Moody Japanese classics: recommended popular songs
I’ve put together a playlist of moody Japanese songs—popular hits, timeless classics, and hidden gems—perfect for twilight or nighttime, when you want to savor some grown-up time.
It’s great for relaxing alone, or for listening quietly with your spouse, partner, or someone special.
Enjoy a wonderful time.
- Karaoke songs popular with women that they want men to sing
- Karaoke songs recommended for men with low voices or who are good at singing in a low register
- Nostalgic song medley. Classic Japanese hits and recommended popular songs.
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the ’70s to 2000s that are perfect for livening up karaoke
- From Showa-era kayōkyoku to pop: songs that sound cool when you can really sing them
- Songs That Attract Women in Their 40s: A Curated Selection of Male-Vocal Tracks That Women Love!
- [Popular and Crowd-Pleasing!] Stylish Song Selections and Karaoke Tracks
- This is a sure hit! Hype songs men will want to sing as the first track at karaoke
- Easy-to-sing karaoke songs recommended for men in their 50s
- [Karaoke] A roundup of songs that are easy for women to sing!
- [For people in their 30s] Stylish Japanese songs you’ll want to listen to as an adult
- A curated selection of stylish songs by Japanese female artists: the allure of sophisticated masterpieces
- Stylish Classic Songs Recommended for People in Their 50s | Collection of Japanese Hit Songs
Moody Japanese Classics: Recommended Popular Songs (41–50)
Sharks and MermaidsKazuyoshi Okamura
It’s truly a song that captures the subtleties of adult romance.
The unit “Okamura-Kazuyoshi,” formed by Yasuyuki Okamura and Kazuyoshi Saito, released it as a digital single in April 2024.
As their first ballad, it’s drawing a lot of attention.
The way it portrays someone overcoming embarrassment to express their true feelings, and the deepening of a private bond in the stillness of night, is striking.
The special connection, framed by the contrast between a shark and a mermaid, resonates with listeners.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to with someone special at dusk or late at night.
Its moody atmosphere is perfect for setting an adult, intimate vibe.
Moody Japanese Classics: Recommended Popular Songs (51–60)
Hymn to LoveKoshiji Fubuki
When it comes to Japanese chanson singers, I think of Fubuki Koshiji.
She was also a former top otokoyaku (male-role) star of the Takarazuka Revue.
Hymne à l’amour is a song by the French chanson singer Édith Piaf, but the Japanese lyrics sung by Fubuki Koshiji are also passionate and wonderful.
It’s a song I’d like to listen to in a dimly lit bar while enjoying a good drink.
To Marie on Fifth AvenuePedro & Capricious
The vocalist at the time of this song’s release was Mariko Takahashi.
She performed this song at the 66th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2015.
Forty-two years after its release, her voice has gained even more depth, giving the performance a richer, more moody quality.
A seagull is a seagull.Naoko Ken
Please take a look at Naoko Ken from back then.
She has a very distinctive face that actually feels quite contemporary.
The contrast between her chatty, childlike manner and the way she is when she sings is striking.
Her expression when she starts singing is mature and sultry.
She’s wonderful in variety shows as well, isn’t she?
Like the flow of a riverHibari Misora
Hibari Misora, the songstress of the Showa era.
She had many other masterpieces, but the year this song was released, she sadly passed away, making it her final work.
The lyrics, which suit her later years perfectly, are deeply moving—and astonishingly, they were written by Yasushi Akimoto.
All-Night RadioAdo
Singer Ado, who made a sensational major debut in her teens and enjoys immense popularity at home and abroad as a Reiwa-era songstress, has released her 21st digital-only single, “All Night Radio.” The track was written as the theme song for the live-streamed stage drama Ano Yoru de Aetara.
Its lyrics, which capture the unique atmosphere you can only feel from late-night radio, conjure vivid scenes alongside an urban ensemble.
With a breezy arrangement that’s exquisitely nostalgic, it’s a pop tune recommended both as background music and as a go-to karaoke song.
My loverMayumi Itsuwa
This is a song that captures your heart from the very first notes.
It was written in memory of a former lover who died in a traffic accident, and you can feel the soul in both the lyrics and the vocals.
The clear, expansive voice heightens the sense of sorrow.
The lyrics, which express a wish that the breakup talk were only a joke, really pierce the heart.