[Moon Songs Special] Famous songs about the moon. Songs you’ll want to listen to under a full moon or in the moonlight.

Crescent Moon GirlIchiro Fujiyama

Crescent Moon Girl — Ichirō Fujiyama

Under a crescent moon floating in the night sky, you can picture a caravan crossing the desert—this is the scene evoked by a song from Mr.

Ichirō Fujiyama.

Released in 1947 as an NHK radio popular song, it portrays the pure feelings of a protagonist who continues their journey while thinking of a lover in a distant town.

Mr.

Fujiyama’s warm yet dignified tenor—bringing classical technique into popular music—blends beautifully with the exotically flavored melody composed by Yuji Koseki.

The bell-like accompaniment further heightens the romantic atmosphere of travel.

The song was later included on the album “Omoide no Album” and the celebrated collection “Ichirō Fujiyama Daizenshū.” It’s the kind of beautiful voice that made many hearts feel at ease in the early postwar years—and one you’ll want to listen to closely.

moonlightKozo Murashita

Moonlight - Kozo Murashita

This is a song by Kozo Murashita, a singer who passed away at a young age.

Many of Murashita’s songs have beautiful, heartrending lyrics and melodies, and this is one of his masterpieces.

In this song, the couple in love may have parted ways under the moonlight.

crescent moonDREAMS COME TRUE

DREAMS COME TRUE – Crescent Moon (Live from DWL 1999 Winter Dreams)

Since this song was used as an insert track in the hugely popular drama “Kyumei Byoto 24 Ji” (Emergency Room 24 Hours), many of you might find it familiar.

It has a gentle, subdued feel, and as you listen, it evokes the image of a thin—very thin—crescent moon, conveying a fragility that seems as if it could snap at any moment.

It’s a song about the moon that you listen to while thinking of someone, and it leaves you with a bittersweet feeling.

Wish upon the moonZARD

Izumi Sakai - Wish Upon the Moon

This song exudes a romantic atmosphere, quietly reflecting on scenes and memories of love associated with moonlit nights.

It was included on the 2005 album “Kimi to no Distance.” The waltz-like 3/4 rhythm is striking, and the gently pulsing sound conveys a warm ambiance.

Throughout, it portrays memories of a love that cannot be revived, expressing a blend of tenderness and heartbreak in a complex emotional tapestry.

It’s a piece that evokes the image of someone lost in thought on a quiet moonlit night.

TSUKINamie Amuro

TSUKI / (live edit)

This is Namie Amuro’s 41st single.

It’s the theme song for the film “I Just Wanna Hug You: A True Story.” Using the moon as a motif, it sings of a maiden’s delicate feelings about a love that has ended.

I feel that when men use the moon as a motif, the songs often turn out sad, but when women sing about the moon, even songs about heartbreak can feel more embracing—and this track made me realize that.

The music video also features snow, giving it a very dreamlike quality.

Blue Moon StoneThe Checkers

The Checkers Live 1992 "Blue Moon Stone" MC III

This is a single released by The Checkers before they announced their breakup, which, though regrettable, eventually came to pass.

The contrast between the floating, airy sound and the calmly flowing melody, and the positive lyrics that convey a resolve to move on to the next step, makes for a deeply moving song.

Moonlight Shadow ~ Howl at the MoonAkina Nakamori

Moonlight Shadow -Tsukini Hoero- (Album Mix)

“MOONLIGHT SHADOW – Howl at the Moon” was released in 1996 as Akina Nakamori’s 33rd single.

The album “SHAKER,” released the following year, includes an album version that differs from the single.

Toshihiko Takamizawa of THE ALFEE wrote the lyrics, with Tetsuya Komuro brought on for composition and arrangement.

The lyrics, which sing of the loneliness and emptiness felt on a full-moon night, perfectly match Akina’s mature aura.