Theme song and insert songs of 5 Centimeters per Second
Makoto Shinkai’s 2007 animated film “5 Centimeters per Second.”
It follows the protagonist, Takaki Tōno, from elementary school to adulthood, telling a story centered on his first love from his grade school days.
Warm, bittersweet, and heartrending—a work that makes your chest ache—many fans say that among Shinkai’s films, “5 Centimeters per Second” is their favorite.
And one of the hallmarks of Shinkai’s works—excellent music—is very much present here.
From Masayoshi Yamazaki’s “One more time, One more chance” to piano-centered pieces, the songs are as deeply moving as the story itself.
In this article, we’ll introduce, all at once, the pieces related to “5 Centimeters per Second,” focusing on the tracks that appear in the film.
Theme and Insert Songs of 5 Centimeters per Second (1–10)
One more time, One more chanceMasayoshi Yamazaki
A masterpiece by Masayoshi Yamazaki, whose beautifully flowing guitar and heartrending lyrics resonate deep within the heart.
Released in 1997, it gained popularity as the theme song for Yamazaki’s first starring film, “The Moon and a Cabbage.” A renewed version was released in 2007 for “5 Centimeters per Second,” prompting a fresh wave of appreciation.
There’s a sense of perfect fit, as if the delicate animation synchronizes with the plainspoken, rustic lyricism.
I fully agree with director Shinkai’s choice, calling it a “song everyone knows with a universal quality.” Immerse yourself in its richly emotive everyday scenery and the earnest, unadorned air with which it speaks of love.
A world for youMizusawa Yuuki
“A World for You” is distinguished by its delicate vocals and beautiful melodic lines.
The song’s performer, Yuuki Mizusawa, also sang the theme for Makoto Shinkai’s 2002 short anime “Voices of a Distant Star,” and her clear, graceful voice perfectly matches the atmosphere of his works.
In the film “5 Centimeters per Second,” the song plays during the convenience store scene where Kanae is shopping alone.
It’s a track that gives you a refreshing feeling, like a sudden, gentle breeze passing through an ordinary moment in everyday life.
Memories of distant daysHeaven's Gate
Composer Tenmon, whom Director Shinkai trusted and partnered with—even back when Shinkai was working at Nihon Falcom and made the 1999 short animation She and Her Cat—delivers a piano piece that, as the title Memories of Long Ago suggests, evokes the faint, beautiful inner landscape of first love.
It’s soothing, offering the kind of relaxation you feel when you surrender yourself to quietude.
Nostalgic and romantic, the piece may be expressing a slender ray of hope to take a step forward—while looking back on the happiest days and feeling gratitude for the encounter that made them possible.
To be your number one...LINDBERG
Among LINDBERG’s hit songs, this is a true classic—many fans even declare it their absolute favorite.
It’s the band’s 24th single, released in 1996.
In the anime, it appears in Episode 2, “Cosmonaut.” The song is used in the scene inside the car driven by Kanae’s older sister, who is a classmate of the protagonist Takaki Tōno, and also in the scene at the convenience store that Takaki and Kanae stop by on their way home from school.
The lyrics, which portray the bittersweet resolve of trying to look forward even while heartbroken by an unfulfilled love, align beautifully with the film’s themes.
Snow StationHeaven's Gate
Snow Station begins with a restrained piano.
This piece, which plays during the scene where Akari and Takaki meet in the station waiting room, features a piano that carries the melody of One more Time, One More Chance, wrapped in lush strings.
In this scene—despite it being Takaki’s last chance to see Akari—the train is delayed by snow, and both of them fear they might miss each other, yet they manage a beautiful reunion.
Akari waits in the waiting room even after the appointed time, and Takaki somehow makes it to the station.
It’s a track that conveys their relief and joy.
Cherry Blossom ChapterHeaven's Gate
The intro that begins with beautiful piano arpeggios is striking! Using the melody of Masayoshi Yamazaki’s “One more time, One more chance” as a motif, it features a gentle, unhurried development.
At first, only fragments of the melody are repeated, but at the climax, the chorus melody resounds movingly with a powerful piano tone, and it ends with an unexpected harmonic cadence.
“Oukashou” is used in a memorable scene from the first of the film’s three short episodes, and the first episode shares the same title as this piece.
END THEMEHeaven's Gate
“END THEME,” which plays over the end credits.
A majestic piece performed entirely on piano.
Filled with gentleness, beauty, wistfulness, and sorrow, it’s the perfect track to conclude the film 5 Centimeters per Second.
Two people who, due to a certain turn of events, have been separated.
Though they still think of each other somewhere in their hearts, the song captures the emotional shifts of growing up as days pass without meeting.
It’s a piece that lets you sink into the film’s story and your own feelings as you watch the end credits roll.