Lovely autumn song

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

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!
Freelance music writerTakashi Hoshino
I’m Takashi Hoshino, a freelance writer currently juggling work with parenting. I’ve been playing guitar for over 20 years since I first picked it up when I started high school, and I’m still active in a band today. Ever since I began playing, I’ve been drawn to hard rock and heavy metal, and I enjoy intense music, whether Japanese or Western. At the same time, I keep in mind something I was told long ago: “If you want to play rock, you should know more than just rock!” With that in my heart, I make a point of listening to a wide range of genres every day. My experience as a writer is still growing, but I’ll keep working hard to recommend all kinds of music to as many people as possible!

These days, even when autumn arrives, the heat lingers on and it can be hard to feel the change of seasons.

Still, as the days start to end a little earlier and the sounds of insects shift, it really makes you want to listen to some autumn songs, doesn’t it?

In this article, we’re introducing recommended autumn tunes that are sure to make people currently in their 40s feel a touch sentimental.

For those in their 40s today, their youth coincided with the golden age of J-POP—from the 1990s to the early 2000s—when a string of massive hits left their mark on music history.

Many of these songs are well-known even among younger generations.

Be sure to check them out!

[2025] Recommended Autumn Songs for People in Their 40s: J-POP Picks [Autumn Songs] (11–20)

MapleSpitz

Spitz / Kaede

Kaede Spitz

This is the 19th single by the four-piece rock band Spitz, used as an insert song for the TV drama “Over Time.” It was released as a double A-side single together with “Spica.” The transparent band sound layered with piano tones evokes poignant autumn scenes.

The lyrics, which dwell on a dearly loved person who has been lost, seem to console those who have experienced parting while also giving them the courage to look forward.

Masamune Kusano’s emotional vocals tighten the chest in this lyrical ballad number.

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moonlightChihiro Onitsuka

Chihiro Onitsuka – Gekkou (Moonlight)

Moonlight Onitsuka Chihiro

A song with lyrics themed around liberation from oppression and an opening marked by a richly resonant piano.

Released in August 2000 as Chihiro Onitsuka’s second single, it was used as the theme song for the TV drama “TRICK.” Its majestic ensemble and mystical vocals create a unique atmosphere that evokes the light of the moon.

It’s a weighty ballad that powerfully established Chihiro Onitsuka’s name—perfect for immersing yourself in your own world while gazing at the autumn night sky and the moon.

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On the hill where the moon is visible tonightB’z

B'z / At the Hill Where the Moon Is Visible Tonight

Tonight, on the hill where the moon is visible, by B'z.

A million-selling song by the two-piece rock unit B’z, who have produced a wide range of tracks from hard-hitting rock tunes to ballads.

Written as the theme song for the TV drama “Beautiful Life: Futari de Ita Hibi,” this gem portrays deep love, the conflicts that arise within it, and hope.

Released in February 2000, it ranked eighth on that year’s Oricon Annual Singles Chart, capturing the hearts of many in tandem with the drama.

It’s the kind of song you’ll want to listen to on a long autumn night, gazing at the moon with someone special.

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Sumire September LoveSHAZNA

SHAZNA – Sumire September Love [HD 1080p]

Sumire September Love SHAZNA

This song is SHAZNA’s second major-label single, counted among the “Big Four” of the visual kei scene.

Released in 1997, it debuted at No.

2 on the Oricon charts and was used as the ending theme for the debate variety show Beat Takeshi’s TV Tackle.

Blending a sweet, mellifluous vocal with a dreamy soundscape, the track portrays the bittersweet feelings of a September romance, capturing the hearts of many listeners.

Set against the backdrop of the city at dusk, it evokes the magical moment of falling in love—a sentimental pop tune perfect for the long autumn nights.

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Like tonight's moonElephant Kashimashi

Like the Moon Tonight / Elephant Kashimashi

Elephant Kashimashi, like tonight’s moon

Elephant Kashimashi is a four-piece rock band fronted by Hiroji Miyamoto, known for his distinctive voice and overwhelming vocal power.

Their 15th single, released in July 1997, was written as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Because the Moon Shines at Night,” marking the band’s first tie-in with a TV drama.

The lyrics depicting the night sky and the lyrical melody conjure vivid scenes in your mind just by listening.

Singing of a heart wandering in search of lost love, the song’s abstract content carries a universality that anyone can relate to.

It is a quintessential masterpiece of the 1990s, whose dramatic worldview resonates deeply with listeners.

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Even though the road home is lit by the madder-red glow...Ringo Sheena

Akane Sasu Kiro Terasaredo… -When It Begins To Get Dark… –

Even as madder glows, the homeward path is lit... Ringo Sheena

A track included on Ringo Sheena’s debut album, “Muzai Moratorium.” Released in February 1999, the album became a million-seller and sent shockwaves through the music scene.

This song is an evocative number that captures fleeting moments of everyday life, expressing the poignancy and transience felt within them.

It features a laid-back rhythm and organic sound, with sentimental ambience and distinctive lyrics that resonate deeply.

It’s the perfect piece for immersing yourself at dusk or reminiscing about cherished memories with someone special.

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[2025] Recommended Autumn Songs for People in Their 40s. Recommended J-POP [Autumn Songs] (21–30)

OrangeSMAP

Orange/SMAP

Orange SMAP

It’s one of those classic ballads you want to hear in autumn, with a poignant yet warm piano melody that brings twilight scenery vividly to mind and gently soaks into the heart.

SMAP has many great songs, but this is one that many people might single out as especially special.

It depicts a breakup scene with a lover, yet its appeal lies in the fact that it’s not merely sad.

Concluding the farewell by deliberately replacing parting words with words of gratitude conveys a deep affection for the days they spent together and makes your heart swell.

There’s also a well-known story that the lyrics were changed at Takuya Kimura’s suggestion during the August 2000 recording.

Although it was a B-side to the single “Lion Heart,” its popularity earned it a place on their best-of album—a true gem of a ballad.

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