Kiki's Delivery Service (scripts and lyrics)
The composer, lyricist and performer of the opening and ending songs is Yumi Arai (荒井由美 Arai Yumi?). After she married in 1976, she generally wrote and recorded under her married name Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷 由実, Matsutōya Yumi?). Nevertheless, she has occasionally performed under her original name, as well as the pseudonym "Karuho Kureta" (the Japanese pronunciation of the name "Greta Garbo"). She is also commonly known by the affectionate nickname "Yuming".
The song heard over the opening sequence is Message In Rouge (ルージュの伝言 Ruuju No Dengon?). It was originally released in 1975.
In a touching bit of synchronicity, this song was covered in 2008 by the ukulele artist Ayano Tsuji (つじあやの Tsuji Ayano?). Tsuji's other link to Studio Ghibli is that she wrote and performed the closing song for the film The Cat Returns.
The song heard over the closing sequence is If Enveloped In Tenderness (やさしさに包まれたなら Yasashisa Ni Tsutsumareta Nara?) . It was originally released in 1974.
