Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

[High School] Perform at the Cultural Festival Live! A Collection of Exciting Japanese Band Songs

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

When it comes to classic events at high school culture festivals, live performances are a must!

Some of you might have even formed a band just for this day.

And maybe hearing a band at a culture festival inspired you to start playing an instrument yourself.

In this article, we’ll introduce the perfect Japanese band songs to perform at culture and school festivals!

From cool tracks to emotional numbers, every pick is sure to hype up the crowd.

Be sure to read to the end and choose the songs that best fit your band!

[High School] Perform at the school festival live! A roundup of crowd-pleasing Japanese band songs (41–50)

A flower called “you”ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION “A Flower Named You”

A flower called “you”ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

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Asian Kung-Fu Generation’s “Kimi to Iu Hana” was released in 2003 as their second single and was also included on the album Kimi Tsunagi Five M.

It’s a track that, while keeping a calm rhythm, features crisp, tight sounds from each instrument and the vocals, conveying a quiet strength.

The drum rhythm established at the beginning is striking, and the drums maintain this pattern as the other instruments layer in.

The guitar and bass primarily play chords with a strong sense of rhythm, and because the tempo is unhurried, the key is to let each note ring out clearly.

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[High School] Perform at the School Festival Live! A Collection of Crowd-Pleasing Japanese Band Songs (51–60)

SalamanderELLEGARDEN

ELLEGARDEN「Salamander」Music Video

SalamanderELLEGARDEN

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ELLEGARDEN’s “Salamander” was released as a single in 2006 and is also included on the album ELEVEN FIRE CRACKERS.

The vocals unfold from a flat, almost spoken delivery into a chorus that mixes in higher notes, and the powerful sound that overlaps with this progression conveys a strong sense of momentum.

The overall sonic atmosphere also feels energetic, with a playing style that emphasizes a rough, forceful intensity, which is a key appeal.

Strongly accentuating the choppy guitar at the beginning may also be a point that boosts the drive of the entire track.

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GONGWANIMA

WANIMA「GONG」OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

GONGWANIMA

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WANIMA’s “GONG” is the theme song for the film One Piece: Stampede and is included on the single Summer Trap!!.

You can feel the excitement of an adventure beginning and the strong determination to push toward the future through its powerful sound.

Because they’re a three-piece band, each instrument’s tone can be clearly heard, so it’s important not only to rely on sheer momentum but also to be mindful of playing with precision.

While the performance has plenty of power, the rhythms and chords are fundamentally straightforward, so let’s proceed with an awareness of how to add drive and momentum within that framework.

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1999Hitsuji Bungaku

Hitsujibungaku “1999” (Official Music Video)

1999Hitsuji Bungaku

Set on Christmas Eve of 1999, this song by Hitsujibungaku portrays the transience of the end of the century and the protagonist’s inner turmoil.

Released in December 2018, it is known as one of the band’s signature tracks.

Lyrics and composition grounded in Moeka Shiotsuka’s unique worldview, Yurika Kasai’s soaring high harmonies and bass, and Hiroa Fukuda’s delicate drumming intertwine to create a sonic world that resonates deeply with listeners.

Bring this stylish, ennui-tinged rock number to your school festival stage!

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Tabibito In The DarkBase Ball Bear

Base Ball Bear – Tabibito In The Dark

Tabibito In The DarkBase Ball Bear

It’s a work that portrays a dramatic journey.

Released in 2011 as Base Ball Bear’s 14th single, it strikingly depicts a young person who, tormented by self-denial, still tries to find hope within music.

The heavy guitar sound and emotional melodies resonate deeply.

It may be a song that stays close to those carrying the anxieties and loneliness of youth.

Performed on a school festival stage, it would surely unite the audience’s hearts.

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Racing into the NightYOASOBI

YOASOBI “Racing into the Night” Official Music Video

Racing into the NightYOASOBI

Since their debut, the music duo YOASOBI has captured explosive popularity, especially among younger generations, and has continued to draw attention.

Their first digitally released single, “Yoru ni Kakeru,” became a massive hit both domestically and internationally, despite being a debut track with no tie-in.

While the guitar focuses mainly on cutting, making it relatively simple, the complex bass lines and the piano’s sense of drive raise the overall difficulty, and the vocals are quite high-pitched, so each part requires dedicated practice.

It’s not an easy song, but it’s a famous track everyone knows—performing it at a school festival is sure to get the crowd going!

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Hoshino Takashi

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LokiMikito P

Mikito-P "Roki" MV

LokiMikito P

A song by producer Mikito-P, who is both a multi-instrumentalist and a Vocaloid producer.

Since its release in 2018, this rock tune has consistently ranked among the most popular Vocaloid tracks.

With twin vocals, funky cutting guitar, and a high-energy slap bass, it has plenty of highlights—making it a challenging piece to bring together as a band.

But if you can perform it all the way through at a high school culture festival, where Vocaloid songs feel especially close, it’s guaranteed to get the crowd going.

It’s a number that lets you truly experience the fun and difficulty of Vocaloid music—one you should definitely try at least once.

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Hoshino Takashi

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