Tear-jerking songs recommended for high school students: classic and popular Japanese hits

To My AdolescenceAka-hoho Shishunki

[MV] BOL4 (Bolbbalgan4) – To My Youth

This is a song that gently embraces the delicate emotions of adolescence.

Bolbbalgan4’s clear, transparent vocals pair exquisitely with lyrics that seep into the heart.

Released in August 2019, the track resonated with many young people and became a hot topic on social media.

The music video features popular model Mayu Yokota, whose passionate performance in the rain leaves a strong impression.

It’s recommended not only for high school students, but also for anyone who still carries memories of youth somewhere in their heart as an adult.

When you want to take a fresh look at yourself, why not give this song a listen? You’re sure to gain new insights.

road; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)EXILE

EXILE / Road

A classic EXILE masterpiece that gently embraces memories and the future.

Released in February 2007, this song is known as a staple graduation anthem.

ATSUSHI’s clear, pure voice resonates with those standing at life’s turning points.

The lyrics, filled with both the sadness of parting and the hope of a new journey, are sure to give listeners courage.

It was also used as a music.jp commercial song and touched many hearts.

To all high school students about to leap into a new environment: when you feel anxious, give this song a listen.

It will surely give you the strength to face forward and take your next steps.

366 daysHY

366 Days – HY (Full)

It was also the theme song for the movie Red Thread.

The frustration, pain, and sadness of one-way feelings that don’t reach the other person really hit me in the chest and remind me of the bittersweet romances of my school days.

Whether it’s right or rewarded doesn’t matter; what comes through in the song is someone moved solely by the desire to see the person they love.

A Song for a FriendSonar Pocket

Sonar Pocket 'A Song for a Friend' [MV Short]

This pop tune by Sonar Pocket vividly sings about memories from a youth spent with cherished friends.

Nostalgic scenes from student life are depicted with rich emotion, and the unshakable bond with friends who have gone their separate ways is strikingly portrayed.

Released in February 2009, the song is also included on the album “Sonapokeism ①: The Shape of Happiness,” and is often performed at graduation ceremonies and farewell parties.

It’s a heartwarming piece meant to be listened to while thinking of friends who now live far away.

Tears of MagnoliaStardust Revue

“Tears of Magnolia ~acoustic~” Stardust☆Review [LIVE]

It’s a heartrending song about losing a loved one.

It beautifully captures the aching sadness of not being able to forget someone you care about, making it easy to empathize.

The lyrics vividly evoke such scenes that something wells up inside as you listen.

Goodbyekariyushi 58

Kariyushi58 “Sayonara”

This song conveys strength more than sorrow in its theme of a farewell where two people will never meet again.

It carries a sense of grit—the power to clench your teeth and move forward.

Perhaps saying “goodbye” is an act humans need in order to live.

That is the feeling I hear in this song.

Unable to become an adultkujira

Unable to become an adult

This work gently sings of the importance of embracing loneliness and ordinariness.

Through images of the stillness of a moonless night and scattering light into the darkness, its warm lyrics, which handle a fragile heart with care, resonate deeply.

Kujira centers themes of self-acceptance and growth, beautifully expressing young people’s emotions within a unique worldview.

This piece serves as the theme song for the February 2025 film “My Senpai Is a Boy: Rain, Then Clear,” showcasing the delicate musicality honed on the albums “Until I Can Love Life” and “Vegetable Drawer.” It’s a wonderful song that stays close to the subtle feelings of youth—days at a school festival spent with dear friends, the anxiety and confusion felt while searching for one’s true self.