Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

[Culture and School Festival Songs] A curated selection of popular and hit songs to brighten up your venues and events!

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

Among the many events in school life, the culture festival is one of the most memorable!

At culture festivals, there are countless moments where music plays a crucial role—whether it’s background music at the venue, songs for band performances, or tracks for dance numbers.

In this article, we’ll introduce songs that are guaranteed to hype up the culture festival, aimed at those running the event as committee members and those performing on stage.

With these picks, your festival production is sure to shine!

If you’re in the middle of choosing songs, be sure to use this as a reference.

[Cultural and School Festival Songs] A curated selection of popular and hit tunes to color your venues and events! (171–180)

Heroineback number

back number – Heroine (full)

Heroineback number

A heartrending love song that gently embraces a fleeting winter crush.

The whiteness of the snow and the warmth of the heart are strikingly portrayed, and the protagonist’s inability to put their feelings into words is beautifully expressed through a delicate melody.

Released in January 2015 by back number, it gained attention as the JR East “JR SKISKI” campaign song, also featured in a commercial starring Suzu Hirose.

It’s a perfect choice for bands looking for a calm, mellow piece.

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Wish Upon a Starflumpool

flumpool “Wish Upon a Star” MUSIC VIDEO

Wish Upon a Starflumpool

A heartwarming medium ballad that begins with the sense of loss from losing someone important and portrays the protagonist’s earnest desire to win them back after realizing how much they meant.

It was flumpool’s first CD single, released in February 2009, and was featured in NTT Communications’ MUSICO commercial.

Debuting at No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, it’s a celebrated song that was also performed at that year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Built on fundamental rhythm patterns that form the basis of band performance, this piece is a perfect fit for school cultural festivals and campus stages.

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Starting Oversumika

sumika / Starting Over [Music Video] - TV Anime “MIX MEISEI STORY: The Second Summer, Beyond the Sky” Opening Theme

Starting Oversumika

A refreshing and powerful message song that gently pushes the backs of those taking their first steps toward their dreams.

Released by sumika in June 2023 as the opening theme for the anime “MIX MEISEI STORY: The Second Summer, Beyond the Sky,” this track celebrates the joy of growing together with friends and the importance of cherishing what you love.

It supports and stands by anyone trying to take a step forward in a new environment.

Play it at the start of a school festival or cultural festival, and it will make everyone feel the beginning of a new story.

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Vermillionsumika

sumika / Vermillion【Music Video】

Vermillionsumika

This is a refreshing, pop-tinged song by sumika that evokes the spring season, where anxiety and anticipation about new surroundings intermingle.

With clear, gentle vocals, it tenderly recounts how feelings from a time when spring wasn’t yet lovable gradually turned positive through experiences as a musician.

Released in advance from the March 2025 album “Vermillion’s” and chosen as the theme song for Duskin Co., Ltd.’s new TV commercial “Let’s Connect Our Feelings,” the track charms with lyrics that convey the warmth and joy of walking forward together with someone.

It would be perfect for a band set at a school festival, helping everyone share the resolve to face forward and move ahead.

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Fanfaresumika

sumika / Fanfare [Music Video]

Fanfaresumika

A refreshing yet powerful cheer song that portrays facing hardships and holding hope for the future.

Its lyrics gently accompany anxious hearts and give a supportive push to walk forward together, inspiring the courage to take a new step.

Released in August 2018 as sumika’s second single, it also drew attention for being chosen as the opening theme for the feature-length anime Let Me Eat Your Pancreas.

It’s a perfect song for school and cultural festivals—moments that will likely be etched into many students’ memories as a page of their youth.

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[Culture Festival & School Festival Songs] A curated selection of popular and hit songs to brighten up venues and events! (181–190)

March 9Remioromen

Remioromen – March 9

March 9Remioromen

A gentle love song by Remioromen that wraps together the changing seasons and a feeling of gratitude.

Written as a gift for a friend’s wedding, the song blends down-to-earth lyrics drawn from the real experiences of the three band members with the tight-knit sound only childhood friends from Yamanashi Prefecture could create.

Released in March 2004, it was later featured in an AOKI Holdings commercial and as the ending theme for an information program on the TBS network.

It was also used as an insert song in the drama “1 Litre of Tears,” and a remake version was released in 2007.

Because it can be performed with a limited instrumental setup, it’s perfect for creating memories at a school culture festival.

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Precious thingsroodo obu mejyaa

Lord of Major / Precious Things

Precious thingsroodo obu mejyaa

A heartwarming message song that reminds you of the bonds with cherished friends.

It’s a track where a driving, high-energy rock sound—packed with Road of Major’s musical essence—beautifully harmonizes with straightforward lyrics.

Portraying encounters and partings, friendship, and hope for the future, the words continue to resonate deeply with many young people.

Released as an indie single in September 2002, it remained in the Oricon Top 10 for 19 consecutive weeks and achieved an astonishing total of 900,000 copies sold.

In 2009, it was also featured in a commercial for the Taiwan-market Mazda Mazda3, becoming a song loved across borders.

Its band-friendly arrangement makes it easy to perform, and it has the power to unite the audience during live shows.

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