[School Festival] High schoolers hype up a live show! A collection of recommended Japanese band songs

SignalWANIMA

WANIMA “Signal” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

A single song packed with a passionate message for the school festival that colors a page of youth.

It’s a cheering anthem by WANIMA that brilliantly depicts the drive to move toward the future and the real, everyday struggles we face.

While carrying anxieties about an unseen future, it expresses, through powerful rock sounds, the feelings of young people determined to walk their own path.

Featured on the album “Everybody!!,” the track was also used in a Lotte Ice “Sou” commercial, generating a huge response.

In a special NHK program, the band performed with 1,000 eighteen-year-olds, and the moving stage left a lasting impression on many viewers.

With a sound that unites the entire venue, it’s perfect for club presentations and as a theme song for school festivals.

New Treasure IslandSakanakushon

Sakanaction / New Treasure Island -Music Video-

Crafted by Sakanaction, this song gently encourages young people chasing their dreams toward an unknown world.

Blending band-driven instrumentation with synthesizer elements, it achieves a retro vibe while remaining fresh and poppy.

Produced in September 2015 as the theme song for the film “Bakuman,” it reached No.

1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and peaked at No.

9 on the Oricon Singles Chart.

The music video is sprinkled with staging that evokes Showa-era music programs, resulting in a richly varied presentation.

Consider featuring it as a main-stage performance at a school festival or as background music to energize the entire venue.

SenbonzakuraWagakki Band

Wagakki Band / Senbonzakura

Senbonzakura by Wagakki Band, formed by blending traditional Japanese instruments—shakuhachi, koto, Tsugaru shamisen, and taiko—with Western instruments like guitar, bass, and drums.

Unlike the original track by Kurousa-P, it takes on a different atmosphere, gaining a unique allure through its added Japanese aesthetic.

The driving rhythm can boost athletes’ motivation and may help them draw out more than their usual performance.

It’s sure to fire up the cheering, too.

The lyrics, which feel like issuing a challenge to battle, are a perfect fit for events like cavalry battles.

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kojifumi

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Pink MoonHarukamirai

Harukamirai – Pink Moon (Official Music Video)

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Harukamirai’s “Pink Moon” is a track included on their 2020 album THE BAND STAR.

It conveys feelings toward someone important through a band sound that’s gentle yet powerful.

The rhythm is calm, with powerful chords layered on top, and the drive and sharpness of each part are key.

There are moments in the song where the rhythm changes, so it may also be important to synchronize your breathing to lock the sounds in perfectly at those points.

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kappamaki

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UkifuneGO!GO!7188

Ukifune

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GO!GO!7188’s “Ukifune” was released as a single in 2002 and was also included on the 2003 album “Tategami.” The nuanced vocals and overlapping timbres create a distinctly Japanese atmosphere, conveying a unique sense of power and floatiness.

Because each instrument resounds so boldly, the vocals play a key role in shaping the overall mood, making it important to focus on momentum during performance.

The clear structure—driving the rhythm strongly and strumming simple yet powerful chords—also makes it perfect for practice.

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kappamaki

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Demachiyanagi Parallel UniverseASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION “Demachiyanagi Parallel Universe” Music Video

Demachiyanagi Parallel Universe by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION—who have produced numerous anime songs—was written as the theme song for the anime adaptation of Tomihiko Morimi’s novel The Tatami Time Machine Blues.

Released in 2022 as their 29th single, it reached No.

9 on the Oricon Singles Chart.

It’s a high-velocity rock tune characteristic of AKFG, with rugged, hard-strummed guitars that sound incredibly cool.

If you’re struggling to pick a song for your school festival performance, you should definitely consider this one!

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Hamada Takuya

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GRADUATIONSBACK-ON

GRADUATIONS (Theme song for V-Cinext 'Kamen Rider Gotchard GRADUATIONS')

This is a song that gently encourages you as you say goodbye to close friends and take a step onto a new path.

Holding the memories of precious friends you spent time with, it captures the wavering feelings of young people heading toward their respective futures through an emotional melody and powerful guitar sound.

The track serves as the theme song for “Kamen Rider Gotchard GRADUATIONS,” released by BACK-ON in February 2025, and stands as a supportive anthem that stays close to the major life turning point of graduation.

It blends seamlessly with the worldview of the V-Cinext production, further heightening the work’s emotional impact.

It’s a perfect song for the grand finale of a school or cultural festival and for making memories with friends.

While feeling the importance of friendship and bonds, this song gives you the courage to take your first steps toward the future.