Packed with everything from friendship to romance! Youth anthems recommended for Gen Z

SUMMER ENDiri

SUMMER END

At the end of summer, when the night air turns a little cooler, the songs I want to listen to on a walk are by singer-songwriter iri.

That irresistibly pleasant groove feels like the fleeting nature of the passing season melting together with the lingering aftertaste of a summer romance.

You can hear that bittersweet frustration in her husky voice—the wish to keep dreaming sweetly while already sensing the inevitable end.

This track was released in September 2019 following iri’s album “Shade,” and it resonated widely as the theme song for the dating reality show “Renai Dorama na Koi ga Shitai ~Kiss to survive~.” It’s a song that gently stays by your side—perfect for nights when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood.

Blue JeansHANA

HANA / Blue Jeans -Music Video-

The girls’ group HANA, produced by Chanmina, released their second single in July 2025.

In contrast to the powerful vibe of their previous track “ROSE,” this time they deliver a mid-tempo ballad that poignantly expresses the ache of young love.

They want to stay natural and effortless—like a pair of well-worn old sneakers—yet their anxiety swells in front of the one they like.

The lyrics, which vividly capture those late-night emotional swings, truly strike a chord.

Don’t miss the visual rollout in collaboration with DIESEL, as well as the music video that pairs heartache with raw emotion.

When you’re unsure about your feelings of love, or lying awake at night with thoughts of someone special, this song will gently stay by your side.

maybeYOASOBI

YOASOBI “Tabun” Official Music Video

Released in 2020, this song portrays the raw emotions of a couple facing a breakup.

It captures the cool composure of saying goodbye without tears, alongside the lingering attachment buried deep inside.

The protagonist’s attempt to tell themselves “it can’t be helped” without finding anyone to blame resonates with aching poignancy.

Set to a mid-tempo melody, the lyrics trace the complex feelings of trying to accept the separation while still wishing they could go back to the past.

Included on the album THE BOOK, it reached No.

15 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.

It’s a song that gently accompanies those struggling in a relationship or those who have experienced parting with someone dear.

Chronostasiskinoko teikoku

Kinoko Teikoku – Chronostasis (MV)

A song that depicts a comfortable moment with someone by your side as you stroll leisurely through a quiet city night.

Featured on the 2014 album “Fake World Wonderland,” this piece uses the visual phenomenon where a clock’s hands appear to stop as a motif to express the fleeting beauty of time spent with a lover.

Its unhurried rhythm matches the very pace of wandering down a nighttime street that’s so enjoyable you don’t want to go home.

It was also used in the film “We Made a Beautiful Bouquet,” poignantly coloring the story’s bittersweet scenes.

It’s a number you’ll find yourself wanting to hear when you feel a tender affection for those ordinary moments with someone special.

Song of a FriendBUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN “Friend’s Song”

This is a famous song by BUMP OF CHICKEN that also served as the theme song for the film Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops—Winged Angels.

It’s a heartwarming ballad in which vocalist Motoo Fujiwara expresses his feelings for a particular character from the perspective of someone appearing in the movie.

The lyrics, which sing of the preciousness of friendship nurtured even while taking the long way around, are striking and likely to resonate with many listeners.

Released in February 2011, the song debuted at No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and is characterized by its noble, heroic sound enhanced with trumpet and strings.

If you have companions who strive together with you, it’s sure to hit you right in the heart.

BetelgeuseYuuri

Yuuri “Betelgeuse” Official Music Video

This ballad by Yuuri beautifully portrays the bonds between people, using stars shining in the night sky as its motif.

Its warm lyrics, which liken encounters with loved ones and mutually supportive relationships to stars nestling close together, resonate deeply.

The emotional vocals, piano, and strings weave a grand sound that makes the message even more striking.

Released in November 2021, the song was written as the theme for the popular drama “SUPER RICH.” In October 2023, it achieved the milestone of surpassing 500 million total streams.

It’s a heartwarming piece perfect for moments when you want to feel the bonds with someone special from your youth or express gratitude to someone.

lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Lilac” Official Music Video

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE is a three-piece rock band whose colorful body of work, reflecting a wide range of backgrounds, has been drawing attention from a broad spectrum of listeners.

Selected as the opening theme for the anime “Oblivion Battery,” this song delicately portrays the feelings of waiting to reunite with one’s past self or a cherished person, as well as the anxieties and inner conflicts we experience in life.

Its exhilarating guitar-rock sound and clear, translucent vocals inspire the courage to move forward into the future.

Having won the Grand Prize at the 66th Japan Record Awards and surpassed 300 million streams, this remarkable track is sure to become a powerful anthem for teenagers taking their first steps into a new chapter with the arrival of spring.