“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 (21–30)
For it is the sky that makes me sorrowful.HoneyWorks feat. Tomin Rion & Hatsune Miku
This song, which depicts a heartrending story of a boy going off to war and the girl who loves him, is a work by HoneyWorks, known for crafting numerous love songs that evoke youth.
While their music is often associated with sweet-and-sour romance, they also have message songs that prompt reflection on peace.
In particular, this is a track you should experience while watching the music video; as you follow the story portrayed there, you’ll find yourself wishing for a world without war.
It’s a song that makes you strongly feel we must eliminate war from this world—a force that can make the most ordinary thing, living together with the person you love without being torn apart, no longer ordinary.
Distant Christmassadamasashi
Even at Christmas, a time that should be filled with happiness, thoughts turn to war…
This song portrays that contradiction and inner conflict.
While questioning what is just, the repeated phrase “Merry Christmas” evokes the warped nature of the world.
[War Songs] Masterpieces that sing of the misery and folly of war (31–40)
Child of the devilHiguchi Ai
“Child of Evil” carries a poignant yet straightforward message about unending conflict.
Released in 2022 by singer-songwriter Ai Higuchi, who is known for songs that depict life and love from a unique perspective, it resonates with a grand, dramatic band sound.
It portrays sorrow over devastating war and love for those dear to us, and its lyrics about the difficulty of living invite spontaneous empathy.
Now, as more people belong to generations with no direct experience of war, this song reminds us of the importance of passing down history and memory.
Heaven’s hellCocco
Cocco is a singer-songwriter from Okinawa who first drew attention with songs featuring strikingly impactful lyrics and a loud rock sound, and who is also active outside of music as a picture book author and actor.
“Heaven’s hell,” whose 2003 live version is included on The Best Album, is a number in which Cocco’s distinctive, gentle voice resonates deeply.
The lyrics, which dwell on a beloved person one can no longer meet, may convey a message that only Cocco—an artist from Okinawa, where U.S.
military bases still remain—can express.
It is a sentimental ballad that evokes the sorrow and heartache of those left behind by war.
Rain of Time, The Final WarOrangestar
This song sharply captures the tragedy and folly of war.
Orangestar’s delicate sensibility is expressed through a clear, piano-centered sound.
By portraying the conflict between good and evil and the senselessness of unending war from a personal perspective, it resonates deeply with many listeners.
Included in the mini-album “Unreleased OSC,” released in November 2016, this track has been highly praised as a piece that symbolizes Orangestar’s musical diversity.
It’s recommended for those seeking a catalyst to think about war and social issues, as well as for anyone who wants to enjoy profound lyrics and melodies that speak to the heart.
Song of the Four Seasonswataame
A song that portrays a fleeting love and the passage of time against the backdrop of the shift from spring to summer.
Although it is not a work themed around war, its Japanese-style sound and heartrending lyrics resonate with the feelings of those who have lost someone dear to war.
Released in October 2012, it was included in the VOCALOID album “V love 25 -Exclamation-.” The clear, translucent singing of the Vocaloid beautifully depicts an unattainable love between a cherry blossom spirit and a human.
The scene where the promise “I will never leave you alone” is made is especially striking, conveying lingering regret and longing for days gone by.
No more warGReeeeN
GReeeeN is a four-member vocal group that has released numerous hit songs since their debut, including “Aiuta” and “Kiseki.” The track “no more war,” featured on their second album “Ah, Hello Again,” opens with a guitar arpeggio intro whose melancholy lingers in your ears.
Its message, weaving sorrow and anger over innocent children losing their lives because of a few foolish adults, prompts us to reflect on the gravity of the future that war steals away.
With rap lines layered over a deep, textured ensemble and a driving, uplifting chorus, it’s a song that truly stirs the heart.