Moving songs recommended for high school students: classic and popular Japanese hits

It’s nothing.RADWIMPS

RADWIMPS / Nandemonaiya (theme song of the film “Your Name.”) cover by Yuto Uno

RADWIMPS’s “Nandemonaiya” was also used in the film Your Name and is likely listened to around the world.

RADWIMPS themselves are popular not only in Japan but worldwide, and can be considered one of the bands Japan is proud of.

Bye, my friendbokula.

bokula. – By My Friend - [Official Music Video]

This is a gem of a song from bokula., a rock band based in Hiroshima, filled with the sparkle and bittersweetness of youth.

The lyrics, which remind us that the time and memories spent with friends—things we took for granted—are never wasted, resonate deeply alongside Ei’s straightforward vocals.

Included on the mini-album “Seikatsu ni, Yorisoi.” released in May 2022, the track has won fervent support especially among junior and senior high school students, and has become beloved by many listeners, surpassing a total of 8.5 million streams.

It’s the perfect song for those moments when you’re facing the sadness of going your separate ways but want to reaffirm an unchanging bond.

Why not send this track to your cherished friends as a token of gratitude at the milestone of graduation?

NAOHY

SOLIDEMO / NAO（HY cover）

HY is often sung at karaoke.

Among their songs, ‘NAO’ is about unrequited love and conveys a deep sense of heartache.

I think it’s a song that resonates with people going through the pain of unrequited love.

Ballads sung by Nakasone are exceptional.

MagicMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE「Magic」Official Music Video

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.

ChessboardOfisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – Chessboard [Official Video]

This is a grand number by Official HIGE DANDism that gives you the courage to take your own step, even as you lose your way, on the vast board we call life.

Its worldview, likened to a checkerboard of black and white squares, is sure to resonate deeply with high school students living through days without rules or right answers.

Included on a single released in September 2023, the song was created as the set piece for the Middle School Division of the 90th NHK All-Japan School Music Competition.

It was also broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta and has been loved across generations.

Give it a listen when you feel crushed by wins and losses in club activities or the overwhelming pressure of entrance exams.

It will affirm the path you’ve taken so far and give you the strength to choose your next move.

Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro

Himawari no Yakusoku – Motohiro Hata (Full)

Motohiro Hata’s “Himawari no Yakusoku” became the theme song for a Doraemon movie and is a song known by everyone, from small children to adults, across all ages and genders.

It’s often sung at karaoke and ranks on the charts.

Motohiro Hata’s delicate singing voice can truly be described as one of a kind.

one’s true feelingssumika

sumika / Honne [Music Video] *Theme song for the 99th All Japan High School Soccer Championship

A song by sumika that directly expresses a universal inner conflict—“Maybe I should give up, but I really don’t want to!”—that everyone has felt at least once.

It was written as the official support song for the 99th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.

The dramatic arrangement woven by piano and band is striking, building from a quiet, introspective verse into a chorus where resolve crystallizes, stirring the heart.

More than just a typical cheer-up anthem, its appeal lies in portraying the determination to move forward only after first acknowledging one’s own weaknesses.

It’s perfect for high school students standing at the milestone of graduation, about to take a new step, reminding them of the immense importance of friends who strive alongside them.