Our staff share their favourite Japanese tracks tied to this year’s Doors Open Toronto theme of “Play.”
In this volume, we selected songs that we turn to when we want to feel playful and energized.
You can read our staff’s reflections on their song selections below and listen to the playlist on Spotify.
Tune in and take a bit of JFT joy with you!
*You can also check out our previous staff mixtapes from 2023 and 2024.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind – MINEKAWA Takako & SAKAMOTO Ryūichi
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is the titular theme song of the animated film by MIYAZAKI Hayao. The song was composed by HOSONO Haruomi. This particular version was performed by MINEKAWA Takako & SAKAMOTO Ryūichi at the Hosono tribute concert. MINEKAWA Takako is scheduled to perform in Canada during the summer of 2025.
This Road (Kono Michi / この道) – MISORA Hibari
“Kono Michi” (この道) is a well-known Japanese folk song composed by YAMADA Kōsaku (山田耕筰) with lyrics by poet KITAHARA Hakushū (北原白秋). The song has been widely covered by many artists, including MISORA Hibari—often referred to as the ‘Japanese Piaf.’
HATANO Mutsumi, who previously visited Toronto in 1993 to collaborate with the Japan Foundation Toronto, has also performed this piece.
—Toshi A.
Lion (Raion / ライオン) – May’n / NAKAJIMA Megumi (中島愛)
This duet, the main theme song of the anime Macross Frontier, was a must-sing whenever I went to karaoke with friends during my school days! Even though some of us (myself included) hadn’t actually watched the anime at the time, we genuinely enjoyed harmonizing together.
Super Mario Bros. Main Theme composed by KONDŌ Kōji (近藤浩治)
Super Mario was one of those games I only got to play at my friends’ houses, since I didn’t own any cartridges from the series myself growing up. Now, whenever I hear this catchy theme, it brings back fond memories of those carefree moments, sneaking in gameplay with snacks as a guilty pleasure while escaping homework.
Joyful (Joifuru / じょいふる) – Ikimonogakari (いきものがかり)
Ikimonogakari was the first J-pop band I ever saw live. I still remember when they performed Joyful at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, the entire audience waved their tour towels and sang along from start to finish. It was such a fun and unforgettable experience where it felt like all 8,000 of us were “playing” together. I learned how special live concerts are compared to just listening on a portable player (my Walkman, or even a CD player back then), and this is probably why I still love going to live music events here in Toronto.
—Risa H.
¡Dale Dale! – Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (feat. Yusuke Chiba)
Mr. C.C – Hiromi
I enjoy listening and imagining who ‘Mr. C.C’ is — the one who was always playful and whimsical in the movies.
—Yuki H.
「人間ごっこ」(Ningen Gokko, meaning “Playing Human”) – RADWIMPS
「棒人間」(Bou Ningen, meaning “Stick Figure”) – RADWIMPS
RADWIMPS is a band known for their playful music. Their lyrics express a unique view of the world by creatively combining different sounds and meanings of words.
For example, the word “Gokko” in the title of the first song usually refers to a type of children’s game in which they pretend to be something they are not, such as Ohimesama Gokko (“playing princess”). I interpret “Ningen Gokko” (meaning “Playing Human”) as referring to the state of living like another human as if playing “Gokko,” (i.e., not being able to live as oneself by stifling one’s true self) and the song poignantly and playfully questions this state of being.
—Emi N.
Kamukamo-Shikamo-Nidomokamo!! By MONO NO AWARE, covered by Haku
The band is called Haku. This is a cover of “Kamukamo-Shikamo-Nidomokamo!!” by MONO NO AWARE. My husband recently found this song on YouTube and was captivated. (Apparently, it went viral.) He asked me what they were saying in the lyrics. But when I listened to it, I realized it’s all nonsense Japanese tongue twisters! It’s a fun and catchy song to listen to. Now his YouTube is filled with Japanese videos. I found it’s interesting to see people fascinated by such things.
—Sayaka S.
+81 – Deerhoof
The title of the song “+81” is the international dialing code for Japan. The song features sudden shifts in style with lyrics depicting a busy city, leading to a very catchy chorus that contains only two different words: ‘choo-choo’ and ‘beep-beep’.
Yo Pumpkin Head – Seatbelts (composer Yoko Kanno)
While listening to “Yo Pumpkin Head,” it’s easy to imagine the marching band’s drums and brass filling the street with music—reaching up to the highest floors and shaking the ground with sound. It bounces off the buildings, leaves the windows rattling, and even after everyone has passed by, you can still hear the tuba in the distance, keeping the rhythm.
—Daniel T.
Gake no Ue no Ponyo (崖の上のポニョ, “Ponyo on the Cliff”)
The eponymous theme song to the Studio Ghibli film Ponyo.
Kono Hoshi no Tsuzuki wo – KOBUKURO
The official theme song for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
—Rita W.
今日は…こんなに元気です – CHAGE and ASKA
釣りに行こう – THE BOOM
Many songs by THE BOOM call up bittersweet memories of my youth, filled with hope for an unknown future. This song, one of my favorites, fills me with a sense of innocence, joy, and love.
—Noriko Y.
Katteni My Soul (勝手にMy Soul) – DISH//
Mr. Raindrop – amplified
I chose two songs from the anime Gintama, a series that perfectly captures the spirit of play. Gintama is a playful take on the Edo period – reimagined with aliens and full of absurd, irreverent humour and parody – a joyful mix of history, sci-fi, and pop culture. These songs remind me of the show’s energetic tones and its ability to not take itself too seriously.
—Yixun Z.
