“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 misery and folly of war (31–40)
Whenever I’m sadMatsuda Hiroyuki
The song “Itsumo Kanashii Toki wa” sung by vocalist Hiroyuki Matsuda carries feelings against war.
To ensure we never forget the many sacrifices made and the peaceful everyday life that war destroyed, we should keep listening to this song as time passes.
It’s a piece that truly makes you feel that peace is paramount.
The End of SummerMoriyama Naotaro
This is the kind of song I want to listen to at summer’s end, when the days start growing shorter little by little and you notice the coolness of the mornings and evenings.
Naotaro Moriyama himself has called it an “anti-war song,” and it was released on August 20, 2003.
The feeling—like a prayer—of simply wanting to see someone dear is achingly sorrowful and beautifully resonant.
Beyond its lyrical poetry, the intro opens with a falsetto that sounds like a stringed instrument, and the elegantly unfolding chorus is breathtaking.
Let yourself be immersed in its world, like a hometown for the heart, gently keeping you company in the sadness of wanting to see someone you cannot meet.
cobalt blueThe Back Horn
THE BACK HORN is a four-piece alternative rock band that continues to work energetically under the concept of delivering music that shakes the listener’s heart.
Their major 9th single, “Cobalt Blue,” written after the powerful shock they felt at the Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots, features a melancholic ensemble that begins with a striking guitar-riff intro.
The lyrics, told from the perspective of young men tasked as members of the special attack units that symbolized the final days of the war in Japan, evoke a resolve and sorrow far removed from today’s peace.
It’s a heart-wrenching rock tune that teaches us the importance of never repeating the same mistakes and grief again.
DAYBREAK’S BELLL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
This is the 32nd single by L’Arc~en~Ciel, a four-member rock band whose members have all written hit songs and are popular both in Japan and abroad.
Chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime Mobile Suit Gundam 00, the track was released as part of a five-month consecutive rollout that included singles, albums, and DVDs.
Its rock sound, incorporating a wistful piano, merges with lyrics that sing of the folly of conflict and a sense of powerlessness, expressing the heartlessness of war in a way that resonates with the anime.
It is an anti-war song filled with a message—one that only a Japanese artist could convey—wishing for an end to the wars occurring around the world.
Dead girlHajime Chitose
In response to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, composer Yuzo Toyama set music to the poem “The Dead Little Girl,” published in 1956 by Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet, and it is sung by Chitose Hajime.
The work portrays a seven-year-old girl who lost her life to the atomic bomb, embodying her heartbreak and anger toward war.
At the end of the song, there is a message from the girl pleading for a peaceful world.
It is a work we hope to pass down to future generations to continue conveying the horrors of war.
[War Songs] Masterpieces that sing of the tragedy and folly of war (41–50)
aspiration; longing; ardent desireFukuyama Masaharu
This is a work by Masaharu Fukuyama that portrays a heartrending romance and parting during wartime through delicate emotional expression.
The lyrics carefully weave together feelings for a loved one, a longing for peaceful everyday life, and the inescapable flow of fate, conveying the emotions of people buffeted by the era of war.
The tender vocals depict a yearning for the small joys of daily life and the warm moments shared with someone precious.
Created as the theme song for the film “If Only I Could Meet You Again on the Hill Where That Flower Blooms,” released in December 2023, this piece brilliantly expresses the worldview of the original novel through music.
Despite dealing with heavy themes such as war and separation, it is a song that evokes human warmth and hope, recommended for those who wish to reflect on the bonds with their loved ones and the preciousness of peace.
In the midst of an endless journey…Shunsuke Kiyokiba
This is a song that powerfully appeals against the horrors of war through Shunsuke Kiyokiba’s signature strong vocals.
While empathizing that “everyone has doubts and fears,” it calls on us to keep looking forward and live on.
It’s striking how it continually conveys a message of hope, even as it depicts gunfire echoing around the world and the people who tremble in fear.
The track is included on the album ROCK&SOUL, released in November 2010.
It was also performed during the live tour held from December 2010 through April of the following year, resonating with many listeners.
When you come across news of wars and conflicts, why not listen to this song and take a moment to think about peace?