Lovely anime song

Songs from Whisper of the Heart: theme song and insert songs

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICSasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

This time, we’re featuring the theme song and insert songs from the Studio Ghibli film “Whisper of the Heart.” When you think of “Whisper of the Heart,” it has to be “Country Road,” right? That melody that makes you want to hum it without thinking.

For those who’ve seen the film, it’s an especially memorable song.

The bittersweet relationship between the protagonists, Shizuku and Seiji Amasawa.

Just writing this introduction makes me want to watch it again.

If you listen to the songs collected in this article, I’m sure you’ll feel the same.

Songs from Whisper of the Heart. Theme and insert songs (21–30)

A ConfessionYuji Nomi

This song, which feels both beautiful and mysterious, is titled “Confidences.” Its arrangement is delightfully lively, with a strong emphasis on high tones that creates a rousing sense of exhilaration.

Even if it’s not a full-on fantasy film, this track energizes the opening of the work, which is rich enough in fantasy—ranging from the magical, sudden moments that appear in the otherwise ordinary school life of Shizuku and her friends.

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On the hill, with a gentle breezeYuji Nomi

On the hilltop, with a gentle breeze (from “Whisper of the Heart”).

On the hill, with a gentle breeze — Yuji Nomi

When you think of the locations in Whisper of the Heart, don’t you get an impression of slopes, stairways, and winding roads along the mountainside? This piece is one that lets you feel the scenery and climate of a cool hilltop.

While many Studio Ghibli films are inspired by various countries, this one is set in Tokyo, Japan, so it reminds us that modern Japanese landscapes aren’t so bad either.

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star-studded night skyYuji Nomi

Star-Filled Night Sky / Yuji Nomi: Piano (Solo) / Beginner

Yuji Nomi under a star-filled night sky

This piece, titled “Starry Night,” has a beautifully husky music-box tone.

It’s an ensemble layered with various kinds of flutes, conveying the sparkle and beauty of the stars.

Among the film’s soundtrack songs, which feature many acoustic instruments—especially strings—this is a standout classic with a soaring, beautiful flute-focused arrangement.

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Chasing the catYuji Nomi

Chasing Cats / Yuji Nomi: Piano (Solo) / Advanced

Yuji Nomi chasing a cat

As the title “Chasing the Cat” suggests, this is the music from the very beginning of the story, in the scene where Shizuku runs after the cat.

It also features strings and is a perfect fit for the film’s theme.

It’s a piece that brings to mind the cat’s sullen little face—the one that led her up that hill and opened the door from ordinary days to a life that felt touched by magic.

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Lost ForestYuji Nomi

The Lost Woods (from “Whisper of the Heart”)

Yuji Nomi of the Lost Woods

In the scene where Shizuku is urged on by Baron’s voice, the piece “The Lost Forest” is used.

What kind of impression did this scene leave on you? It’s a grand orchestral composition that deepens the scene’s impact—something like fear, yet somehow different.

If you don’t recall the scene, please watch the film again and listen to the music.

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convenience storeYuji Nomi

Convenience Store (from “Whisper of the Heart”)

Yuji Nomi, Convenience Store

This is the piece used in the very beginning of the story, in the scene where Shizuku goes out at night to buy milk.

Since its 1995 release under the title “Convenience Store,” it has depicted convenience stores in a way that feels familiar to everyday life.

The arrangement clearly conveys the nighttime atmosphere, and while it proceeds calmly, its dramatic development makes it a very satisfying track.

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In conclusion

We’ve introduced the theme song and insert songs from Whisper of the Heart.

What did you think? This work depicts the pure dreams and romance of middle schoolers, and I feel the music, too, is full of a mysterious charm that reflects the sensitive hearts of boys and girls.

I’m sure many of you, upon listening to the songs, were reminded of Shizuku and Seiji—straightforward and never giving up.