Lovely anime song

Songs from Spirited Away: theme song and insert songs

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!

We’re introducing the theme and insert songs from Spirited Away, one of the most beloved and moving Studio Ghibli films!

This record-breaking film, the highest-grossing in Japanese box-office history, tells the story of a young girl who wanders into a world inhabited by myriad gods and struggles to return to her original world alongside her parents, who have been turned into pigs by the gods.

Her determination to keep moving forward despite loneliness inspires courage in everyone.

In this article, we’ve gathered the music from Spirited Away.

If you’re thinking, “I want to hear that song again!” or “I want to know the popular tracks!”, be sure to check it out!

Songs from Spirited Away. Theme song and insert songs (11–20)

The sixth stationJoe Hisaishi

The sixth station

The Sixth Station by Joe Hisaishi

It is used in the scene where Chihiro, swaying on the train, heads to see Zeniba in order to save Haku.

The scenery visible through the train windows and the passengers who appear like shadowy silhouettes create a lonely atmosphere full of nostalgia—an enigmatic piece for a mysterious scene like that.

Raise the rankinglower

Chihiro’s WaltzJoe Hisaishi

[Ghibli 10] Chihiro no Warutsu / Waltz of Chihiro [Background Music for Work]

Chihiro's Waltz by Joe Hisaishi

This gentle, unhurried waltz titled “Chihiro’s Waltz” is likely a deeply memorable piece for anyone who has seen the film.

It is used in the scene where Haku remembers his own name and returns with Chihiro to Yubaba.

Among the film’s climactic moments, it is a cherished masterpiece that elevates one of the most moving, unforgettable scenes.

Raise the rankinglower

SolitudeJoe Hisaishi

Joe Hisaishi – Prologue / Solitude

Joe Hisaishi Solitude

Titled “Solitude,” meaning “loneliness,” this richly emotional, grand piece—composed and arranged by Joe Hisaishi—unfolds with striking shifts in tempo, delivering a dramatic and expansive experience.

However, even those who have seen Spirited Away may find the track unfamiliar.

In fact, this piece is a rare one included only on the image album and does not appear in the film itself.

Raise the rankinglower

oil shopTsunehiko Kamijo

Tsunehiko Kamijo – Yuya

Tsunehiko Kamijō, the oil merchant

This is a piece used instrumentally in the film, titled “Work Is Tough.” In Spirited Away, the scenes where Chihiro and Lin diligently work are indispensable.

As the title suggests, this track is used in the scene where everyone is scrubbing the floors.

If you add lyrics, the impression changes drastically, but it’s a wonderful vocal song that perfectly conveys how tough work can be.

Raise the rankinglower

Work is tough.Joe Hisaishi

Work Is Tough / Spirited Away - Joe Hisaishi

Work is tough, Joe Hisaishi.

Sen somehow managed to land a job, but she’s a girl who has, of course, never really worked before.

This is a song depicting her daily efforts and hard work at the bathhouse where she comes to work in Spirited Away.

It also captures the atmosphere of the establishment very well.

Raise the rankinglower

Lonely, lonely.Monsieur Kamayatsu

From the Ghibli anime Spirited Away, I tried singing “Samishii Samishii” with piano accompaniment in a full version.

Lonely, lonely Monsieur Kamayatsu

It’s the theme song of that iconic character, “No-Face,” a vocal track included on the image album.

Composed by Monsieur Kamayatsu with lyrics by Hayao Miyazaki, it’s a collaboration between the two.

The melody is somehow charming and cheerful, yet it conveys No-Face’s feelings and his emotions toward Chihiro.

Whether it’s love or possessiveness, the song exudes a bizarre atmosphere that even hints at eeriness, making it a curious work overflowing with a mysterious worldview.

Raise the rankinglower

Songs from Spirited Away. Theme song and insert songs (21–30)

Night is comingJoe Hisaishi

One of the tracks included on the “Spirited Away Image Album” is “Night Is Coming.” Its melody has a distinctly eerie quality, and some listeners might even find it a bit scary.

Judging from the title, “night” might still carry a somewhat frightening image for children around Chihiro’s age.

Even within that sense of fear, the piece shines with taste and artistry—an unmistakable Joe Hisaishi composition.

Raise the rankinglower