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

The BeginningNEW!ONE OK ROCK

ONE OK ROCK – The Beginning [Official Music Video]

Written as the theme song for the blockbuster live-action film Rurouni Kenshin and released in August 2012, this track is a signature work by the internationally acclaimed rock band ONE OK ROCK.

Its powerful message—never losing hope even in tough times, overcoming past hardships, and making a fresh start—really stirs the heart! With a rock sound defined by fierce guitar riffs and thunderous drums, it’s guaranteed to ignite the entire venue if performed on a school festival stage.

The song even won Best Film Song in 2013.

Since the band’s dynamic performance truly stands out here, make sure the whole group practices in perfect sync.

The commanding vocals and weighty ensemble are sure to color your high school life with unforgettable memories.

RobinsonNEW!supittsu

Spitz / Robinson

Spitz, one of Japan’s most iconic rock bands, known for their beautiful, instantly recognizable guitar arpeggios.

Their transparent vocals and soothing sound intertwine exquisitely, evoking a worldview that expands from everyday scenes to a grand scale—it really hits you in the heart.

Released as a single in April 1995, it was used as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s “Imada Koji no Shibuya-kei Uraringo” and as an insert song in the drama “Hakusen Nagashi,” and is also included on the classic album “Honey” (Hachimitsu).

With its relaxed tempo and easy-to-remember melody, it’s perfect for helping everyone lock in together.

Play it at a school festival live show, and the whole venue will surely be wrapped in a warm atmosphere—a pop tune beloved across generations.

Precious thingsroodo obu mejyaa

Lord of Major / Precious Things

Released in September 2002 as Road of Major’s indie debut single, this song delivers a refreshing ode to the importance of friendship and hope for the future.

Its driving melody and energetic sound give you the courage to overcome farewells with friends and take a bold new step forward.

Despite being an indie release, it spent 19 consecutive weeks in the Oricon Top 10 and achieved an astonishing total of 900,000 copies sold.

In 2009, it was also featured in a Taiwanese commercial for the Mazda Mazda3, drawing attention both at home and abroad.

Play it at a school festival or live show, and it’s guaranteed to bring the entire venue together in excitement.

A moving classic that colors a page of youth spent with friends.

I’ll call your name.NEW!SUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “I’ll Call Your Name” MV (Theme Song for the Film ‘Tokyo Revengers’)

A single by the rock band SUPER BEAVER, featured as the theme song for the smash-hit live-action film Tokyo Revengers.

Its powerful, fast-paced rock sound leaves a strong impression, making it a perfect number to fire up a culture-festival stage.

Released in July 2021, the song captivates with its highly message-driven lyrics that directly express the miracle of meeting and the bonds between friends.

Many listeners will feel their hearts swell at the preciousness of a relationship where calling out to each other feels natural.

It’s a straightforward rock tune that’s sure to wrap the entire venue in a wave of emotion when passionately performed in sync with your beloved bandmates at the school festival—the highlight of youth.

Biting the second handNEW!zutto mayonaka de ii no ni.

ZUTOMAYO - “Bite the Second Hand” Music Video (Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni. – Byoushin wo Kamu)

Perfect for bands that want to captivate audiences with an overwhelming sense of worldbuilding and high-level musicianship.

Released digitally in August 2018 by ZUTOMAYO (Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni.) and opening their first mini-album “Tadashii Itsuwari kara no Kishō,” this track spread rapidly online and gained widespread support.

ACA-ne’s expressively rich vocals combine with a complex, thrilling song structure to leave an unforgettable impact after just one listen.

The lyrics—woven with distinctive wordplay that captures everyday conflict and impatience—are another major draw.

Though the advanced ensemble work, crisscrossed with key changes and irregular meters, is demanding, if you can deliver it flawlessly at a school culture festival or campus event, you’re sure to monopolize the crowd’s excitement.

Kokoro-eNEW!roodo obu mejyaa

Kokoro-e

A number packed with the raw passion of youth, its energetic sound strikes straight to the heart.

Kenichi Kitagawa of Road of Major delivers a powerful vocal that vividly paints the hope of charging toward your dreams.

Released in November 2004, this track still enjoys enduring popularity.

Beloved as the opening theme for the first season of the NHK Educational TV anime “Major,” it was later included on the album “ROAD OF MAJOR II.” Its exhilarating, fast-paced rock sound is guaranteed to ignite any crowd when performed by a band at a school culture festival.

It’s a recommended youth anthem for anyone taking on big goals with friends, perfect for creating unforgettable memories.

I got a girlfriend.NEW!SHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “I Got a Girlfriend”

SHISHAMO is a three-piece rock band known for lyrics that depict down-to-earth romance and irresistibly catchy melodies.

Opening their debut album “SHISHAMO,” released in November 2013, this track is a pop-rock song that captures the explosive rush of excitement at the moment a secret love begins.

It was also chosen as the ending theme for TV Tokyo’s “JAPAN COUNTDOWN,” helping the band take a step onto the national stage.

Brimming with a sense of speed and fresh, relatable emotions, it’s the kind of song that’s guaranteed to bring the whole venue together when performed at a school or culture festival.