Ho-ho-kekyo: The Yamada Family Next Door song. Theme song / insert song.
Based on a four-panel manga by Hisaichi Ishii and directed by Isao Takahata, the film My Neighbors the Yamadas was brought to life.
Its hallmarks include characters drawn with soft, gentle lines and the extensive use of songs that many Japanese viewers will find nostalgic.
This style, which differs a bit from the typical image of a “Ghibli film,” became a talking point when it was released.
Watching it warms the heart and makes you feel like cherishing your family—My Neighbors the Yamadas is a truly lovely movie.
Here, we’ll introduce the main theme and insert songs all together.
You’ll find nothing but timeless tunes we hope you’ll enjoy alongside the film.
Ho-hokekyo: Songs from My Neighbors the Yamadas. Theme and insert songs (1–10)
Pleasant Music I Headlong RushAkiko Yano
A song that feels really pleasant with the rhythm swinging on the off-beat.
Akiko Yano’s light, airy melodies are as brilliant as ever.
It’s the kind of track that seems like it would play while you’re skipping outside.
I remember it being used in a scene in the show as well.
I love how its clear, transparent atmosphere blends seamlessly into everyday life.
For me, it conjures an image of bright light streaming through curtains—how did it sound to you?
My Neighbors the Yamadas Theme – Orchestral VersionAkiko Yano
“The Theme of My Neighbors the Yamadas” has been transformed into a grand orchestral performance through wonderful orchestration.
The original song, “I Won’t Be Alone Anymore,” was written, composed, and sung by Akiko Yano, depicting everyday warmth with a pop sound.
In the orchestral version, the refreshing feel remains intact while the texture of live performance comes through directly.
A trumpet solo and mellow strings join as backing, highlighting the strengths of the orchestra.
The live-performance version of “I Won’t Be Alone Anymore” is great too! The performance is by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and is included on the album “Czech Phil Plays Studio Ghibli Symphonic Collection.”
Shut up and follow me.The Yamada Family
The song that the Yamada family performs a big a cappella chorus of in the film.
The original is a carefree tune sung by Hitoshi Ueki, with lyrics—believe it or not—by Yukio Aoshima.
It brims with the postwar Showa-era vibe of a Japan trying to get its energy back.
It’s like a pep song carrying the message: “Live brightly and with spirit.” Makes you want to belt it out at the public bath while soaking in the tub (lol).
I stopped being alone.Akiko Yano
This is the theme song for “My Neighbors the Yamadas,” which has the interesting background of being a feature-length film based on a four-panel newspaper comic.
Read as text alone, the lyrics seem like a love song, but perhaps due to the film’s imagery and the warm vocals, it somehow evokes a sense of family.
An un-Cuckoo-like main titleAkiko Yano
A song that begins with a simple piano.
Its gentle melody and light rhythm evoke the image of dappled sunlight on a holiday.
It matches the calmly depicted work extremely well, and it’s a sound that blends in even when playing in the background of everyday life.
In a modern world full of stimulating sounds, a piece that meshes with the air this naturally actually feels refreshingly new.
Cheerful Music V Academy is funAkiko Yano
A unique rhythm and melody as if it leapt straight out of a picture book.
I can only imagine how fun it would be to do a piano-and-vocal performance like this! It’s only about 50 seconds long, but just when you think it might be one-note, it keeps unfolding with a sense of speed, so it never gets old no matter how many times I listen.
It would fit seamlessly into any scene in the production.
It makes me want to keep listening to the soundtrack.
Cheerful Music III: I Go My Own WayAkiko Yano
A song by Akiko Yano with an exquisite sense of separation between the piano and the voice.
Because the melody and the piano rhythm are synchronized, that separation stands out even more to the ear.
With Yano’s distinctive voice, the melody doesn’t get buried at all despite the absence of lyrics.
The title says “cheerful music,” yet it gives off a vibe that feels like it would be inserted into a scene after a quarrel.
It’s a track that never gets boring to listen to, one that conveys a story even within its brief sound.