Bright friendship songs recommended for high school students. A collection of hype-up tracks.

skyNEW!BE:FIRST

BE:FIRST / Sora - Music Video -

A warm message song by BE:FIRST that gently supports the delicate hearts of adolescents.

It was created as the set piece for the junior high school division of the 2025 NHK All-Japan School Chorus Contest.

The lyrics are striking in how they accept feelings of putting on a brave face and emotional instability, encouraging you that it’s okay to be just as you are.

Just as sunny days shine because there are rainy days, the song carries the idea that worries can also become nourishment for growth.

It is also scheduled to air on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” making it a perfect piece for students who want to deepen their bonds through choral singing and for anyone searching for their true self.

Song of a FriendNEW!GRe4N BOYZ

Tomodachinouta

A heartfelt ballad that vividly evokes youthful memories of encounters and farewells, doubts and struggles.

This song was included as the final track on the fourth album released in June 2012 under the name GReeeeN by the group now known as GRe4N BOYZ: “The singer comes to the singer and says sing, but if the singer just sings to the end, the singer will sing, yet because the singer alone cannot sing it all, won’t the singer not sing!?” It celebrates friendships that will continue far into the future, overflowing with messages you’ll want to hear at life’s milestones—graduations, departures, and times of change.

Not only for school friends but also for cherished colleagues and companions, it’s a piece you should definitely consider for choral selections while thinking of those important friends.

Because I want to be by your side.NEW!SHISHAMO

SHISHAMO "Because I Want to Be by Your Side"

This song carries a warm message about wanting to better oneself into a caring, gentle person in order to stay by someone’s side.

The down-to-earth lyrics, sung over a refreshing melody, are so easy to relate to.

It’s a work by SHISHAMO, a band formed in Kawasaki City.

Released as a single in October 2019 and later included on the album “SHISHAMO 6,” this piece was written as a set piece for the NHK All-Japan School Music Competition.

It was also featured on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” from August to September 2019, becoming widely beloved.

It’s the perfect song to sing together at important school events—like choir competitions and cultural festivals—where you want to deepen bonds with friends.

Dear.achanyu i

Dear.a / Chanyu-i

A heartwarming number by Chanyu-i that sings of gratitude to an irreplaceable best friend and a bond that will never change.

It conveys honest feelings toward a friend—someone even more precious than a lover.

Originally released in December 2020, a band arrangement version came out in 2022 and was used as an insert song for a segment on ABEMA’s “High-Teen Bible.” It was written at the request of a best friend during the artist’s early childhood education student days, and the story of how it resonated widely on social media is lovely, isn’t it? This work reminds us anew of the importance of friends who stay by our side in both joyful and difficult times.

usual membersriria.

riria. / Itsumen. [Music Video]

Lilia’s song vividly captures the precious time spent with the usual crew and the sparkle of youth.

It’s a warm, emotional track that reminds us of the irreplaceable friendships built in the everyday moments.

You can’t help but feel that wishful ache—if only those times laughing with friends could last forever.

Released in October 2022, the song was featured in Universal Studios Japan’s “Escape the Usual Tonight” commercial.

Ryo Nagano’s slightly mature sound design amplifies Lilia’s down-to-earth lyrics.

It’s a number you’ll want to listen to in spring—when you’re meeting new companions and hoping to make many memories—while thinking of the dear friends who mean so much.

best friendSG

Best Friend (Soulmate) – SG (Official Lyric Video)

A song by SG that I want to give to a dear friend.

As the title suggests, it’s a warm message song themed around the bond with a friend deeply connected at heart.

Life brings many partings—graduations, turning points—but this song straightforwardly sings about an unchanging friendship despite distance, and the hope of meeting again.

Released as a single in March 2022, it resonated with many people, ranking high in LINE MUSIC’s real-time music video charts.

Known for “Bokura Mata,” SG penned this track in his own words, offering not only the sorrow of parting but also the courage to look ahead.

It’s perfect as BGM for graduation season, as well as for times when you want to express gratitude that’s hard to say, or when you’re thinking of a friend far away.

MemoriesNiziU

NiziU 「Memories」 Dance Performance Video (One Take ver.)

Born from an audition show, NiziU has been captivating the world with their cute dancing and vocals.

Released digitally in February 2024, this track is an emotional pop song that blends the excitement and bittersweetness unique to spring.

It was chosen as the theme song for Universal Studios Japan’s “Uni Spring 2024,” and it was also announced that it will be included on the mini-album AWAKE.

The message—depicting the moment when everyday life with friends, once taken for granted, becomes an irreplaceable treasure at the milestone of graduation—is sure to resonate with students in the same situation.

Believing that bonds won’t fade even when you’re apart, it’s the perfect song to express your gratitude to your cherished friends!