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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 (21–30)

pathwayJoe Hisaishi

This is the piece used in the opening scene of Spirited Away—the scene with the building that sets the entire story in motion.

The arrangement perfectly suits the beginning of the grand adventure to come, giving you the sense that something is about to happen.

True to its title, “The Pathway,” it incorporates sonic details that even make you feel as if you can hear the wind, creating a track that conjures vivid scenery just by listening.

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No-FaceJoe Hisaishi

Among the most fast-paced and captivating moments in Spirited Away is the scene of No-Face’s rampage, and this is the piece used there.

No-Face, dragging many people into his pursuit of Chihiro, and Chihiro, who has no interest in things like gold dust—the arrangement that heightens that chaotic, destructive chase between the two is quintessential Ghibli: a masterpiece you can watch and listen to over and over without ever getting tired of it.

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Yubaba FrenzyJoe Hisaishi

The piece used in the scene where Yubaba searches for Boh is this one, “Yubaba Frenzy.” Yubaba is always brimming with confidence and talks down to everyone, but when it comes to Boh, she spoils him as if he were more precious than her own life.

Thinking about how Yubaba would react when that beloved Boh is “gone!” is terrifying… As the title suggests, it’s a track with a strong impact right from the opening.

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seaJoe Hisaishi

This song, Umi (The Sea), is said to be the one Director Miyazaki liked most when the image album was brought to Studio Ghibli.

According to composer Joe Hisaishi, it’s “a very simple, nostalgic piece that forms the foundation of the theme for Spirited Away.” In the film, it evokes the image of Chihiro riding the train to save Haku, perhaps.

It truly is a beautiful piece.

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The Rotten GodJoe Hisaishi

This is the piece that accompanies the appearance of the ‘Stink Spirit.

’ Though it heralds Chihiro’s greatest trial, it also creates a sense that everyone’s hearts are coming together—perfect for elevating this iconic scene.

While drums take center stage, the flowing melody reveals glimpses of the deity’s dignity and gravitas—an exceptional arrangement.

You can almost hear Lin’s shouts as you listen.

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A Thousand CouragesJoe Hisaishi

This piece, A Thousand Braveries, plays during the scene where the protagonist, Chihiro, heads for Yubaba’s room from outside.

As anyone who’s seen the film knows, Yubaba is a rather scary presence.

So it makes sense that this is the title for the track as Chihiro sets her sights on Yubaba’s room.

From the very beginning, the music conveys a sense of urgency that makes you feel like you want to run away right now.

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bottomless pitJoe Hisaishi

This frantic, high-energy arrangement is a piece titled “Bottomless Pit.” It plays during the scene where Haku, wounded and collapsed, falls into the bottomless pit in Yubaba’s room.

It brings to mind the grave crisis that befalls Haku and Chihiro’s desperate resolve.

The sharp contrasts in tempo make it a joy to listen to, and within the film it’s a fast-paced track that pulls you deeper and deeper into the story.

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