Tear-jerking youth songs: recommended classics and popular tracks

Blown by the windElefanto Kashimashi

Elephant Kashimashi – Blown by the Wind [Official Video]

This is a coming-of-age song that portrays the premonition of parting and a turning point in life.

Hiroji Miyamoto of Elephant Kashimashi weaves his innermost feelings into lyrics that flow naturally.

Strikingly using the contrast between the sun and the moon to depict a journey of departure that stretches on forever, this work was released as a single in November 1997.

Selected from the album “Run Toward Tomorrow – Moonlit Songs,” it also became a memorable piece as the theme song for Glico Almond Chocolate’s commercial.

It’s a track you’ll want to listen to when you want to linger in the afterglow of a faint romance, when you’re about to take a new step forward, or when a touch of sentimentality finds its way into an ordinary day.

this very momentLittle Glee Monster

Little Glee Monster “This Very Moment”

Let me introduce a youth anthem that’s sure to tug at your heartstrings the moment you hear it: “Ima Kono Shunkan o” (“This Very Moment”).

The song is by Little Glee Monster, renowned for their powerful vocals, and it’s used as the ending theme for the anime MIX MEISEI STORY: “A Second Summer, Soar Beyond the Sky.” Its lyrics are crafted to give a push to anyone chasing their dreams.

Give it a listen while thinking back on your own youth or picturing the anime’s story.

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Connect!Misaka Saki

Saki Misaka – Connect! (Full ver.)

Even if we walk separate paths, the bonds with our teammates will never fade.

Saki Misaka’s powerful vocals resonate in our hearts as we look back on our youthful days.

This song is also known as the support anthem for the 98th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament and was released in October 2021.

It’s a perfect track for those who devoted themselves to club activities and for current students alike.

The lyrics, filled with gratitude for the teammates who shared both joys and hardships, may even bring you to tears.

It’s a warm, encouraging song that stays close to the hearts of club members at the moment of their retirement.

Goodbyeofukōsu

Sayonara

This is a pure love ballad that poignantly portrays the end of a romance, released as an Off Course single in December 1979.

With Kazumasa Oda’s warm yet translucent vocals and a heart-stirring melody, the song richly conveys the sorrow of parting.

Its gentle, relatable lyrics—about a first heartbreak or a bittersweet farewell to someone dear—have made it a beloved classic that quietly resonates with listeners.

It was also featured as an insert song in the first season of the TBS drama “Mr.

Kinpachi in Class 3B” and later included on the album “SELECTION 1978-81.” As a song that stands by you through the poignant end of love that comes with winter’s chill, it’s especially recommended for those facing a farewell with someone important.

GarnetOku Hanako

Garnet

This is the theme song of the animated film “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,” a track where Hanako Oku’s vocals resonate deeply with the heart.

It captures the sparkle of days gone by and an unchanging feeling for someone precious—listening to it might just make your heart ache a little.

Released as a single in July 2006, it further heightened the film’s emotional impact.

Try listening to it on a summer evening when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood or when you’re remembering old friends.

It’s a song that will surely stay gently by your side.

Strawberry Statement, Once Morebanban

Let's Do the 'Strawberry Statement' Once More

Released in August 1975, this poignant coming-of-age ballad, which tenderly portrays the transience of youth and changing times, became a major hit, reaching No.

1 on the Oricon charts.

It was the first song written by Yumi Arai for another artist, gently capturing memories of dates at the movie theater, days fervently devoted to the student movement, and the young facing the reality of entering the workforce.

Banban’s warm choral work blends beautifully with the fragile lyrics, resulting in a piece that fills the heart with nostalgia and bittersweet emotion.

This song will resonate when you want to immerse yourself in memories of your youth or reflect on moments shared with someone dear.

Words of FarewellGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Words of Gift

As a moving song filled with memories of youth, this track by GReeeeN resonates deeply with listeners.

The gentle tones of the piano and the four-part harmonies evoke scenes of farewells, such as graduation or retiring from a school club.

The lyrics are imbued with memories of friends and feelings of gratitude, and as you listen, your heart grows warm.

Released in September 2019, it was also used as the theme song for the film “Run! T School Basketball Club.” It’s a recommended track for those who want to look back on their adolescence or are facing a farewell with cherished friends.