Iconic scenes overlap! Anime songs recommended for the yutori generation
Japanese animation has now become a cultural asset Japan can proudly present to the world.
Back in the Showa era, songs made for anime works were simply called “anisong,” but in recent years it’s become commonplace for famous artists to handle anime theme songs, and it’s no longer unusual for global hits to be born from those themes.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of classic anisong tracks recommended for the yutori generation.
Every song on the list helped define its era, so be sure to check them out!
Iconic scenes overlap! Recommended anime songs for the Yutori generation (1–10)
It's nothing.NEW!RADWIMPS
This song, which graces the ending of the film “Your Name.”, brought many to tears as it plays during the story’s climax.
Included on the soundtrack album “Your Name.” released in August 2016, it is crafted as a lyrical ballad centered on piano and strings.
The lyrics, in which words left unsaid and feelings that never reached their destination intersect with the bittersweet resolve and hope to keep moving forward, resonate deeply as they overlap with the story of two people separated from one another.
Winning Soundtrack Album of the Year at the 31st Japan Gold Disc Awards, this piece offers a gentle warmth that stays by your side when you’re struggling with work or relationships, or when you’ve gone through a parting with someone important.
Crimson Lotus FlowerNEW!LiSA
This is a song by LiSA, a leading singer in the anison world, chosen as the opening theme for the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
With powerful rock sounds and piercing high vocals, it expresses the indomitable spirit of the protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado, as he faces adversity.
Released in 2019, the song achieved the remarkable feat of topping the Oricon charts as both the “last No.
1 of the Heisei era” and the “first No.
1 of the Reiwa era.” In 2020, LiSA also performed at NHK’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen, and the song became a social phenomenon that transcended the anison genre.
It’s a track that gives courage to everyone striving to move forward without being defeated by hardship.
Listen to it on your way to school, and it’s sure to lift your spirits!
My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoNEW!RADWIMPS
It’s a rock number by RADWIMPS, released in July 2016 as an insert song for Makoto Shinkai’s feature-length animated film Your Name.
It expresses a grand love story—of someone who has continued searching for their other half since even before their previous life—through a driving, exhilarating sound.
The lyrics, perfectly aligned with the film’s worldview, directly portray a fated bond that transcends time and space, and Yojiro Noda’s passionate vocals are deeply moving.
The song was also performed at the 67th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2016.
Many people likely have memories of listening to it repeatedly on their way to school or belting it out with friends at karaoke.
Butter-FlyNEW!Koji Wada
Koji Wada’s debut song was chosen as the opening theme for the anime Digimon Adventure, which began in 1999.
In harmony with the story of boys and girls adventuring with digital monsters in a virtual world, the song celebrates the courage and hope to take flight toward one’s dreams.
Its positive message—that even unreliable wings can fly—is the very essence of a coming-of-age tale.
Wada’s powerful yet warmly resonant voice feels like a gentle push to set off on an adventure.
For those who listened on their way to school to boost their spirits, or have memories of belting it out at karaoke, it likely remains a special presence that still stirs the heart today.
Despair BillyMaximum the Hormone
A signature song by Maximum the Hormone, notable for its fierce shouts and thundering low end.
Featured on the album “Buiikikaesu,” released in March 2007, the track is characterized by lyrics that sharply depict social discontent and a sense of despair.
Its complex rhythms and heavy sound mesh perfectly, shaking the listener to the core.
Chosen as the second ending theme for the anime “DEATH NOTE,” it harmonizes superbly with the show’s worldview.
Incorporating elements of rap-metal/mixture rock, its distinctive musicality vividly expresses the feelings of young people living in modern society.
It’s the perfect track for blowing off steam or resetting your mood.
Nameless MonsterEGOIST
The third single by EGOIST, used as the ending theme for the anime PSYCHO-PASS.
Released in December 2012, the song portrays the conflict between individuals and a society governed by a system.
Its structure develops from a striking intro into a fast-paced chorus, creating a sense of an unknowable presence not only through the lyrics but also through the musical tone.
The lyrics, which strongly reflect the anime’s worldview, seem to raise issues that overlap with those of the real world.
This track resonates powerfully with those who question the frameworks of society.
Beautiful WorldHikaru Utada
A digital-only single used as the theme song for the animated film Evangelion: 1.
0 You Are (Not) Alone.
Riding the film’s success, the track drew widespread attention with its striking blend of pop and electronica.
Hikaru Utada’s delicate yet powerful vocals convey the importance of accepting oneself and the world around you, and of growing through that acceptance.
Released in August 2007, it reached high positions on the Japanese charts.
It has been highly praised by fans and is widely recognized as one of Utada’s signature songs.
Emphasizing the value of gaining new experiences, it’s a recommended listen for young people standing at a crossroads in life.