![[Nostalgic Songs] Gentle Drizzle Rain Songs: A Collection of Classic Japanese Hits](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/Jhf-33c9N00/maxresdefault.webp)
When you gaze out the window and see the steady patter of rain.
.
.
just putting it into words makes the scene come to life, doesn’t it?
There are probably many people who would say, “I love rainy days.”
In this feature, we’re introducing classic Japanese songs that take rain as their theme—tunes that will fill you with nostalgia the moment you hear them.
We’ve picked “nostalgic hits” from the ’90s and earlier, so it might strike a chord with a wide range of generations.
Please read through to the end.
You’re sure to rediscover the music of your memories.
- [Rain Songs] Songs to listen to on a rainy day. A special feature on rain-themed tracks.
- Songs of the Rainy Season: Classic Tracks and Rain Songs That Evoke Tsuyu Through Their Lyrics
- Rain Songs: A curated selection of tracks that feature rain in the lyrics — including many nostalgic Japanese hits
- Children’s songs to sing on a rainy day / children’s songs with a rain theme
- [Rainy Season] A Collection of Vocaloid Songs to Listen to in June [Early Summer]
- Songs for every season: classic and popular tunes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
[Nostalgic Songs] Gentle Drizzle Rain Songs: A Collection of Japanese Classics (1–10)
Blue RainThe Checkers
Blue Rain, the 15th single released by The Checkers in 1987.
Fans will likely find it especially nostalgic.
Perhaps because it was their first overseas recording, done in London, the track is enveloped in a sound that feels like cold, dry air seeping into your skin.
On gloomy rainy days, you sometimes just want to rely on someone, don’t you? In the end, it was me who was being consoled from my sadness… Naoyuki’s wistful, deeply emotive saxophone—echoing the sound of the rain and the aching emotions— is absolutely irresistible.
Where the rain endsDREAMS COME TRUE
Dreams Come True, the legendary unit that has delivered many iconic songs symbolizing the Heisei-era J-pop scene.
“Ame no Owaru Basho” (Where the Rain Ends) was released in 1993 as a double A-side with “go for it!”.
Their deeply wistful style is one of DCT’s strengths, and the rainy scenery intertwines with aching emotions.
There really are so many love songs about rain, aren’t there? This track’s portrayal of a mature love—where true feelings confront reason—is exquisitely done, and you can’t help but feel swept away.
If there’s someone you can’t forget, this will resonate all the more.
In step with the increasingly intense band sound, your excitement will become impossible to contain.
A street corner where even lovers get wetMasatoshi Nakamura
When you’re in the mood for a smooth yet cool mood-kayo-style rain song, the top pick is “Koibito mo Nureru Machikado” (“Street Corners Where Lovers Also Get Wet”).
It’s the 17th single released in 1982 by Masatoshi Nakamura, who has been active across various fields, primarily as an actor and singer.
Keisuke Kuwata of Southern All Stars handled both the lyrics and composition, and even people from the Heisei generation might feel a sense of nostalgia.
Set in Yokohama, its mature worldview and the depictions of filling loneliness in the rain resonate poignantly.
The seductive tone of the music interwoven with Nakamura’s husky vocals is exceptional—above all, it’s just incredibly cool.
The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi
For people of that generation, when it comes to nostalgic songs about rain, many will probably think of this one.
It’s a hit by singer Yasushi Nakanishi, who debuted in 1992, and it was his second single released the same year.
Its glittering tones evoke the nighttime city, and the beautiful lyrics shine.
The straightforward feelings of a man devoted to one woman, along with his aching longing, are brought into sharper relief by Nakanishi’s deeply expressive vocals.
It’s a classic that hits home after a heartbreak, and one you’ll find yourself wanting to listen to while walking through the city on a rainy day.
A Bouquet of Kisses in the RainMiki Imai
When you want to listen to a cute rain song that will lift your spirits, why not try “A Bouquet of Kisses in the Rain”? This memorable track, with its surprise proposal story, is by Miki Imai.
It was included on her 1990 album “retour.” Although it was never released as a single, it remains one of her most popular songs.
Composed by KAN, its buoyant pop feel makes your heart skip, and Yuho Iwasato’s lyrics vividly paint the scene of a rainy Shibuya Scramble Crossing—utterly delightful.
Give it a listen, and even a rainy day will put a spring in your step!
Whenever I arrive, it’s always raining.Takuro Yoshida
On rainy days, when you just want to forget the bad stuff and take it easy, I recommend “Tadoritsuitara Itsumo Amefuri” (“Whenever I Arrive, It’s Always Raining”).
It was a hit single released in 1972 by the rock band The Mops, and Takuro Yoshida, who wrote the lyrics and music, also recorded a self-cover.
Speaking of folk, Takuro Yoshida is the name that comes to mind.
In line with a rock album concept that placed great importance on the lyrics, the song was born from rewriting the words of “Suki ni Natta yo Onna no Ko,” a piece by the Downtowns—the band he originally belonged to in his amateur days.
Rainy days can sap your motivation and wrap everything in a languid mood.
Even then, the song’s message, which depicts the journey of life, soothes a tired heart and lifts you up.
RainSenri Oe
A signature song by Senri Oe, who is currently active in the United States as a jazz pianist.
When it comes to classic rain-themed songs by male artists, many people probably think of this “Rain.” It’s an album track from 1234, and at first it held the position of a hidden gem, continuously supported by musicians and music fans.
Covers by Noriyuki Makihara and Motohiro Hata, as well as a stripped-down performance by Fujii Kaze, brought it into the spotlight and helped it spread among younger generations.
Because of that history, it feels both nostalgic and somehow fresh.
This song portrays the uniquely unsettled emotions of a rainy day.
At first glance it seems like a breakup song, but it also suggests a longtime couple laying their true feelings bare and moving forward together afterward.
You can imagine that kind of future.
It’s bittersweet yet light, and on a rainy day it grips the heart with a tight little squeeze.