Lovely anime song

Song(s) from The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Theme song and insert song(s).

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!

When it comes to Studio Ghibli directors, Hayao Miyazaki is famous, but equally acclaimed is Isao Takahata.

One of his works, released in 2013, is the film The Tale of The Princess Kaguya.

As the title suggests, it was based on the old folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.

Emotions overflow from its distinctive visual style.

You’ll be overwhelmed by Isao Takahata’s incredible directorial prowess.

This time, I’d like to introduce the theme song and insert songs from The Tale of The Princess Kaguya.

Watch, listen, and enjoy! It’s an absolutely wonderful work, so if you’re not familiar with it or haven’t seen it yet, please give it a try.

Songs from The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Theme songs and insert songs (11–20)

mountain villageJoe Hisaishi

Kaguya-hime is raised in a mountain village, and when she runs away from the capital, she heads to a mountain village as well.

Here is the soundtrack for that key setting, the “mountain village.” Its slow, laid-back, repetitive rhythm has a certain sense of comfort.

The expansive sound feels like the people of the mountain village living in harmony with nature.

It’s a highly recommended track brimming with warmth, as if it envelops you in a big, gentle embrace!

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SadnessJoe Hisaishi

If you’re looking for a song that lets you fully sink into sadness, this one is highly recommended.

Its slow, flowing melody is a perfect match for sorrow.

The contrast between the low, powerful strings and the piano’s bright highs is beautiful.

With no pronounced rhythm, doesn’t it make you feel as if you could keep sinking deeper and deeper into sadness?

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practice; learning (especially in the early stages), penmanshipJoe Hisaishi

Tenarai means practice or training.

Hearing just that, it might sound very intense, right? But this song is a very relaxed, slow-tempo ballad.

The repeating piano accompaniment in triple meter is wonderfully easy on the ears.

You can sense Kaguya-hime’s feelings—she has absolutely no interest in training to become noble.

Try listening while focusing on Kaguya-hime’s state of mind.

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DepartureJoe Hisaishi

Farewells are filled with a range of emotions—joy, poignancy, and more.

This piece embraces that theme of setting off on a journey.

While it looks ahead with hope for the future, it also conveys the loneliness of parting from those we must say goodbye to.

The song has dramatic dynamic shifts, making it incredibly powerful.

The more you listen, the more the swaying emotions make you feel sentimental—it’s a top recommendation.

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Cycle of springJoe Hisaishi

After winter ends and the days slowly begin to warm in early spring, I’d love for you to listen to “Spring’s Return.” It’s a simple ballad with just piano and strings.

What’s more, the melody simply repeats in triple meter, making it very straightforward.

That’s exactly why, once you hear it, it won’t leave your head! It’s a track whose wistful sound brings a gentle warmth while also carrying a touch of sentimentality.

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MoonJoe Hisaishi

Princess Kaguya, who was born from a bamboo stalk, is said to have come from the moon.

Here is the soundtrack from her homeland, the moon.

It carries a mysterious, divine atmosphere.

The slightly gritty, analog-like sound and airy strings shine like the moon behind cloudy skies.

This dreamy, fantastical track is a must-listen.

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Songs from The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Theme and insert songs (21–30)

The Mysteries of the MoonJoe Hisaishi

Here’s a track that perfectly fits the title “Mysteries of the Moon.” Its sharp, edgy high notes—like bursts of colliding light—leave a striking impression.

There’s hardly any conventional rhythm, yet that absence only deepens the mysterious atmosphere.

The moon, an unknown world.

This must-listen, top-recommended piece is packed with feelings of fascination, unease, instability, and longing toward that moon.

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