Youthful songs recommended as theme songs and openings for cultural and school festivals

Blue ShowerNEW!M!LK

M!LK – Blue Shower (Official Music Video)

Recommended for anyone looking for a youthful song with a sparkling, refreshing vibe that heralds the start of summer—perfect for kicking off a school festival.

It’s a single released in May 2024 by M!LK, a group born from the artist collective belonging to Stardust Promotion.

Chosen as the commercial song for the body care brand “SEA BREEZE,” it also drew attention for featuring member Hayato Sano.

The bright guitar tones and chorus with a sing-along feel resonate pleasantly, delivering an irresistible sense of speed like dashing into the wind.

Its message, which affirms even moments of discouragement and gives you the courage to move forward, is truly stirring.

This is a number you’ll definitely want to pick for situations where you want to go all out and hype things up with your cherished classmates.

The calling voiceNEW!Vaundy

Call (NHK General “Vaundy 18 Festival” Theme Song) / Vaundy: Music Video

Vaundy is a singer-songwriter whose multifaceted talent—self-producing everything from lyrics, composition, and arrangement to video direction—captivates a wide range of listeners.

Released digitally in December 2025, “Yobigoe” (The Call) was written as the theme song for NHK General’s “Vaundy 18-sai Matsuri.” Created with the premise of performing together with 1,000 eighteen-year-olds, the song’s greatest appeal lies in the overwhelming sense of scale and anthemic exhilaration born when the voices layer in chorus.

By deliberately crafting a melody that is challenging to sing well, the piece expresses the value and responsibility of committing to something “for real.” It’s a high-energy, power-charging track we recommend to students who want to join forces with their peers to make a big stage—like a school festival or cultural festival opening—a success.

FateNEW!Ofisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – Fate [Official Video]

Official HIGE DANDism is a band that has gained popularity for their piercingly high-toned vocals and classic, mainstream pop sound.

This song they perform is an energetic number where piano and brass tones layer together and gradually build in intensity.

It stands by the conflicts and anxieties you face before a big challenge, singing as if to powerfully push you forward.

Released as a single in July 2019 and included on the masterpiece album “Traveler,” it was also selected that year as the “ABC Summer High School Baseball Support Song” and the theme for the TV program “Netto Koshien.” It’s perfect as opening BGM for cultural and school festivals, or for brass band performances.

A highly recommended track that fires up the heart and colors a page of youth.

sunflowerNEW!Yūsuke

Yusuke “Himawari” (Sunflower)

This is a classic whose gentle whistling in the intro warms the listener’s heart.

Released in March 2009 as the solo debut single by Yusuke, who is also active as a TV personality and actor, the song was used as a theme for a Fuji TV program and became a big hit, ranking 8th on that year’s Oricon annual chart.

The lyrics, written by Yusuke himself, express gratitude to those around him and a forward-looking resolve to move on after parting.

Its light, hip-hop-influenced beat and subtly nostalgic melody are a perfect match.

Make it the theme song for your school festival with friends, and it’s sure to fill the venue with a sense of unity.

Only for you, clear skiesNEW!Yorushika

Yorushika – Just Clear Skies for You (MUSIC VIDEO)

It’s a refreshing youth anthem packed with memories of summer and a touch of wistfulness.

It’s included on Yorushika’s mini-album “No Encore for the Lost Dogs,” released in May 2018.

The light, upbeat band sound pairs perfectly with Suis’s clear, transparent vocals, and listening to it really makes your heart swell.

Its message, like looking back at lost time in a dazzling light, is a perfect match for those irreplaceable moments of student life.

If you play it for the opening movie of a school or cultural festival, it’s sure to send the venue’s energy soaring—so be sure to choose this track as the BGM for your event!

CorrectNEW!RADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – The Answer [Official Music Video]

It’s a warm number that feels like it cheers you on as you set off on a journey to find yourself and your future.

The beautiful piano melodies and band sound crafted by RADWIMPS, layered with a grand choral arrangement by students, are truly moving.

The theme of finding your own answers at your own pace—rather than following a path set by others—perfectly suits those living through their youth.

Sparked by a performance at “18-sai-sai,” an event created together with 18-year-olds, this work was released as a CD in February 2024.

It gently gives a push to those who, while carrying bonds with friends and their own struggles, are trying to move forward.

It’s a perfect choice for moments when the whole school comes together, like at cultural festivals and school festivals!

-ness; typicality; the quality/essence of being [X] (as in “X-ness” or “X-like character”)NEW!Ofisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – Rashisa [Official Video]

A high-energy number by the hugely popular piano-pop band Official HIGE DANDism.

It’s a coming-of-age song that reexamines what it means to be yourself and portrays a strong will to move forward despite inner conflict.

The exhilarating rock sound is incredibly cool—perfect for amping up excitement at school festivals! Released as a single in August 2025, this track was written as the theme song for the feature anime Hyaku-Emu, which premiered in September of the same year.

Don’t you think its fiery message—where the music and the original work’s worldview resonate—speaks to everyone? Make it your pick to kick off your school’s cultural or campus festival with full power!