Recommended songs for university students. Classic and popular Japanese songs.

Somewhere far awayNisshoku Natsuko

Nisshoku Natsuko – “Somewhere Far Away” Official Music Video

Singer-songwriter Natsuko Nisshoku, who has won popularity with her distinctive style of expressing a unique world using only the piano.

Her music, which combines strength and delicacy, grips listeners’ hearts and never lets go.

Among her songs, this is the one I want you to hear when you’re taking a new step forward.

Characterized by a pastoral, country-tinged sound that feels like traveling in a covered wagon, it contrasts the past self with the present self while depicting the act of moving ahead.

This track is included on the album “Ginka,” released in May 2025; the album peaked at No.

29 on the Oricon Weekly Album Ranking.

Listen to it on the way home from a trip with friends or on a night before graduation as you think about your future, and you’ll surely be reminded of the importance of the connections you forged during your university years.

FOOLHitsuji Bungaku

Hitsujibungaku – FOOL (Official Music Video)

Hitsujibungaku is a three-piece alternative rock band that combines delicacy with power, earning strong support from younger generations.

Released in April 2023 as the ending theme for the drama “Know the Meaning of Letting Go!”, this song pairs roaring, distorted guitars with a plaintive melody line to brilliantly capture the complex emotions of someone who, while burdened by inescapable anger and inner conflict, still wishes to live with strength.

Also included on the album “12 hugs (like butterflies),” it’s a track we recommend when you feel stuck.

The searing passion of this work will surely set your heart free.

mouth fireworksHasegawa Hakushi

Hakushi Hasegawa – Mouth Flash (Kuchinohanabi) (Official Video)

An exhilarating number that overwhelms you with a rollercoaster-like whirlwind of twists and turns! It’s a song by singer-songwriter Hakushi Hasegawa, released in 2023.

Its unpredictable sound—where jazz, electronic music, and pop intermingle seamlessly—leaves an unforgettable impact after just one listen.

It seems to capture the precise moment when the inexpressible emotions swirling inside you burst forth from your mouth like fireworks in vivid color.

Give it a listen when you want to punch a hole through the monotony of everyday life or need a spark to break out of your shell.

Sequin Womanrikon densetsu

Rikon Densetsu – Sequin Woman (Official Music Video)

It’s a track that city pop lovers won’t be able to resist.

Performed by Rikon Densetsu, formed in 2022, this song blends funky and sweet sounds into a comfortable number.

It sings of a precarious love: being captivated by someone dazzling, knowing you shouldn’t be drawn in, yet wishing “just for tonight.” Play it as BGM before heading out into the night with friends, and your everyday life might take on a slightly more dramatic hue.

first stepAme no Parēdo

ame no parade – first step (Official Music Video)

This pop number comes from ame no parade, a band that blends diverse musical styles like post-rock and electronica.

It’s a cheer song that gives a push to anyone taking a new step forward.

Kohei Fukunaga’s clear, transparent vocals affirm those delicate feelings where excitement about change mixes with a touch of anxiety.

Released in March 2022, the track was featured in a GLOBAL WORK fashion brand commercial starring Tsubasa Honda.

Its sprightly synths and bouncy beat are sure to lift your spirits on your way to school!

HeiwajimaB-DASH

B-DASH – Heiwajima (Official Music Video)

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.

That paper airplane splits the cloudy sky19

That paper airplane splits the cloudy sky

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.