[2026] Spring songs sung by idols: A roundup of cherry blossom and graduation songs

Blossom declaration!NEW!chou tokimeki sendenbu

Blossom declaration!

This work features a sparkling sound that seems to carry a hint of spring.

It’s a track released by Cho Tokimeki Sendenbu in January 2026, written as the theme song for the film “Secret Aipri: Full Bloom Buzzrium Live!” The lyrics depict buds transforming into flowers and convey a strong will to make dreams come true, offering a gentle warmth that gives listeners a supportive push.

Created as a key song to color the film released in March of the same year and the album “Tokimeki Egao,” it also plays a role in energizing the group’s 10th-anniversary year.

It’s perfect for moments when you want to take a step into a new season or spur yourself on.

An essential track for any spring playlist, it makes you want to listen under fully blooming cherry blossoms while envisioning a future full of hope.

Fluttering Cherry BlossomSnow Man

Snow Man “Hirari to Sakura” (from “Takizawa Kabuki ZERO 2020 The Movie”)

In this song, which serves as the theme for the stage production “Takizawa Kabuki ZERO,” Snow Man delivers a dazzling performance accompanied by elegant, classical Japanese lyrics.

The show is renowned for its dreamlike staging and refined costumes, and the performance of dancing amid a flurry of cherry blossoms drew significant attention on social media.

It’s a powerful track for moments when you want to feel the arrival of spring or are about to take a new step forward.

Only the graduation photo knowsHinatazaka46

The Only One Who Knows Is the Graduation Photo by Hinatazaka46

A bittersweet love song that colors the cherry blossom season.

Released by Hinatazaka46 in January 2025 as their 13th single, with Nao Kosaka as center.

The music video was produced under the theme of a “parade that heralds spring.” The lyrics depict someone looking back at their graduation photos and reminiscing about the person they used to like, resulting in something highly relatable—especially for those who have just graduated from high school.

Spring LoverNEW!≠ME

≠ME (Not Equal Me) / 1st album track 'Spring Lover' [MV full]

When spring’s warmth beckons and you feel like falling in love, I recommend this song! Produced by Rino Sashihara, the idol group ≠ME included this track on their album “Springtime In You,” released in March 2024.

Its melody line, reminiscent of ’80s and ’90s pop, has a gently nostalgic warmth.

Centered on Moeko Kanisawa, the unit members deliver an emotive performance that captures the bittersweet feelings of love woven into everyday scenes—like meeting on a station platform.

Even among the masterpieces on this album, which debuted at No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Album Ranking, this is a pop number that especially evokes a pleasant spring breeze.

Why not listen to it on your commute, gazing out at the passing scenery from the train?

Color contacts winkAKB48

Color Contacts Wink Music Video / AKB48 63rd Single [Official]

This dazzling number was created as the culmination of Yuki Kashiwagi’s idol career, with Kashiwagi—who has long led the group—serving as center for the first time on her own.

You can practically picture the bittersweet scene of unrequited love, where feelings are conveyed not through words, but through glances and gestures.

Released as a single in March 2024, it was composed by Yoshimasa Inoue, the hitmaker behind numerous chart-toppers.

The melody, blending nostalgia and freshness, is sure to set listeners’ hearts dancing.

In the music video, a world surrounded by colorful flowers beautifully portrays the “life of an idol.” Perfect for the spring season, this work gently encourages those embarking on a new chapter.

It’s an ideal track when you want to immerse yourself in a classic idol song.

Search for Diamond Lily＝LOVE

=LOVE (Equal Love) / 5th Single “Sagase Diamond Lily” [MV full]

Cherry blossoms, an old school building, a uniform button—packed with such scenes of spring, this =LOVE song is the group’s fifth single, released in April 2019.

With lyrics written by Rino Sashihara and a fresh melody crafted by multiple composers, it pairs a bright tempo with lyrics that gently ache with the passage of time.

It reached No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and earned a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

The track was also featured in Mr.

Fusion’s programming school “Prosta Kids” commercial.

In its story-driven music video, the turmoil of parting with friends is portrayed with care.

It’s recommended not only for those approaching graduation, but also for anyone who struggles to put their gratitude for friends into words.

Listen as spring arrives, and you’ll feel moved to cherish the time you have with the people who matter most.

You are the melody.AKB48

[MV full] Kimi wa Melody / AKB48 [Official]

An anniversary song that can truly be called monumental, created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of AKB48’s formation.

Amid a dazzling sound that evokes the arrival of spring, a bittersweet melody tinged with nostalgia intertwines—doesn’t it make your heart flutter every time you listen? Released in March 2016 as their 43rd single, this track drew major attention for featuring legendary graduates like Atsuko Maeda and Yuko Oshima.

The vividly colored music video, directed by Mika Ninagawa and inspired by “Ōoku,” is striking, and the song was also widely known as the theme for GYAO! commercials.

Why not pick it for karaoke with friends reuniting after a while, or when you want to bask in fond memories?