“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?
- Anti-war songs that pierce the heart: Japan’s masterpieces conveying prayers for peace
- [Songs Praying for Peace] To Prevent Repeating Tragic History | A Collection of Peace Songs That Resonate with the Heart
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- Masterpieces of Japanese music that delve into various social issues, such as war and environmental problems
- [Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing a loved one. Tracks to listen to while thinking of someone dear
- [Bereavement Song] To you whom I can no longer meet... Tear-jerking songs about death
- [Song for Supporting Ukraine] A moving anthem that conveys hopes for peace & songs of Ukraine
- A spine-chilling scary song: masterful tracks that evoke fear and eerie recommended songs
- Songs with strong messages. Classic J-Pop masterpieces and recommended popular tracks.
- The soul’s cry woven into Japanese elegies: unraveling supreme masterpieces that resonate with the heart.
- Tear ducts guaranteed to burst! Heart-wrenching masterpiece songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
- Masterpieces that sing of freedom. Recommended popular songs.
- Farewell Song: A goodbye song. A tearful parting song.
[Song of War] Masterpieces that sing of the tragedy and folly of war (71–80)
AGO!GO!7188
Amid an upbeat, lively sound, a dark atmosphere lingers—this is a hidden gem by GO!GO!7188.
The lyrics depict a very grim theme, expressing the senseless, unrewarded death that strikes without warning throughout the piece.
It feels like the lament of someone caught up in conflict, spilling out the thoughts that flashed through their mind at the sudden moment of death.
The portrayal of a chain of sorrow that doesn’t end with a single person’s death weighs heavily on the heart.
a pencilMisora Hibari
“Please, do not forget the fact that an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.” That plea is woven into One Pencil, a piece created for the First Hiroshima Peace Music Festival held in 1974.
It is in the nature of the world that even events that shake history are forgotten as time passes—and then the nightmare repeats.
I can’t help but feel as if I hear Hibari Misora’s voice asking, “When a pencil and paper are enough to convey the truth, why do we keep making the same mistakes?”
Silent AfghanistanNagabuchi Tsuyoshi
The song that addresses the Afghanistan conflict following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States is Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s “Shizuka Naru Afghan” (“Silent Afghan”).
Nagabuchi is one of the few musicians known for using the power of music to voice opinions about his country and politics.
Released as a single in 2002, “Shizuka Naru Afghan” features the kind of frank and uncompromising lyrics characteristic of Nagabuchi.
Unfortunately, the lyrics were considered too direct, which led to the song being banned from television and radio broadcasts, but it’s an anti-war song I really hope you’ll listen to at least once.
NO ~The Flower That Bloomed in the Aftermath of Life~sutoreitenaa
Straightener, a four-piece rock band whose name means “one who makes things straight,” was formed mainly by childhood friends from junior high school.
Their 19th single, “NO ~The Flower That Bloomed in the Wake of Life~,” the second installment in their 2015 “Emotional Trilogy,” is a lyrical rock tune that reaffirms a break from war on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Even the beautiful scenery we see has a story of how it came to be, and the message that we must not repeat the mistakes of the past reminds us of history that fades with time.
It’s a dramatic number that teaches us the importance of leaving a peaceful world for the future.
Upon the boundless earthKatō Tokiko
Tokiko Kato’s “On the Boundless Earth” is an anti-war song that single-mindedly raises a chorus of longing for peace.
The poem is woven with deep empathy and hopes for people exposed to lands where the fires of war never cease, and its words carry a persuasive power that is enough to make one tremble.
I cannot help but wish that the message carried by her voice will reach people’s hearts directly.
By each of us drawing our hearts close to the world of the song and facing its truth, we can once again recognize the importance of remembering the mistakes that must never be repeated.
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?Katō Tokiko
In 2022, Tokiko Kato released the album “On the Endless Earth,” imbued with her hopes for peace and her anti-war convictions.
The song “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” included on this album, can rightly be called one of the world’s most famous anti-war songs.
Written by American singer Pete Seeger, it has been covered in Japan by numerous artists, including YMO and Kiyoshiro Imawano.
Some may feel that war is something that happens far away and has nothing to do with them.
But after listening to this song, will you still feel the same? It’s a piece you’ll want to hear while imagining yourself and your family in its place.
What’s Going OnMarvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye’s 1971 release “What’s Going On” was created based on stories from his brother, who had been in the Vietnam War.
Because it’s rooted in real experiences, it conveys a vivid, heartfelt pain toward war.
Fighting is wrong—so why do we have to do something like this…? No matter the reason, war is a mistake; this song makes you feel that anew.
