Masterpieces of poignant anime songs. Recommended popular tracks.
I think it’s quite common that listening to songs tied in with anime makes you recall the work they’re from.
If the story was a sad one, hearing the song can leave you feeling wistful.
Here, I’ve picked out some Japanese pop songs—melancholic anime tracks—that evoke that feeling.
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Masterpieces of poignant anime songs. Recommended popular tracks (41–50)
Full of dreamsYumiko Seki
Yumiko Seki’s “Yume Ippai” is still a truly wonderful song even today.
It’s also known as the first theme song of the popular anime Chibi Maruko-chan, which is still on the air.
The lyrics are absolutely fantastic and perfectly match the worldview of the early Chibi Maruko-chan.
Masterpieces of bittersweet anime songs: Recommended popular tracks (51–60)
Sad ConstellationIKU
With its slow tempo and clear, translucent voice, it’s very easy to listen to.
The lyrics are great and make it a song you can really relate to.
The part about a letter that will never be delivered resonates so much it brings me to tears.
I’ve been listening to it on repeat.
It’s a song I want to listen to alone.
In that caseMacaroni Enpitsu
This song is characterized by a fresh, exhilarating sound and lyrics that portray a bittersweet, unrequited love.
With the melodious style typical of Macaroni Enpitsu, the production evokes both the warmth and the pain of youth.
It expresses the powerlessness of a love that won’t be returned, along with the aching inability to let go of those feelings, making it a track that resonates with many listeners.
Released in January 2025, it was selected as the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime Blue Box.
The song matches the anime’s worldview and is recommended for anyone grappling with love and youth.
Come here, Perman.Katsue Miwa
The theme song of Fujiko Anime’s popular series Perman, “Come on, Perman,” is performed by Katsue Miwa.
Katsue Miwa also voices the character Perman.
It’s incredibly nostalgic—a song that makes you feel as if you’ve time-traveled back to the Showa era.
Treasure of FlamesBOBBY
Speaking of Bobby’s “Honō no Takarabono” (Treasure of Flame), it’s the ending theme of none other than the masterpiece among masterpieces in the Japanese anime world, Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro.
As you can tell when you listen, it’s an achingly bittersweet and utterly wonderful song.
The Garden of WordsRAIN
Makoto Shinkai is a popular animation director.
The song “The Garden of Words,” sung by RAIN, was created as the theme for his fifth animated film, The Garden of Words.
Like the film, the song is heartrending and achingly beautiful, resonating deeply with the heart.
Yulia... ForeverCrystal King
“Yuria… Forever” is the ending theme of the legendary anime Fist of the North Star, which continues to be loved by men everywhere.
It’s sung by Crystal King, known for their captivating twin vocals.
It’s an achingly beautiful classic, above all.