A friendship song that fires up the culture festival/school festival
Many students look forward to the annual cultural and school festivals! There are all kinds of events like food stalls, exhibits, and volunteer performances! In the midst of all that, you probably spend lots of time preparing for the festival and practicing your performance with your close friends, right? In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of friendship-themed songs that are perfect for cultural and school festivals! They’re great for band performances, dance routines, festival theme songs, or even background music for videos! Find the perfect track to color your wonderful memories with your dear friends.
Friendship Songs That Hype Up School Festivals (1–10)
Blue NoteNEW!M!LK
A track brimming with the fresh vibe of summer and the exhilaration of racing ahead with your friends! Its positive theme—that you can feel “seishun” (youth) again and again depending on your mindset—makes it perfect for cultural and school festivals where everyone moves toward a single goal, don’t you think? Released as a single in July 2025, it also made waves as the tie-in song for the body care brand Sea Breeze’s commercial featuring M!LK member Hayato Sano.
It became a major hit, selling over 180,000 copies in the same month.
The exhilarating melody of classic pop and the rich, layered choruses are perfect for shouting and jumping together.
Highly recommended for creating the best shared memories on dance or band performance stages!
The calling voiceNEW!Vaundy
Singer-songwriter Vaundy self-produces everything from writing, composing, and arranging to video direction, continually presenting a diverse range of pop music.
This work is a song released digitally in December 2025 as the theme for NHK General’s “Vaundy 18 Matsuri.” Created based on earnest messages gathered from the 18-year-old generation, the program featured a passionate performance alongside 1,000 young people.
While overwhelmed by the vastness of the world, it portrays the act of listening closely to one’s inner voice and stepping forward.
The deliberately challenging-to-sing melody carries a cheer for taking on challenges in earnest.
Sung as a choral piece with friends at culture festivals and school festivals, it’s sure to become an unforgettable and moving memory.
Song Not to ForgetNEW!makaroni enpitsu
While holding up the heat of youth straight and true, this number strikes a captivating balance that never overpowers you with emotion.
Hattori poured passion into writing it, embracing the fragility of time—something we don’t want to forget yet will inevitably fade.
Created by the versatile rock band Macaroni Empitsu, the song was released in April 2024 and served as the ending theme for the TV anime “Oblivion Battery,” closely accompanying its story.
It was later included on the album “Bokura no Namida nara Sora ni Umeyou.” Evoking a sense of camaraderie, this track is a recommended youth anthem for cultural and school festivals where the best memories are made.
Kokoro-eNEW!roodo obu mejyaa
A number packed with the raw passion of youth, its energetic sound strikes straight to the heart.
Kenichi Kitagawa of Road of Major delivers a powerful vocal that vividly paints the hope of charging toward your dreams.
Released in November 2004, this track still enjoys enduring popularity.
Beloved as the opening theme for the first season of the NHK Educational TV anime “Major,” it was later included on the album “ROAD OF MAJOR II.” Its exhilarating, fast-paced rock sound is guaranteed to ignite any crowd when performed by a band at a school culture festival.
It’s a recommended youth anthem for anyone taking on big goals with friends, perfect for creating unforgettable memories.
DREAMERIkuta Rira
This heartwarming song, set to a gentle acoustic tone, sings of a deep love for music and a passionate pursuit of dreams.
In Rira Ikuta’s true-to-herself words, it conveys a strong will to keep singing in her own way and gratitude toward the important people who support her.
Brimming with hope that shines like a starry sky, this work was included on the single “Hyakka Ryouran,” released in March 2025.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to with friends while preparing for a school or cultural festival, as you cheer on each other’s dreams.
PLAYERSYOASOBI
Set to a breezy pop tune that kicks off with the shout of “Play on!”, YOASOBI paints a picture of joyful moments spent with friends.
While looking back on shared memories, the song’s standout feature is its uplifting message about facing forward and moving ahead.
Released in March 2025 as part of the PlayStation 30th anniversary project “Project: MEMORY CARD,” it has also drawn attention as the CM song featuring Nanase Nishino and VTuber Usada Pekora.
It’s the perfect track for anyone who cherishes bonds and memories with friends, as well as for students gearing up for school festivals and events.
existenceWANIMA
This song features a warm melody filled with gratitude and prayers for family that truly resonates.
Memories of growing up in a seaside town and days spent with loved ones are expressed in gentle words, conveying WANIMA’s sincere feelings.
Flowing comfortably at a medium tempo, the track preserves the band’s core rock sound while ambitiously venturing into more emotional expression.
It was selected as the Mother’s Day campaign theme song for Hana Cupid in March 2025 and was used in a commercial featuring actor Shohei Miura.
It’s the perfect track for times when you’re working hard with friends to prepare for school festivals, or when you want to deepen bonds with your teammates.
WANIMA’s message-driven music is highly recommended for anyone who wants to share their feelings for someone important.