Between club activities, daily classes, and studying for entrance exams, high school students have more than ever to work hard on, don’t they? Sometimes you might hit a wall and feel troubled.
In times like that, I recommend listening to your favorite motivational songs to lift your spirits! Upbeat tracks or lyrics filled with encouragement can give you the strength to try again.
In this article, we’ll introduce motivational songs recommended for high school students.
There are plenty of perfect songs to cheer you on for clubs and exams, so be sure to find the one that’s just right for you.
- [Exams, Club Activities, Dreams] Encouragement songs recommended for teens: Tracks to listen to when you want to do your best
- Before a match or when you feel like giving up! Cheer songs to keep you going in club activities
- Club Activity Youth Songs: Motivational Anthems and Timeless Tracks of Memories with Teammates
- [For Success in Exams] An Encouragement Song We Want Hardworking Exam-Takers to Hear
- [For those who strive] An encouraging cheer song
- [Moving] Tear-jerking cheer song. A roundup of popular motivational anthems that resonate with the heart!
- [For those doing their best] A collection of motivational cheer songs
- Songs that make you feel positive when you listen. Top recommended cheer and positive tracks.
- Uplifting songs recommended for high school students
- A roundup of youth-themed songs recommended for high school students
- Recommended cheer-up songs for middle schoolers: Classic Japanese hits that will empower student life
- Songs that help you study hard: a roundup of motivational music to boost your drive and concentration
- Take the first step!! Songs that give you courage, songs that make you persevere when you listen
Recommended cheer songs for high school students: tracks that will motivate you to do your best in exams and club activities (1–10)
sasanqua (Camellia sasanqua)SEKAI NO OWARI
A ballad that portrays the loneliness and anxiety felt in the pursuit of a dream, as well as the warmth of someone watching over you.
SEKAI NO OWARI’s “Sazanka” is a single released in February 2018 and became widely known as the NHK theme song for coverage of the PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympics.
Rather than simply urging listeners to “do your best,” the song is filled with a gentle kindness that seems to affirm every attempt to overcome setbacks and pain.
Anyone chasing a dream may wonder, “Is this really the right path for me?” In those moments, this song will quietly stand by you, saying, “I know how hard you’ve been trying.”
MagicMrs. GREEN APPLE
A refreshing pop tune by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE that works like a little spell to change your everyday mood.
Released in June 2023, it was written specifically for a Coca-Cola commercial and serves as a key track at the start of the album ANTENNA.
It brightened many people’s daily lives, reaching No.
3 on the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 and surpassing 300 million streams.
With its brisk beat and liberating chorus, just listening can fill you with positive energy.
The lyrics, which encourage you while accepting that things don’t always go smoothly, are likely to be a strong ally for high school students facing hurdles in club activities or exam study.
Que sera, seraMrs. GREEN APPLE
The three-piece rock band Mrs.
GREEN APPLE has been rapidly expanding their popularity since the start of Phase 2 in 2022.
Their seventh digital-only single, “Que Sera Sera,” is a refreshingly fast-paced number written as the theme song for the TV drama “Sunday Night Probably.” As the Spanish title suggests—meaning “whatever will be will be”—its positive lyrics make it a perfect anthem of encouragement.
It’s a pop tune recommended for high school students that lightens your mood just by listening.
flying boatKing Gnu
When you take on a challenge, there are times you feel like you’re about to be crushed by the pressure.
That’s when King Gnu’s track lights a fire in you from the depths of your heart.
Released in August 2019 as a digital-only single, it’s also well known as the ANA commercial song featuring Naomi Osaka.
Its weighty, massive beat and powerful sound make you feel invincible just by listening.
The message—don’t be bound by common sense or what’s considered right; charge down the path you believe in—gives a firm push to anyone hesitating.
Play it before a club match or on the morning of an entrance exam—any pivotal moment—and it’s sure to give you the courage to believe in yourself and face what’s ahead.
Live in the present.Saucy Dog
Saucy Dog is a three-piece rock band garnering attention for their striking high-tone vocals and down-to-earth lyrics.
Their 15th major digital single, “I Will Live in the Present,” chosen as the support song for the 101st All Japan High School Soccer Championship, sticks in your ears with its driving rock sound and pop yet wistful melody.
The lyric that says hard-earned effort never disappears is sure to empower high school students facing club activities and entrance exams.
It’s a refreshing rock tune whose positive message both uplifts and comforts.
Outlineimase
A powerful song portraying young people’s challenges and growth has been born.
Written by imase as the official cheer song for the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament, it features a grand, emotionally stirring sound.
The beautiful strings, sing-along passages, and driving beat weave a dramatic progression that instantly draws you in.
Released in October 2024, the track is said to reflect imase’s own experiences from his high school days.
It’s a heartfelt message of support for youths running toward their goals—perfect for anyone facing difficulties or stepping into a new challenge.
A reassuring anthem that gently gives you a push forward.
-ness; typicality; the quality/essence of being [X] (as in “X-ness” or “X-like character”)NEW!Ofisharu Higedan Dism
![-ness; typicality; the quality/essence of being [X] (as in “X-ness” or “X-like character”)NEW!Ofisharu Higedan Dism](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/keOnleW2eak/sddefault.jpg)
This is a song that cheers on everyone who keeps moving forward while facing themselves.
Released by Official HIGE DANDism in August 2025 ahead of the film’s premiere, the track was chosen as the theme song for the feature-length anime “Hyaku-Emu,” which opened the following month.
Characterized by a band sound brimming with a sense of speed, the piece—crafted as vocalist Satoshi Fujihara reexamined himself—portrays a strong will to aim for the finish line despite doubt and inner conflict.
It carries an urgency that resonates with the world of the 100-meter dash, making it perfect as BGM for heated competitions like school sprint races and relays.
The exhilarating rush that bursts from the starting dash will greatly boost children’s motivation.