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[Choral Songs] Recommended for High School Students! A Comprehensive Showcase from Classics to the Newest J‑Pop

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

The choral performances that move people at events like school festivals and graduation ceremonies.

In this article, we’ve gathered choral pieces recommended for high school students, as well as popular songs that have been arranged for choir.

We’ll introduce a wide range of music across genres—from classic pieces you find in textbooks to the latest J-pop.

In high school, there are often situations where students discuss and choose the repertoire together.

Even for the latest hit songs, you’ll often find published choral arrangements if you look, so don’t feel constrained by the idea that you must choose from a “choral anthology.” Be sure to consider a variety of songs.

[Chorus Songs] Recommended for High School Students! A Comprehensive Guide from Classics to the Newest J‑Pop (71–80)

contrailArai Yumi

contrail

contrailArai Yumi

When it comes to Yumi Matsutoya’s classic songs that are also popular as choral pieces, the 1973 release Hikoukigumo (Voyage) surely comes to mind.

It was a hit when it first came out and later became the theme song for Studio Ghibli’s film The Wind Rises, making it a beloved track across generations.

Choral arrangements have been published in various versions by many different publishers.

Matsutoya’s signature simple, wistful melody suits choral music perfectly.

Try finding a choral arrangement you like and give it a go!

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Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro

Hata Motohiro - Promise of a Sunflower (choral/chorus version)

Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro

A song that’s becoming a new choral standard is “Himawari no Yakusoku” sung by Motohiro Hata.

Since it was a huge hit as the theme song for the animated film “STAND BY ME Doraemon,” many of you may already know it.

Its lyrics, filled with words that evoke a sense of setting off on a journey and feelings of gratitude, make it a popular choice for graduation ceremonies and thank-you gatherings.

On his official website, Hata has called on people to perform the song as a chorus to commemorate special memories with loved ones, and a music video using the submitted footage has been produced and released.

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A Little Love SongMONGOL800

A Little Love Song (Junior & Youth Chorus “Raw-Ore”)

A Little Love SongMONGOL800

A youthful punk song by MONGOL800 that sings of honest feelings for someone you love and the small joys of everyday life.

Its gentle melody, filled with thoughts for someone special, and heartwarming lyrics that vow eternal love resonate deeply with listeners through choral performance.

Included on the album “MESSAGE,” it achieved an extraordinary 2.8 million copies sold for an indie release.

It was also used as the ending theme for the TV anime “Teasing Master Takagi-san,” and in 2019 it was released as a film motif work.

Perfect for strengthening bonds with loved ones—whether in choral performances at school festivals and graduation ceremonies, or at weddings and farewell parties.

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BeginningSakushi: Kudō Naoko, Sakkyoku: Kinoshita Makiko

"The Beginning" (from the mixed chorus collection "With Light and Wind"), poem by Naoko Kudo, music by Makiko Kinoshita, performed by Shinshu University Mixed Chorus

BeginningSakushi: Kudō Naoko, Sakkyoku: Kinoshita Makiko

Hajimari (The Beginning), with lyrics by Naoko Kudo—renowned for her many works of children’s literature—features a dramatic progression marked by shifts in tempo and meter.

It’s a choral piece recommended for those looking to strengthen class unity or taking music as an elective.

The passionate sound, evoking a grand narrative, is sure to stir the heart.

While the difficulty is somewhat high, singing it well will let you share a sense of accomplishment with your classmates.

Let your high school choir showcase powerful male voices and supple female voices to bring this piece to life.

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Knock from AfarTsuchida Toyotaka

“Knock from Beyond” NHK School Choir Competition 2020, High School Division, Set Piece (Mixed Four-Part Chorus)

Knock from AfarTsuchida Toyotaka

The piece chosen as the required song for the 87th NHK All-Japan School Choir Contest is “Kanata no Knock.” It’s a much-talked-about song for which Naoki Prize–winning author Mizuki Tsujimura made her first attempt at lyric writing, and the lyrics are sprinkled with words that evoke the theme of a “door.” They depict scenes where the protagonist struggles with a door that won’t easily open in order to move on to the next world, as well as the shifts in their state of mind.

It was also selected as the required piece for the 88th NHK All-Japan School Choir Contest in 2021, so as a brand-new choral work, definitely give it a try in practice!

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