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

Starting Now ~ To the New MeNEW!Shimizu Miisa

Miisha Shimizu – Starting Now ~To the New Me (Official Video)

A perfect song to powerfully kick off a school festival! This is a number by Miisha Shimizu that captivates with overwhelming vocal prowess and expressiveness.

Released digitally in June 2021, it was included on the album “Ultimate Princess Celebration Album,” released in August of the same year.

Chosen as the Japanese theme song for Disney’s celebration, it generated major buzz.

Its grand, musical-like scale and powerful, soaring vocals resonate deeply.

The theme—depicting the determination to carve out one’s own future—is pure youth itself! With its dazzling sound, it’s sure to shine as a stage performance piece or opening BGM.

Blue NoteNEW!M!LK

M!LK – Aono Oto (Official Music Video)

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!

FateNEW!Ofisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – Fate [Official Video]

Just a school event, and yet more than a school event.

This moving number by Official HIGE DANDism resonates powerfully in the heart, as if embracing that burning passion.

The beautiful piano melodies and the vibrant horn arrangements blend magnificently, gently enveloping both the victories and setbacks you seize together with your friends.

Released as a single in July 2019, it was chosen as the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation’s summer National High School Baseball Championship support song and the theme for “Nettō Kōshien.” It was later included on the acclaimed album Traveler.

It’s a perfect song for students who want to color a page of their youth vividly—whether performing as a band on the culture festival stage or singing in chorus with the whole class.

Starting OverNEW!sumika

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

A refreshing melody that gives you the courage to take a step toward your dreams resonates in your heart! This track by the pop-rock band sumika portrays people moving forward while sharing their anxieties with friends who face the same struggles, even as they feel confusion and impatience in a new environment.

The message of treasuring what you love is sure to give you a push.

Released early in April 2023, this song was written as the opening theme for the TV anime MIX MEISEI STORY: The Second Summer, Beyond the Sky.

Its worldview of overcoming hardships and moving ahead is a perfect fit for cultural and school festivals where you create something together with your friends! It’s a wonderful, hope-filled song recommended for those who want to have as much fun as they can, even while carrying their worries.

Yes I amNEW!ONE OK ROCK

Yes I am

ONE OK ROCK is a rock band that has shown remarkable success not only in Japan but also overseas.

Featured on their classic album Niche Syndrome, released in June 2010, this track is a hidden gem whose driving, emotionally charged sound is sure to set your heart ablaze.

The skillful blend of English and Japanese lyrics and the dynamically unfolding melody convey the band’s early burst of energy as they pushed forward under a new lineup.

Despite being an album track without any tie-in, it has been beloved by fans for many years—so much so that it was performed at their 2018 orchestral concert.

It’s a fiery song guaranteed to bring the entire venue together in excitement if performed on a school festival stage.

Curtain callNEW!Yuuri

Curtain call

Yuri’s hugely popular number, whose passionate vocals resonate powerfully in the heart.

Its stirring message—of rebirth after hard-fought battles and of moving forward with friends despite the scars—strikes deep.

Released as a single in September 2024, it was featured as the opening theme for cour 2 of season 7 of the smash-hit anime My Hero Academia, sparking major buzz.

The emotional vocals, blending delicacy with explosive power, are perfect for fiery stage performances at school or cultural festivals! Highly recommended for those who want the whole class to overcome challenges together and create the ultimate show.

Let this high-energy track be your BGM and etch an unforgettable page of youth with strength.

PuzzleNEW!Shimizu Shota

Shota Shimizu “PUZZLE” Music Video

Shota Shimizu is a singer-songwriter whose soulful vocals captivate countless listeners.

The track he released in October 2024 is a grand gospel number that gently encourages those chasing their dreams.

Born from his interactions with students at his alma mater, the song carries a warm message: even if you’re incomplete on your own, when you come together with friends, you can envision the future.

Also included on the album “Pulsatilla cernua,” the song earned widespread support, surpassing 100 million streams.

With strong choral elements that layer many voices, it’s the perfect piece to unite with classmates and sing together on a school festival stage.