[2025] Recommended Autumn Songs for People in Their 40s: Recommended J-Pop [Autumn Songs]

Rhapsody of the Autumn WindRaphael

Rhapsody of the Autumn Wind

A song that fully embodies Raphael’s visual-kei identity, fusing rock sounds with Irish folk music.

The melancholy yet beautiful violin melody perfectly suits the sentimental mood of autumn.

The lyrics depict yearning for a cherished person who can no longer be seen amid a season dyed amber, drawing you into its lyrical world.

Released in November 2000, the track was also used as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Mogu Mogu GOMBO.” The release came the day after the sudden passing of guitarist Kazuki, who wrote and composed the song, and it reached a peak position of No.

24 on the Oricon chart.

Its dramatic melody resonates all the more poignantly in the heart.

SEPTEMBER RAINthe brilliant green

SEPTEMBER RAIN

Known by the abbreviation “Buri-guri” and led by vocalist Tomoko Kawase’s charismatic presence, the brilliant green helped drive the J-pop scene forward.

The song we’re introducing today is a bittersweet yet beautiful mid-tempo ballad that paints the scene of a cold autumn rain.

Its sentimental lyrics, reflecting on days gone by, and a melody that gently seeps into the heart offer quiet comfort to anyone feeling nostalgic.

Released in September 1999, this track is included on the album Terra 2001, which sold approximately 641,000 copies.

It’s the perfect number for those long autumn nights when the hustle and bustle of summer has faded and you find yourself deep in thought.

Serenade of the Ginkgo AvenueKenji Ozawa

Stardust Rendezvous (2024 Remaster)

This song appears toward the end of Kenji Ozawa’s classic album LIFE, released in August 1994.

Unlike the album’s overall pop image, it has a distinct flavor—an acoustic resonance that really hits home, a serenade perfect for autumn.

It stirs an achingly bittersweet feeling, as if you’re walking down a golden tree-lined avenue, tracing the memories of a love that has passed.

That warm yet heart-tightening sensation is the very essence of a page from youth.

The track is also known for having a live recording from the Budokan included on the 1995 single Sayonara Nante Ienai yo.

It’s the perfect number for a night when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood.

Autumn, by the Tama RiverKAN

Aki, Tamagawanite

When talking about 90s J-pop, KAN is an indispensable artist, isn’t he? This song is one of his hidden gems, included on the album “Yowai Otoko no Katai Ishi,” released in December 1993.

Set to beautiful piano arpeggios, it tells the story of someone who, by the banks of the Tama River in autumn, suddenly recalls a former lover.

Through depictions of everyday, modest scenes and a smiling face glimpsed in dreams, the song conveys not only a sense of poignancy but also a quiet encouragement.

KAN’s restrained vocals blend perfectly with the crisp autumn air, gently coloring a sentimental fall moment.

SeptemberCRAZY KEN BAND

Crazy Ken Band / September (2001)

A perfect song for autumn by Crazy Ken Band, born in Honmoku, Yokohama.

Its sound blends a melody that evokes vintage soul with a distinctly Japanese sensibility, creating a truly one-of-a-kind world.

Sung from a woman’s perspective, it poignantly expresses lingering feelings for a love that has ended and the fading scenes of summer.

The lyrics conjure vivid images like the sea at Kamakura and the last Yokosuka Line train, likely stirring bittersweet memories in anyone who listens.

Released as a single in September 2001, it served as the lead track for the album “CKBB – OLDIES BUT GOODIES.” It’s a masterpiece perfect for solitary reflection on a long autumn night or as a companion to a melancholy drive.

Hello, Again ~A Place That's Been There Since Long AgoMy Little Lover

My Little Lover "Hello, Again ~A Place That’s Been There Since Long Ago~

Just hearing the lyrical guitar riff in the intro is enough to vividly bring back memories of those days for many listeners.

This was My Little Lover’s third single, released in August 1995, and it was used as the opening theme for the Nippon TV drama “Owaranai Natsu.” With total sales exceeding 1.

8 million copies, it’s truly a classic that represents the ’90s.

Akko’s clear, luminous vocals delicately capture that bittersweet mix of sadness at leaving a familiar place and hope for the future.

Every element of this track is superb, and its dramatic key changes seize the listener’s heart and never let go.

Many regard it as a song that evokes the feel of autumn, and its poignant nostalgia makes it perfect for listening alone on an autumn day.

The Autumn SongELLEGARDEN

The Autumn Song

When it comes to autumn songs in 2000s Japanese rock, many people might think of this classic.

It’s a track by ELLEGARDEN, a band that led the rock scene of the ’00s.

The song was included on the compilation album “Figureheads Compilation,” released in July 2007, and later featured on the best-of album “Ellegarden Best (1999–2008),” which reached No.

2 on the Oricon charts.

While its energetic punk sound is striking, woven into that sense of speed is a somewhat melancholy melody reminiscent of an autumn breeze.

It’s a rock number that blends wistfulness with exhilaration—perfect for those moments in the season when you feel lonely for no reason and want to sink into a sentimental mood while reminiscing about your younger days.