Carefully selected recommendations of Kenshi Yonezu’s songs and unforgettable masterpieces
Kenshi Yonezu continues to capture the hearts of countless listeners with his unique musicality and poetic lyrics.
After starting out as a Vocaloid producer, he has now become a leading figure in the Japanese music scene.
His repertoire is truly diverse, ranging from grand ballads to fast-paced tracks.
You might be thinking, “Which song should I start with?” or “I want to dive deeper.” In this article, we’ve carefully selected and introduced some of Kenshi Yonezu’s recommended songs.
We hope it helps you discover a track that resonates with your heart.
Introducing a carefully selected list of Kenshi Yonezu’s recommended and unforgettable masterpieces (1–10)
CampanellaNEW!Yonezu Kenshi
This song is inspired by Kenji Miyazawa’s Night on the Galactic Railroad.
It was produced at the end of the album and most reflects Yonezu’s feelings at the time, resulting in a bittersweet yet beautiful worldview in a highly challenging ballad.
Judging from YouTube comments, many fans of Kenji Miyazawa and Night on the Galactic Railroad are drawn to it, showing just how popular the track is.
The overall vocal range spans D3 to B4, which seems relatively easy to sing, but the unique rhythm requires attention.
If you move your body like Kenshi Yonezu does, you can release tension and keep a good balance while singing.
1991NEW!Yonezu Kenshi
It’s the theme song for the live-action film “5 Centimeters per Second,” directed by Yoshiyuki Okuyama.
Born in 1991, Yonezu weaves his own life story together with the film’s narrative to create a delicate, heartrending ballad.
The song spans a wide range from F3 to D5, but the highest note appears only in the second verse’s B section.
Since this is where the poignancy stands out, it may help to use plenty of breath and project your voice straight upward as if squeezing it out.
Also, the rhythm throughout is distinctive, so pay attention to where you break the melody when you sing.
The range is relatively calm, so once you get used to the rhythm, it should be quite easy to sing.
BOW AND ARROWNEW!Yonezu Kenshi
This song was written as the opening theme for the TV anime Medalist.
It was released digitally on January 27, 2025, and the music video—featuring Yuzuru Hanyu, who also handled the skating choreography—garnered significant attention.
The track itself has a brisk tempo, so it’s best to have the lyrics memorized to some extent.
When singing, try to lock into the rhythm with a forward-driving feel without pausing; that way, you won’t get left behind by the melody.
To avoid going off pitch, keep your eyebrows and facial muscles lifted throughout.
MoonlightNEW!Yonezu Kenshi
This track, included on the fourth album “BOOTLEG,” was created at the very end of the album’s production.
It features a modern R&B sound that employs sampling techniques, and it embodies a complex perspective on past legacies and existing works.
Rather than being intense, it has a much gentler, more subdued atmosphere, so it seems best to sing it as if you’re resonating it in your head.
Instead of singing loudly, try to keep your delivery light throughout.
If you mark the rhythm by drawing circles in front of your face as you sing, it will help you stay relaxed and let your voice flow more easily—give it a try.
YELLOW GHOSTNEW!Yonezu Kenshi
This is a song on the album “LOST CORNER,” released on August 21, 2024, themed around sexuality.
It was intentionally created to sing about sexuality right from the start, depicting a foreboding ghost in the ambiguous hue of yellow.
Since it’s not a song meant to be sung clearly in a chest voice, it’s highly recommended for those good at falsetto.
The verse (A section) stays in a lower range, so sing using breath rather than your throat.
The chorus features a lot of falsetto as well, so you’ll need breath there too.
To keep your pitch steady, try singing with the sensation of lifting your eyebrows and letting the voice come from your eyebrows—your falsetto should stabilize as well.
It’s a short song, so please give it a try.
garakuta – junkNEW!Yonezu Kenshi
This song was specially written as the theme for the film “Last Mile.” It’s included on the sixth album “LOST CORNER,” released on August 21, 2024—a medium-tempo track that delicately yet powerfully portrays love.
The music video features Shizuka Ishibashi and Kanichiro, embodying the film’s worldview.
There’s a clear contrast between the chorus and the other sections, so it’s best to distinguish them straightforwardly.
However, many people tend to tense up suddenly when the chorus hits.
Resonance is key, so try to project your voice upward while keeping the sound resonating around your glabella and eyebrows at all times.
Bye, see you again sometime!NEW!Yonezu Kenshi
This is the theme song written for “Tiger and Wings,” the NHK morning drama series starring Sairi Ito that began airing in April 2024, and I imagine it’s very popular among Asadora fans as well.
Released digitally on April 8, it’s a song that lightly portrays the protagonist’s strength and determination to survive adversity.
Among Kenshi Yonezu’s songs, the melody is catchy, so it’s highly recommended for those who find more difficult songs challenging.
My students have sung it in voice training and at karaoke competitions.
One thing to watch out for when singing is that it can become monotonous, so be sure to add clear dynamics in the chorus.
Make sure to define your highlight moments!