[Youth Anthems] A curated selection of popular and latest songs to hype up your school cultural festival

Falling in Love -10 YEARS THANK YOU-SHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “Koisuru -10YEARS THANK YOU-”

SHISHAMO is a three-piece rock band that captivates fans with vividly descriptive lyrics that paint clear scenes and a straightforward rock sound.

“Koisuru -10YEARS THANK YOU-,” included on the concept album For Everyone Who Knows Love, created to commemorate their 10th anniversary, is a re-recorded track from their first album.

Each part features simple playing, making it easy to take on, but if you’re using the same arrangement as the original, be careful: it can be tricky to sing without letting the tight guitar backing pull your rhythm.

It’s a rock tune that will hype up any school festival, with lyrics that resonate and evoke the romance of youth.

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Hoshino Takashi

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One moreFUNKY MONKEY BABYS

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS “One More”

From their formation in 2004 to their disbandment in 2013, FUNKY MONKEY BABYS were a group that continued to lead the J-POP scene.

They left behind numerous classic songs, but if we had to pick a true youth anthem from their catalog, it would surely be this one.

It even served as a theme song for high school baseball, so many people are probably familiar with it.

The story told in the lyrics is the very essence of youth.

It’s perfect not only as a go-to song for karaoke contests at school festivals and cultural festivals, but also as a theme song.

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Hane Keisuke

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HEART BEATYOASOBI

YOASOBI「HEART BEAT」Official Music Video

It’s a song that feels like you can hear the heartbeat of young people.

You can sense YOASOBI’s unique worldview and storytelling in this track.

Released in December 2023 as the theme song for NHK’s “18 Festival,” its lyrics—filled with the thoughts of a thousand 18-year-olds—may prompt you to reflect on yourself.

If everyone sings it together at a school or cultural festival, it’s sure to create a moving atmosphere.

This work, which gives you the courage to take a step toward the future, is guaranteed to become a wonderful song that colors a page of youth!

Mosquito Bite[Alexandros]

[ALEXANDROS] – Mosquito Bite (MV)

This is a song by [ALEXANDROS] that expresses the search for one’s place in the world and the pain felt in that situation.

Chosen as the theme song for the film “BLEACH: The Substitute,” its tense, gripping sound leaves a strong impression and matches the film’s worldview.

Drawing on vocalist-guitarist Yohei Kawakami’s own experiences, it portrays the suffering of being scrutinized by those around you and the powerful resolve to rise above it.

It’s a track that conveys a strong will, suggesting that even painful memories can become elements that make you stronger.

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kappamaki

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You don’t listen to rock.aimyon

Aimyon – You Don’t Listen to Rock [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A rock tune packed with the sparkle of youth! This gem by Aimyon paints a vivid picture of unrequited love.

Upon its 2017 release, it went into heavy rotation on AM/FM radio and astonishingly surpassed 100 million streams.

Born from admiration for Spitz, the melody and lyrics authentically reflect the feelings of a girl in love.

The frustration of not being able to convey your feelings to the one you like, and the straightforward wish to stay close to them, is heartbreaking.

Maybe a school festival could even bring you closer.

It’s a masterpiece I want students wrestling with love to hear!

Why do we run?Nogizaka 46

Why do we run?

This is a song by Nogizaka46 that vividly captures the dazzling glow of youth—being driven by something for no reason at all.

In response to the question of why we run and sweat, the lyrics boldly declare, “There’s no meaning,” embodying that uniquely youthful impulse where the body moves before the mind can think.

Perhaps it’s precisely because it’s sung by the 6th generation, the group’s next wave, that the words carry a genuine, unfeigned radiance.

Included on the single “Same numbers,” released in July 2025, this track is a youth pop anthem that blends coolness with an emotional resonance.

Dear Sir or Madam, on this day when cherry blossoms fluttermafumafu

[MV] Dear Sir/Madam, On This Day When Cherry Blossoms Flutter Down / Mafumafu [Shonen Janmaga Gakuen]

A heartwarming coming-of-age story by Mafumafu that vividly captures the emotion of spring as cherry blossoms dance in the air.

The song’s structure is striking, beginning with gentle piano melodies and unfolding into an exhilarating, fast-paced rhythm.

It delicately weaves universal themes of school-day memories, friendship, and farewells, highlighted by a warm vocal delivery that feels close to the listener’s heart.

Included on the album “Kagurairo Artifact,” released in October 2019, it was also used as the theme song for the website Shonen Janmaga Gakuen.

It’s a track to listen to when you want to feel the tender memories of student days, the arrival of spring, or when you’re going through a parting from someone important.