Lovely anime song

The songs of Pom Poko. Theme song and insert song.

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICSasashina
Deputy Editor of the web media RAG MUSIC. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. In my student days, I studied broadly at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, covering sound, lighting, and video technology, and acquired skills from comprehensive stage production to the fundamentals of creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, and have consistently built my career on the production side, taking on diverse tasks centered around music. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting in my own way, as well as insights and discoveries from interacting with my kids every day. I hope I can be of help to you, even just a little!

Pom Poko, released in 1994 and directed by Isao Takahata—who is often mentioned alongside Hayao Miyazaki—is the film in question.

Set in a city undergoing rapid urban development, the story follows tanuki who are gradually pushed to the fringes as nature disappears, and who rise up to reclaim their forest.

It’s a work rich in social satire, and even after many years since its release, it still resonates deeply with us.

Here, we’ve compiled the main theme and insert songs from Pom Poko.

Of course, the music is wonderful, but if you haven’t seen the film itself, please do.

It will surely stay with you.

The Songs of Pom Poko: Main and Insert Songs (11–20)

Festival Music and O-Ryanse

This is a lively and delightful piece featuring a flute festival melody that fits perfectly in a cinematic world.

It evokes an indigenous atmosphere reminiscent of Japanese folklore passed down by word of mouth.

It suits this film’s theme perfectly, and just listening to it makes you want to revisit the world of Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko—an enjoyable and memorable track indeed.

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Mambo of the Raccoon Dog

Among the tracks from Pom Poko, this one shines especially bright and stands out for its uniqueness.

After all the pieces that used traditional Japanese instruments to play folk-like melodies, this suddenly bursts forth with an irresistibly fun Latin rhythm—it’s almost unbelievable.

Director Isao Takahata’s brilliance lies in never taking a straightforward path, even in the music; it’s a wonderfully inventive touch that keeps the audience engaged and pleasantly surprised.

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Tan-tan Tanuki

This is a very striking piece featuring flashy noisemakers and a piercing bell sound.

When it comes to songs about tanuki, many people will probably think of this one—the familiar melody is there.

It’s playfully performed with a rhythm unique to Japan.

With its sharp, ringing tones, it’s short yet highly memorable.

Choosing bells instead of drums is an interesting touch.

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Happy Hanagasa

“Hanagasa” refers to a traditional Japanese kasa (conical hat) worn on the head, decorated with flowers.

These hanagasa are auspicious and beautiful items that add color to festivals across various regions.

This piece, titled “Happy Hanagasa,” adds “Happy” to that hanagasa.

It’s a short composition as well, but with string timbres and rich ensemble textures, it fully conveys a joyful mood.

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winter hibernation

Raccoons living in nature must find the long, harsh winters to be a tremendous ordeal in their daily lives.

This piece was composed around the theme of “wintering,” and its gentle 3/4-time acoustic guitar melody makes for an exceptionally laid-back listening experience.

There are many famous Ghibli songs in triple meter, and I believe this one stands among them.

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Sortie

Pom Poko centers on the balance between the irreplaceable natural world where the tanuki live and human development.

Among this, there are scenes where the tanuki attack humans, but the film’s curious charm is how music and animation soften that sad, realistic truth.

The track titled “Sortie” is both a fun and sorrowful piece.

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The songs of Pom Poko (Heisei Tanuki War). Theme and insert songs (21–30)

Samba of the Beckoning Cat

This is another track that adopts a powerful Latin music rhythm.

Layered onto that Latin flavor is an arrangement evocative of a South American jungle, resulting in one of the most mysterious atmospheres in all of Pom Poko (Heisei Era Tanuki War).

On top of that, the title is “Maneki Neko Samba,” and cat meows—“nyaa”—are scattered throughout, letting you enjoy a delightfully chaotic piece.

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