Heartwarming songs recommended for high school students
Music that gives you goosebumps—encountering such a cool track doesn’t happen very often, does it?
When was the last time you were moved by music?
Of course, everyone has different tastes, but this time we researched touching Japanese songs that are popular among high school students.
Please take a look.
Moving songs recommended for high school students (1–10)
Live, brilliantlyikimonogakari
This is a new song written by Ikimonogakari as the opening theme for the sixth season of the anime Kingdom.
It will be released digitally in October 2025, followed by a CD single in December.
The expansive sound arrangement, which complements the grand worldview of the anime set in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and the lyrics that celebrate living earnestly, are deeply moving.
When you want to charge toward your dreams and goals, this song is sure to give you strength.
AgainAee! group
A track whose lyric video premiered in December 2025 and the lead song from their second album, “Runway,” released in February 2026.
It’s a powerful anthem that fuses soaring vocals with a dazzling brass sound.
The message, which gives you the courage to take off running, echoes their own determination and sets listeners’ hearts ablaze.
It’s an uptempo tune you’ll want to play when you’re about to take on a challenge.
The exhilarating ensemble delivers a burst of positive energy.
road; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)GReeeeN
A classic GReeeeN song to listen to when you hit a wall with daily studies or club activities and feel like giving up.
Released in January 2007, it was their memorable debut single and was featured widely in the media, including as the opening theme for CDTV.
The lyrics convey a message of believing in yourself and moving forward no matter the difficulties, offering comfort and courage to listeners.
It’s loved by top athletes as well—pitcher Yu Darvish has said it supported him.
In 2017, it was used in a SUBARU commercial, drawing renewed attention a decade after its release.
When you feel uncertain about the path you’ve chosen, this is a cheer song that gently nudges you forward.
mental imagekoron
This ballad, released in November 2025 by Colon, a member of Strawberry Prince (SutoPuri), was written and composed by Chouchou-P.
It delicately portrays the preciousness of cherishing someone dear.
The clear vocals meld beautifully into the spacious resonance of piano and strings, creating a wonderfully soothing sound.
Capturing in music the moments where memory and imagination intersect—when feelings for someone appear in the mind like vivid images—this song is perfect for times when you want to face your own emotions.
Song SevenRADWIMPS
RADWIMPS, who continue to captivate countless listeners with their unique worldview.
Featured on their 2009 masterpiece Altcolony no Teiri, this song is especially striking for its structure, opening with a grand, gospel-like chorus.
Despite its six-and-a-half-minute length, the dramatic arc—from a quiet, storytelling tone to a chorus that erupts with emotion—never fails to stir the heart with each listen.
Lyrics by Yojiro Noda that affirm fate and express love for family—like “Oton to Okan” (Dad and Mom)—are surely etched deeply into the hearts of many who spent their youth with this music.
It’s a number that creates moving, unifying moments across entire venues at live shows, so give it a listen on a night when you want to forget the bustle of daily life and immerse yourself in music.
ShareYU-KI
This piece was written as the theme song for the theatrical anime “Those Who Steal This Book,” released on December 26, 2025.
Its radiant ensemble of strings and horns creates a soaring sense of immersion, drawing you into the world of the story.
The lyrics express a desire to cherish those fleeting moments when paths cross, even if we can’t fully understand one another—an idea that resonates with YUKI’s own words that the immersive experiences of reading and music are alike.
It’s the perfect number for times when you want to feel a connection with someone.
one’s true feelingssumika
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.