Lovely anime song

The Wind Rises songs: 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!

The Wind Rises, a Studio Ghibli film released in 2013.

If you remember that time, you likely recall the news that director Hayao Miyazaki would retire after this film, which caused quite a stir.

The protagonist, Jiro Horikoshi, is absorbed in building airplanes.

And the heroine, Nahoko Satomi, fights illness.

Their relationship, the story itself, and the historical backdrop—all of it sinks deep into the heart.

Many viewers probably found themselves in tears by the end.

This article compiles the many famous pieces of music used in The Wind Rises.

Each and every one is profoundly moving.

The Song of The Wind Rises. Theme and Insert Songs (1–10)

peregrine falconJoe Hisaishi

Hayabusa (Piano) ~ from the film 'The Wind Rises' ~

Hayato Hisaishi Joe

When you feel a flutter of excitement, your mood gets a little more glamorous, doesn’t it? That’s exactly the kind of dramatic feeling you can experience with this track, “Tokimeki.” Its slow tempo rhythm and sparkling strings are a perfect match, letting you sink into a dreamy, otherworldly mood.

If you haven’t felt your heart race much lately, this is a song I definitely want you to hear.

It’s sure to put you in a dreamlike state!

Raise the rankinglower

The wind rises.Joe Hisaishi

Joe Hisaishi “The Wind Rises”

Wind Rises Joe Hisaishi

This is a piece with a beautiful, memorable melody used in The Wind Rises.

Its title links to the work itself, and it could be called the film’s underlying theme.

Airplanes ride the wind, and it feels as if the music expresses both the uncertainty and the freshness of that wind at the same time.

Raise the rankinglower

Castorp (The Magic Mountain)Joe Hisaishi

Castorp (The Magic Mountain) Piano Performance — from the film The Wind Rises

Kastorp (The Magic Mountain) Joe Hisaishi

The protagonist, Jiro Horikoshi, meets a German man named Castorp at a hotel.

Although he shares the same name as the piece’s title, this character’s name comes from Hans Castorp, the protagonist of Thomas Mann’s masterpiece The Magic Mountain.

It’s a somewhat wistful piece of music.

Raise the rankinglower

The Wind Rises songs: Theme and insert songs (11–20)

Eighth Experimental Special ReconnaissanceJoe Hisaishi

“Hachi-shi Tokutei” refers to the aircraft that was actually built when the Navy issued Mitsubishi a design order for a new twin-engine long-range reconnaissance plane.

It also appears in the show.

This is the song for that new model aircraft.

It carries a somewhat cute atmosphere.

Doesn’t the mid-tempo rhythm and bouncy melody put you in a cheerful mood? Be sure to listen for where this piece is used in the show.

Raise the rankinglower

evacuationJoe Hisaishi

Evacuation (Piano) ~ from the film The Wind Rises ~

Evacuation Joe Hisaishi

Set in a bouncing triple meter that makes you want to waltz, this piece comes with the subtitle “Determination,” so you might expect a powerful, energetic vibe… but it’s actually a very cheerful tune! The accordion’s lively melody is incredibly catchy, and the tambourine and other percussion create a distinctive sound.

Be sure to enjoy the overall soundscape!

Raise the rankinglower

flutter; thrill; a heart-pounding feelingJoe Hisaishi

Jiro Horikoshi, the protagonist of The Wind Rises, devotes his life to creating beautiful airplanes.

This piece focuses on his first day reporting to work.

You can practically feel his emotions—a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

The relaxed melody and heartbeat-like rhythm are supremely soothing, and the drumroll that seems to quicken like a racing pulse is a must-hear!

Raise the rankinglower

Kastorp (Farewell)Joe Hisaishi

A piece rich in variety, ranging from deep, weighty tones of upright bass and percussion—yet with light-footed arrangements—to a complete shift into orchestrations that evoke a vast, beautiful sky.

It is the theme for the German visitor “Castorp,” who came to a summer resort.

The music recalls his enigmatic presence—striking in the story yet with little background revealed—and the weight of his words.

Raise the rankinglower