Recommended songs for university students. Classic and popular Japanese songs.
We’ve put together a collection of songs recommended for college students!
Are there any you haven’t checked out yet?
If so, be sure to listen to them via the YouTube links all the way to the end!
Recent popular songs have really creative music videos, and they’re all fun to watch without getting bored!
Recommended songs for college students. Japanese classics and popular tracks (1–10)
RPGSEKAI NO OWARI
This is a song that resonates with people of our generation who grew up playing RPGs.
By mapping the joy of adventure, the friendships with comrades, and the resolve to protect what’s important onto our present selves, we can feel as if we are the protagonists of an RPG.
Thinking of it that way gives us courage.
HeiwajimaB-DASH
It’s a song that brings vivid summer scenes to mind.
When you listen to it, you feel it’s a waste to idle away your days in a small room, and you’re inspired to set off on an adventure to somewhere far away.
The lyrics seem to teach you how vast the world is—that there are things you can’t see if you just stay shut away in your own little world.
Swaying (feat. Dengaryu)EVISBEATS
The gentle piano melody and calm beat seem to invite you into a pleasant moment.
It’s a collaboration between EVISBEATS, a trackmaker from Nara Prefecture, and the rapper Dengaryu.
The lyrics warmly affirm the subtle emotional shifts that arise in everyday moments, and they really resonate, don’t they? This piece is included on the classic album “Hitosu ni Naru Toki,” released in July 2012.
Its enduring popularity is evident from its reissue on 7-inch vinyl in April 2018.
When your mind is crowded with assignments or thoughts about the future, listening to it while strolling at dusk might give you a gentle push forward.
That paper airplane splits the cloudy sky19
It’s a laid-back vocal with a touch of bittersweetness—a true youth anthem.
Although it’s a song from the ’90s, many people still know it today, and some enjoy it as a nostalgic classic.
Its straightforward, unpretentious lyrics have a calming effect.
It’s also recommended as a duet song.
Night Distance feat. mahinaI love you Orchestra Swing Style
That whisper-like singing really sinks into your heart.
This piece is by the band I love you Orchestra Swing Style, which is rooted in jazz and R&B, featuring mahina on vocals.
Its mellow, laid-back sound is irresistibly appealing, conjuring images of a city skyline at night.
Centered on the theme of the physical or emotional distance between people you long to see, it seems to capture the aching feelings that deepen in the stillness of the night.
The track is included on the April 2019 album “Smoky Valley,” and it was also used as the ending theme for a program on FM Kagawa.
On a night alone, when you dim the lights to focus on studying or take a sentimental walk through the streets, listening to it will surely keep you company.
LaundryLUCKY TAPES
LUCKY TAPES is the solo project of Kai Takahashi, notable for its sound that blends J-pop with elements of indie pop and R&B.
Released in October 2020 and included on the album “Blend,” this track portrays the process of facing daily struggles and learning to live with them while moving forward.
The lyrics give voice to the conflict between the pressure to become “someone” and the reluctance to conform, yet ultimately offer a glimmer of hope.
It’s a song that seeps in during moments when you want to pause—while studying or on a walk.
The music video—Kai Takahashi’s first as a director—also drew attention, making this a number that gently accompanies quiet times.
GIRLS feat. ohashiTrioMichael Kaneko
It’s a track with a light, groovy feel and an urban, sophisticated sound that’s a pleasure to listen to.
It’s a collaboration between Shonan-born singer-songwriter Michael Kaneko and Ohashi Trio.
The lyrics charmingly portray a man getting giddy after meeting a woman at a bar, along with the exchanges of the friend watching over him.
The song was released in May 2022 and was later included on the album “The Neighborhood.” The key-change section—added at Ohashi Trio’s suggestion—significantly heightens the song’s dramatic quality.
How about giving it a spin when you want a breather or as a companion for an evening stroll?