[2026] Tearjerker Songs That Bring the House Down at School Culture Festivals

hundreds of millions of light-yearsOmoinotake

Omoinotake | Hundreds of Millions of Light-Years [Official Music Video]

A love song titled after the astronomical unit “light-year,” marked by a catchy melody and bittersweet lyrics.

It expresses unwavering feelings that transcend time and distance through Omoinotake’s groovy sound and Reo Fujii’s expansive vocals.

Released in February 2024 as the theme song for the TBS Tuesday drama “Eye Love You,” the track became a massive hit, surpassing 100 million streams.

It was also selected as the entrance march for the 97th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament and included on the album “Pieces,” making it a signature song for the band.

With its mid-tempo, approachable melody line and invigorating arrangement unique to a full band, it’s an ideal choice to perform at school culture festivals and campus band shows.

CorrectRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – The Answer [Official Music Video]

RADWIMPS delivers a tender melody with a profound message that resonates deeply during graduation season.

The warm soundscape woven by piano tones and a student choir gently embraces moments of looking back on youthful days.

The lyrics, which depict the search for the right answers in life and the journey to find one’s true self, strike a universal chord that anyone can relate to.

Released for streaming in January 2024 and followed by a limited-production CD in February, this work was born from encounters with the younger generation and takes on a new challenge by incorporating a student choir.

It is a heartwarming song that stands beside young people leaving their schools and those facing turning points in life.

OrangeSPYAIR

SPYAIR “Orange” Music Video (Theme Song for Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle: The Movie)

A rousing anthem of youth that seeps into the heart with tenderness and poignancy, like a sunset melting into the horizon! This is a song by SPYAIR, released in February 2024 as the theme for the film Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle.

It expresses the bitterness and pain experienced amid friendship, dreams, and growth by likening them to the tang of a sweet-and-sour orange.

While carrying anxieties about the future, it’s infused with a resolute will to give someone a push forward and keep facing ahead oneself.

It’s the perfect track for moments when you want to cherish precious time with your teammates and renew your resolve to step onto the next stage.

Kaiju no Hanabuta (Monster’s Flower Song)Vaundy

Monster’s Flower Song / Vaundy: MUSIC VIDEO

A song by Vaundy that sings about recalling the days when one held dreams as big as a kaiju and striving to reignite that passion.

Through a song once hummed by someone dear in the past, the protagonist sets out to reclaim the dreams, hopes, and childlike innocence they had nearly forgotten, all unfolding alongside a captivating melody.

Released as a digital-only single in May 2020, the track rapidly gained popularity after being performed at the end of 2022 on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Its call-and-response style, which unites performers and audience, makes it an ideal choice for school and cultural festivals.

SignalWANIMA

WANIMA “Signal” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

A single song packed with a passionate message for the school festival that colors a page of youth.

It’s a cheering anthem by WANIMA that brilliantly depicts the drive to move toward the future and the real, everyday struggles we face.

While carrying anxieties about an unseen future, it expresses, through powerful rock sounds, the feelings of young people determined to walk their own path.

Featured on the album “Everybody!!,” the track was also used in a Lotte Ice “Sou” commercial, generating a huge response.

In a special NHK program, the band performed with 1,000 eighteen-year-olds, and the moving stage left a lasting impression on many viewers.

With a sound that unites the entire venue, it’s perfect for club presentations and as a theme song for school festivals.

HumanWANIMA

WANIMA “Human” Official Music Video

WANIMA’s “Human” is a song that portrays people facing mistakes and challenges.

It sings about the journey of searching for one’s place and meaning in life, as if speaking directly to the hearts of students.

Released as a digital-only single in October 2017, it was chosen as the theme song for the drama “Keiji Yugami.” With WANIMA’s signature bright and powerful sound, it’s sure to fire up any school festival! Link arms with the friends you planned the event with and listen together—it’ll make for the best memories.

FRIENDS!!!imase

【imase】FRIENDS!!!（MV）

This is a heartwarming song that gently celebrates the beauty and importance of friendship.

It carefully portrays the bond with close friends who understand each other the moment they meet, the awkwardness of reconnecting after a long time, and the feelings toward a tie that never changes.

Featuring a groovy rhythm and light, breezy vocals, this piece was specially written by imase for “Everyone’s Concert,” a collaboration project between the live communication app Pococha and Yamaha Corporation.

Released in February 2025, it was accompanied by a special video featuring over 100 performers.

It’s the perfect track to color those irreplaceable moments spent with cherished friends—whether as BGM for club activities and cultural festival prep, or as a message song dedicated to your friends.