For High Schoolers: Chill Music to Soothe the Soul — A Curated Collection of Stylish Japanese Songs

junior high school studentbetcover!!

junior high school student

This work by Jiro Yanase’s project betcover!! captures in sound the vague, slightly unstable feelings you have before becoming an adult.

It’s included on their major-label debut album released in July 2019.

Its roughly 12-minute length lets you forget the everyday noise and fully immerse yourself in its world.

It’s a song I especially want you to hear when you want to spend some quiet time alone.

You are the queen.punipuni denki

Puni Puni Denki “You Are the Queen” Official MV

This track is an urban pop tune released in June 2019, produced with Mikeneko Homeless.

With a theme of “nighttime rooftop groove,” its glittering sound, colored by Shin Sakiura’s guitar, will make you feel stylish just by listening.

Put it on when you want to stretch a little and immerse yourself in a more mature world.

It’s a magical love song that affirms the way you live.

f.i.nrai-ray-

"f.i.n" Rai -Ray- Music Video

これは、來-Ray- が2023年6月にリリースした楽曲で、ファーストアルバム『FACET』に収録されています。

It was selected as the web commercial song for Sega Toys’ home planetarium, Homestar.

The laid-back neo-soul sound gently soothes the fatigue of the day, while lyrics that tell you, “It’s okay—go at your own pace without pushing yourself,” lighten the heart of anyone doing their best when they’re feeling daily worries or impatience.

It’s the perfect number for nights when, amid busy days filled with studying or club activities, you want to pause for a moment and be kind to yourself.

Things I likeHiiragi Hito

Hiiragi Hito – “Favorite Things” (Official Music Video)

How about some music that gently stays by the side of a heart torn between future dreams and reality? This track by Hiito, a rapper based in Okinawa, pairs stylish piano tones with a mellow beat.

The lyrics candidly express the struggle of wanting to live by doing what you love while confronting harsh reality.

It’s included on the EP “Suki na Koto,” released in July 2021.

A later remix featuring Awich and CHOUJI also drew attention, appearing on the compilation album “098RADIO vol.2 Hosted by Awich.”

creamyama

yama – Cream (Official Video)

Singer yama continues to captivate many listeners with a uniquely expressive style.

The second digital single, “Cream,” released in May 2020, is an early signature track, also known for being written and composed by Vocaloid producer kujira.

Literary lines that capture everyday scenes—like an evening balcony or the changing colors of the sky—blend beautifully with feelings of loneliness and restlessness.

The supple sound that evokes R&B and neo-soul, along with the delicate, gentle vocals, are part of its appeal.

It’s the perfect song for moments when you want to spend some quiet time.

curtainSugawara Kei

Kei Sugawara – Curtain (Official Video)

This piece was released as a digital single in September 2022 by Kei Sugawara, whose neutral, sentimental singing voice is so captivating.

It’s a song that delicately portrays the end of a romance and those vague, inexpressible emotions through everyday, unremarkable scenes.

Familiar motifs—like a half-eaten piece of bread—pair beautifully with a laid-back sound reminiscent of alternative R&B.

It’s a comfortably chill number I’d especially recommend to anyone who wants to pause and take a deep breath amid the rhythms of daily life.