[Cherry Blossom Season] Spring Song Special by Japanese Rock/Pop Bands [Meetings & Partings]

Winter and Springback number

back number – Winter and Spring

A poignant love ballad that overlays the pain of heartbreak with the changing seasons.

Released by back number in January 2024, it also drew attention for being the first music video directed by vocalist Iyori Shimizu.

Its delicate word choices—like likening snow-covered bare branches to flowers—resonate deeply.

The lyrics, which empathize with anyone who has experienced heartbreak, are sure to strike a chord.

It’s the perfect song for those taking a new step forward with the arrival of spring.

Why not listen to it in this season when hearts are easily swayed?

spring brazierNEW!UMEILO

[MV] UMEILO – Spring Hibachi

Based in Sapporo and acclaimed for a novel-like worldview, UMEILO is a guitar rock band, and this is one of their signature songs.

Alongside the seasonal shift from the long northern winter into spring, it delicately weaves together youthful restlessness and warm memories.

It is included on the single of the same title released in December 2019, and is also known for its unique packaging—a special edition that combined a CD with a newly written short story by vocalist Junsuke Ito.

Their distinctive approach, fusing music and literature, truly shines, inviting you to feel as if you’re turning the pages of a story with every listen.

It’s a perfect track for those who want to savor each word during spring, a season when encounters and farewells intersect.

With oolong highballs and in springNEW!osage

osage “With Oolong High and Spring” MV

A rock band drawing attention for their emotive lyrics and distinctive musicality, osage delivers a quintessential spring anthem.

Vivid depictions—like train station ticket gates and strong, sweeping winds—evoke the bittersweet scenes unique to the season.

While it portrays the loneliness of parting, it also carries a warmth that promises reunion and a bond that will remain unchanged for decades, gently embracing the listener’s heart.

Originally included on a self-produced release, the song has long been cherished by fans; it was re-released as a newly recorded version in September 2020 and later featured on the mini-album “root(s).” It’s the perfect track for moments when you want to believe in friendships and ties that endure despite changing circumstances.

It’s sure to stir sentimental yet forward-looking feelings, as memories of conversations shared over drinks with close friends come rushing back.

spring stormNEW!yonige

Haru No Arashi

A spring song with a quiet, smoldering heat by a two-woman rock band from Osaka.

It captures a unique atmosphere where everyday calm and unease intermingle, and Arisa Ushimaru’s unadorned words pierce the heart.

Included on the mini-album “HOUSE,” released in October 2018, this track’s slow tempo lets you fully immerse yourself in its world.

It was also performed near the end of the main set at their 2019 Nippon Budokan show, and has long been loved by fans as a key part of their live repertoire.

Rather than flashy shifts, its understated, steady performance resonates comfortably—perfect for a slightly ennui-tinged spring day.

Daphne (winter daphne)NEW!DISH//

DISH// – Sweet Daphne [Official Video]

Spring is a season where excitement and anxiety about a new environment mingle.

In such times, this heartwarming mid-tempo ballad gently gives you a push.

Its message—“there’s a place to come home to”—gives you the courage to move forward.

Released by DISH// as a single in 2021, the song was chosen as the theme for the drama “The Winner in February: The Classroom of Guaranteed Success.” It drew attention for being co-written by member Takumi Kitamura and Hattori from Macaroni Empitsu, and it’s also included on the album TRIANGLE.

Brimming with the frustration of not being able to express gratitude straightforwardly and with love for those who watch over you, this is a song you’ll want anyone standing at a life crossroads—like exams or job hunting—to hear.

Sakura and YouNEW!yasashii hitotachi.

Gentle People. “Sakura and You” Official Video

A heartwarming number by Yasashii Hitotachi, a three-piece band that presents universal songs distilled from everyday life and gently accompanies listeners’ hearts.

Released as a single in March 2025, it’s known—following earlier works like “Hoshi no Arika”—for its careful depictions of seasonal scenes.

The lyrics capture springtime urban imagery, such as the crowds along the Meguro River and the rush of excitement as people hurry toward the ticket gates, while Rikan’s soft, embracing vocals are filled with a kindness that makes you feel the arrival of a new season.

It’s a spring song that blends seamlessly into daily life—sure to sound comfortable as background music on the way to a famous cherry-blossom spot or while waiting to meet someone special.

A perfect day for cherry blossomsNEW!LUNKHEAD

LUNKHEAD "Sakura Biyori"

This is LUNKHEAD’s spring song, where a stirring, emotional guitar sound and unadorned words pierce straight to the heart.

Released in January 2007, Sakura Biyori was chosen as a POWER PLAY on Nippon TV’s “Music Fighter,” and has long been cherished as a defining song of the season.

The lyrics penned by vocalist Yoshitaro Kodaka portray not only hope but also real feelings of anxiety and loneliness, gently resonating with listeners’ hearts.

In this season of change—graduations, new jobs—this is a track you’ll want to hear when you need courage to take a new step, or on nights when you pause and sink into a bit of sentimentality.