The soul’s cry woven into Japanese elegies: unraveling supreme masterpieces that resonate with the heart.
The world of Japanese laments that sublimate sorrow and wistfulness into beautiful melodies.
From the desolate scenes woven by RC Succession led by Kiyoshiro Imawano, to the soul-stirring poetic realm of Agata Morio, and even the transparent feelings sung by the VOCALOID GUMI.
Timeless masterpieces that have continued to stay close to people’s hearts speak of heartbreak, loneliness, farewells.
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They carry the cries of the soul felt in many moments of life.
Alongside vocals that quietly seep into the heart, they invite you into a deeply moving world.
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- [Kyoto Songs] Masterpieces that sing about Kyoto — songs themed on the ancient capital. The enduring heart of our hometown passed down in song.
- The Spirit of Japan: A Collection of Famous and Popular Shamisen Pieces
- Famous songs and local tunes that sing of Wakayama: melodies that carry on the spirit of our hometown.
- [Local Songs] Recommended tracks packed with Japan’s nationwide classics and hometown pride
- [Songs of Kagoshima] The heart of our hometown carried on in song | A curated selection of classic tracks that embody Kagoshima
- Spirit of Wa: Masterpieces for the Koto — Japan’s Beautiful Melodies
- Music that comes to your heart. A collection of sad Vocaloid songs.
- Vocaloid Songs for When You Want to Cry [Moving and Heart-wrenching]
- Melancholic Vocaloid songs: masterpieces that pierce the heart
- [Tearjerker] A compilation of Vocaloid songs that make you cry
The soul’s cry woven into Japanese elegies: Unraveling supreme, heart-stirring masterpieces (11–20)
reverse dreamKing Gnu
This song captured the hearts of many as a soul-stirring, grand ballad.
It features a beautiful piano melody and sweeping string arrangements, with lyrics that poignantly intertwine sorrow and hope.
Released in December 2021, it was selected as the ending theme for the popular anime film Jujutsu Kaisen 0.
The delicate sound design characteristic of King Gnu and the lyrics that align with the film’s worldview are a perfect match.
It’s a recommended track for those who’ve experienced heartbreak or farewells, or for anyone who wants to feel the bond with someone dear.
The heart-penetrating vocals are moving and will warmly envelop your heart.
contrailYumi Arai
It’s the theme song from the Ghibli film The Wind Rises.
It’s said to be a work centered on the theme of a friend’s suicide.
There are also theories that it’s about death from illness, and the debate continues to this day—such is the stature of this masterpiece.
It was included on the first album.
And above all, the supporting members are stellar: bass and gut guitar by Haruomi Hosono, keyboards by Masataka Matsutoya, guitar by Shigeru Suzuki, and drums by Tatsuo Hayashi—an incredibly luxurious lineup.
It shows how highly anticipated it was.
Apparently, it was originally written for Izumi Yukimura, but due to various circumstances that fell through, and with the artist singing it herself, the song finally saw the light of day—it feels like it was meant to be.
It’s a masterpiece that sets the “death” of a young girl to a gently soothing melody.
Why doesn’t it feel sorrowful? Perhaps because it seems to speak on behalf of the girl’s feelings.
From her perspective, living on in the real world was probably far more painful.
That pain must have been hard for those around her to understand.
For the girl, the far side of the sky was likely where she wanted to live.
Yumi Arai received that with her sensibility, turned it into song, and did not let the girl’s “death” be in vain.
She’s a bundle of talent.
pendulumUru
Feeling the hardship of living—perhaps that is what it means to be alive.
This is a song by Uru, a singer who rose to fame through her online activities, released as a single in 2020.
It was written as the theme song for the film “The Voice of Sin.” Uru’s crystal-clear vocals blend perfectly with the grand sound arrangement to create a poignant ballad.
The lyrics, which drift through thoughts of one’s everyday life and days gone by, are crafted in a way that anyone can relate to.
Why not take a moment to look back on your own life with this song?
Sans toi, ma mieKoshiji Fubuki
With exquisitely gritty, resonant vocals that pierce the heart with sorrow, this song blends a smoky, chanson-like atmosphere with a distinctly Japanese enka feel.
From the very beginning, the lyrics vividly evoke the concrete scenes of heartbreak, creating a deeply affecting, sentimental piece that exudes a panoramic sense of the cityscape.
Slow BalladRC Succession
Kiyoshiro Imawano and RC Succession are often associated with intense rock, but when they debuted, they sang folk songs.
This song also evokes a lonely scene, close to that world of folk.
It was released as their sixth single in 1976.
Song of the Frontier GuardsMasashi Sada
When it comes to singer-songwriters who can evoke the pathos of life like no other, Masashi Sada comes to mind.
His song “Sakimori no Uta” was released in 1980 and was also used as the theme song for the film The 203rd High Ground.
The lyrics are said to be based on poems from the Manyoshu.
The soul’s cry embedded in Japanese elegies: Unraveling supreme masterpieces that resonate with the heart (21–30)
Go for it!Miyuki Nakajima
The most famous artist to come out of “Popcon” is probably Miyuki Nakajima.
This song is based on unreasonable and painful real-life experiences submitted by listeners to the late-night radio show she hosts.
Listening to it makes you want to cheer them on with a “Fight!”