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. Recommended J-POP [Autumn Songs] (21–30)

Ballad of a SingerKazuyoshi Saito

Kazuyoshi Saito – Ballad of a Singer (2008 Ver.) [Music Video]

Ballad of a Singer by Kazuyoshi Saito

Known as one of Kazuyoshi Saito’s signature songs, this track is a love song that expresses honest feelings toward a beloved person.

It features a simple melody and lyrics that convey deep emotion, capturing the hearts of many listeners.

Released in November 1997 as his 15th single, it was also used as the ending theme for TBS’s “COUNT DOWN TV.” Centered around acoustic guitar with vocals focused in the mid-range, it leaves a strong impression.

This heartwarming ballad is recommended for those who want to express their love straightforwardly or reflect on memories with someone special.

Raise the rankinglower

Monsterstorm

ARASHI – Monster [Official Music Video]

Monster Arashi

Arashi’s 30th single, released in May 2010, rides on the sparkling melodies emblematic of Johnny’s pop and portrays the pure love of a monster who may seem frightening at first glance.

It sold approximately 543,000 copies in its first week, debuting at No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

The song was also used as the theme for NTV’s Saturday drama “Kaibutsu-kun” and the Toho-distributed film of the same name.

Expressing deep feelings for a loved one and the desire to be together, this track is recommended for those struggling with romance or wishing to deepen their relationship with someone special.

Raise the rankinglower

[2025] Recommended Autumn Songs for People in Their 40s: Recommended J-POP [Autumn Songs] (31–40)

crescent moonAyaka

Ayaka – Crescent Moon

Ayaka Mikazuki

This song is distinguished by its poignant melody and heartfelt lyrics, making it a timeless classic that captures listeners’ hearts and never lets go.

Released in September 2006, it was chosen as the theme song for NHK’s “Mirai Kansoku Tsunagaru TV @ Human,” resonating deeply with many people.

Ayaka’s clear, crystalline vocals beautifully convey the bittersweet feelings of a long-distance romance.

The track is also very popular for karaoke, and for those with experiences in love, it may be a song you’ll find yourself humming along to with memories in mind.

When you want to share the feelings you’ve kept in your heart with someone special, why not give this song a listen?

Raise the rankinglower

Halloween NightAKB48

[MV full] Halloween Night / AKB48 [Official]

Halloween Night AKB48

A song by AKB48 known for its catchy tagline, “It’s not a club, it’s a disco!” It’s a glamorous, high-energy dance number that fuses old-school disco sounds with a Halloween theme.

Released in August 2015, it features Rino Sashihara as the center.

The lyrics vividly depict a Halloween night, highlighting the fun of costumes and parties.

You can feel the freedom of transformation and the one-night-only magic.

It’s a perfect track for autumn events and for lifting your spirits during the season.

Raise the rankinglower

Ms. SeptemberRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Ms. September [Official Live Video from “RADWIMPS Outdoor LIVE 2013 ‘Aoi to Mememe’”]

Mr./Ms. September RADWIMPS

A song that captures the emotions of the seasonal shift symbolizing the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.

Included on their major-label first album, “RADWIMPS 3: Mujintō ni Motte Iki Wasureta Ichimai,” this track is said to be tied to September 3, a date of special significance to the band.

Paired with its airy guitar sound, it beautifully conveys the lonely atmosphere of that time when summer vacation ends and the weather turns a bit chilly.

It’s a nostalgic autumn song perfect for those carrying summer’s magical memories and the bittersweet feelings that come with them.

Raise the rankinglower

red-yellow fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragrans)Fujifabric

Fujifabric – Red-Yellow Osmanthus

Akayellow Osmanthus Fragrans - Fujifabric

This is Fujifabric’s third single overall.

Released as the third installment in a series of singles themed around the four seasons, it perfectly matches its theme with a comforting sense of autumnal nostalgia.

The lyrical lines are so evocative you can almost smell the scenery, reaffirming Masahiko Shimura’s exceptional expressive power.

With its rapidly unfolding, emotional beat, it stands as a quintessential autumn song of the 2000s.

Released in September 2004, it reached No.

50 on the Oricon charts.

It’s especially recommended for listening at autumn dusk, when the scent of fragrant olive (kinmokusei) lingers in the air.

Raise the rankinglower

KanadeSukima Switch

Sukima Switch – “Kanade” Music Video : SUKIMASWITCH / KANADE Music Video

Kanade Sukima Switch

A beautiful sound marked by intricately interwoven piano and acoustic guitar, this is the second single by the duo Sukima Switch.

Released in March 2004, the song has featured in numerous tie-ins, including as an insert track for the film “Rough,” as well as in TV dramas and commercials.

The lyrics, centered on themes of parting, growth, and bonds, portray a relationship between two people separated by physical distance, conveying a comforting warmth that resonates deeply.

Widely known as one of Sukima Switch’s signature songs and popular at karaoke, it’s a number that strikes the heart even more when listened to on an autumn evening as you think of someone dear.

Raise the rankinglower

In conclusion

As mentioned at the beginning, those now in their 40s grew up surrounded by many hit songs, so there were probably quite a few tracks among the ones introduced this time that you unexpectedly missed.

You can enjoy listening on your own, reminisce with your partner about those days, or have fun sharing the songs from Mom and Dad’s youth with your kids!