakusha who passed away at the age of 12, and the thousand paper cranes she folded while hospitalized.
The song portrays a longing for peace from a broad, universal perspective, not only directed at an individual.
The expressions of grief and sorrow in the face of approaching death are deeply affecting, and the figure of someone wishing for a peaceful world so that others will not have to endure such suffering makes one’s heart ache.
Far from Kyivsadamasashi
Many people are shocked by the devastation in Ukraine shown on television.
Masashi Sada’s “Far from Kyiv” is a song that pours that pain into music.
While many artists tend to shy away from political themes, Sada entrusted his anti-war message to song.
The lyrics, depicting the horrors of war and the regeneration of life, resonate deeply with us.
Why not listen to this piece and take a moment to reflect anew on war and peace?
Strange WorldImawano Kiyoshirō
A singer-songwriter hailed as a legend in the Japanese music scene who continues to influence many musicians to this day, Kiyoshiro Imawano’s song.
Featured on his fourth solo album, “KING,” it vividly depicts the bewilderment at the reality of war, as if it exists on a different timeline from ordinary life.
In Japan—a place long removed from war—many listeners may be struck by the message that the conflicts erupting around the world are all strange, unnecessary intrusions into our lives.
It’s a thought-provoking number that makes you want to tell every country in the world that war is not normal, but something uncanny.
PrayJustin Bieber
Justin Bieber’s “Pray” is filled with a powerful wish for peace.
Even if we haven’t experienced it ourselves, seeing images of war on TV makes our hearts ache.
In this song, he sings about the pain he feels when he sees children crying and people who have lost their lives on TV.
Whether you’re someone who faces conflict right before your eyes or someone who feels heartache from far away, let’s join this song in praying for peace to come to everyone’s lives—and to everyone’s hearts.
We must not forgive the atomic bomb.Kinoshita Koji
Every August, many people reflect on war and the atomic bombings and renew their commitment to peace.
This piece, a choral work with the forthright title “We Shall Not Forgive the Atomic Bomb,” is sung almost entirely in unison.
The many voices of the mixed choir resonate like the cries of those who perished in the bombings, powerfully conveying that such a tragedy must never be allowed to happen again.
