Youth songs by Japanese bands. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.

CorrectRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – The Answer [Official Music Video]

This song centers on themes of youthful anxiety and hope, friendship and love.

It portrays life’s uncertainty—the kind they don’t teach you about in school—and the process of finding your own answers.

Written by RADWIMPS in 2018 and newly recorded for a digital release in January 2024, it was created for NHK’s “18 Fes” and has become a staple of graduation season.

With lyrics that cut deep and the band’s unmistakable sound, it’s a track that fuses both powerfully.

Highly recommended for anyone trying to find their own path, it offers the courage to face an uncertain future and discover answers that are yours alone.

Look over here.WEAVER

WEAVER – Look This Way (MUSIC VIDEO)

It’s included on the 2014 album “ID.” It also served as the theme song for the film “My Pretend Girlfriend,” released the same year.

WEAVER is a three-piece rock band from Kobe that debuted in 2009.

Riding on a sound built around light rhythms and beautiful piano tones, they deliver a clear, translucent vocal performance.

SignMr.Children

Mr.Children 「Sign」 MUSIC VIDEO

This is a famous song by Mr.

Children included on the album “I ♥ U,” released in 2005.

It was written specifically as the theme song for the drama “Orange Days.” The lyrics express a desire to cherish everyone and everything one encounters.

The mid-tempo feel and vocals match beautifully, making it very pleasant to listen to.

Farewell, youthElefanto Kashimashi

25 saraba-seishun

It was included as the B-side to the single “Kaze ni Fukarete,” released in 1997.

It was used as an insert song in the 2013 film “Goodbye to All.” Elephant Kashimashi is a four-member rock band from Tokyo formed in 1981.

The heartfelt vocals, as if on the verge of tears, strike you right in the chest.

Balloon Bomb (Bang Bang Bang)THE BLUE HEARTS

[THE BLUE HEARTS] Balloon Bomb (Bang Bang Bang)

This is a playful pop-punk number that sings about the frustration of an unstoppable crush and the explosive urges that come with it.

Featured on the classic album TRAIN-TRAIN, released in November 1988, the track is also known for its tie-in with Kadokawa Shoten’s “Hippa Rinda.” Many listeners will likely relate to the lyrics, which depict feelings so heightened they seem ready to burst at any moment.

Fans are also familiar with the behind-the-scenes story that an alternate title was originally considered.

When your feelings overflow and you’re helplessly in love, why not surrender yourself to the song’s vibrant, driving sound? Its exhilarating speed will lift your spirits and leave your heart feeling clear.

centimeterthe peggies

the peggies “Centimeter” Music Video

This is a song by the peggies, released in August 2020, that expresses a bittersweet crush and a slight sense of distance as if in an equation.

The intertwining of longing and anxiety for a destined person is brilliantly conveyed through an upbeat pop-rock sound and clear, airy vocals.

The track was used as the opening theme for the TV anime “Rent-A-Girlfriend” and reached No.

34 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

This love song, which celebrates the wonder of falling for someone, is a comforting tune not only for those in love but also for anyone hoping for a wonderful encounter ahead.

youth↑THE HIGH-LOWS↓

[Official] The High-Lows “Seishun” [14th Single (2000/5/24)] THE HIGH-LOWS / Seisyun

It’s a rock track included on the 2000 album “Relaxin’ WITH THE HIGH-LOWS.” It was used as the theme song for the drama “Legendary Teacher.” THE HIGH LOWS is a band formed mainly by Hiroto Kōmoto and Masatoshi Mashima, formerly of THE BLUE HEARTS.

It’s a powerful song that evokes the essence of THE BLUE HEARTS.