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

Song of LifeManakana

Mariya Takeuchi – Inochi no Uta (Song of Life) with Lyrics (Two-Part Chorus)

This is a song performed by the duo Mana Kana, who also appeared in the drama, as an insert song for NHK’s morning drama “Dandan.” It’s a highly recommended piece that’s especially popular as a choral song among high school students and other students.

In the original version, the gentle accompaniment and the duo’s beautifully clear voices leave a strong impression, so it feels completely natural even when arranged for choir.

Not only is the composition itself beautiful, but the words in the lyrics are also truly lovely—this is a song you’ll want to sing with great care.

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Hane Keisuke

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Full of memoriesH₂O

Memories Are Full – H2O [AiemuTV – Acoustic Cover]

Because it was used as the theme song for the anime “Miyuki,” it has come to be frequently sung as a choral piece in junior high and high schools.

In fact, it’s even included in middle school music textbooks.

Of course, it’s perfect for junior high school choirs, but high school students tend to have more memories packed into their “albums,” so to speak.

That’s why it could be said to be an ideal song for high schoolers, who can sing it with even more emotion than junior high students.

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SAKI

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ShichirigahamaDan Ikuma

Shichirigahama (Shichirihama) (Lyrics by Kitaro Nishida, Music by Ikuma Dan) – Conductor: Chen Yun-Hong, Performance: Taipei Chamber Choir

Ikuma Dan’s “Shichirigahama” is a moving choral work in which poetry and music are exquisitely fused.

Based on a poem by Kitaro Nishida, the lyrics symbolically express the relationship between nature and humanity and a sense of impermanence, alongside evocative depictions of the beautiful scenery of Shichirigahama.

The SATB choral harmonies are quiet yet powerful, and the piece fully showcases Dan’s style, which elevates the beauty of the words through musical refinement.

It has also been selected as a set piece for the 2024 All-Japan Choral Competition.

Someday, these tearsLittle Glee Monster

EMF3-0048 Someday These Tears [Women's 3-Part Chorus]

It’s a Little Glee Monster song that resonates as an anthem cheering on those striving toward their dreams.

The members’ powerful yet delicate vocals blend beautifully, gently embracing the strength to never give up in the face of setbacks and hardships, as well as the profound meaning that tears can hold.

Released in January 2018, the song was chosen as the support song for the 96th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.

It’s a heartwarming encouragement song that stands beside those who, through daily practice and challenges, shed tears yet keep moving forward, and those advancing toward their precious goals.

Tears Flowing EndlesslyNatsukawa Rimi

Tears Flow Freely [Three-Part Mixed Chorus]

A song with lyrics by Ryoko Moriyama and music by BEGIN.

Because Moriyama wrote the lyrics while thinking of her brother who passed away at a young age, it came to be sung often as a farewell song at events like graduation ceremonies.

The title “Nada Soso” is Okinawan dialect meaning “tears falling in streams.” It’s a song that expresses the complex feeling of thinking of someone dear while shedding tears—I’d love to see high school students take on this challenge!

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SAKI

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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

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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mutō

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My BalladMatsui Takao

[Chorus] My Ballad (Mixed Choir, Four Parts)

The choral piece “My Ballad” celebrates the joy of many voices singing together as one.

It’s a classic chorus song that even appears in music textbooks.

It was the debut work of songwriter-composer Takao Matsui, and it embodies his message: “No matter who we are, we’re all human—let’s unite our hearts and sing.” Thanks to the efforts of volunteers in the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, it has also been sung in countries around the world, such as Paraguay, showing the power of music to transcend language and borders.

Please try practicing it together, raising your voices as one!

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Hamada Takuya

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