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

That is a fairy.Boku ga mitakatta aozora

The Blue Sky I Wanted to See / “That’s a Fairy” Music Video [4K]

Debuting in 2023 and winning the Best New Artist Award at the Japan Record Awards in just one year, Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora are set to release their 7th single in December 2025.

The title track is a classic winter first-love song with lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto and music by Daisuke Shirai.

It tells a poignant story of a boy who is captivated by a girl he glimpses by chance on a train platform, and, seeing her as delicate like a fairy, keeps searching for her every morning.

Vivid scenes—winter uniforms, scarves, and crowded trains—tug at the heart, and it’s impossible not to empathize with the protagonist, who senses the love may never be fulfilled yet still engraves the feeling of “I truly fell in love.” The music video, featuring Ami Kanazawa in the center playing a transfer student, has drawn attention for its direction that shifts between reality and imagination.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to revisit a softly bittersweet page of youth.

The wintry wind does not cry.Sakurazaka46

Sakurazaka46 “The Cold Wind Doesn’t Cry” Music Video

This work, included on Sakurazaka46’s 13th single “Unhappy birthday Syntax,” is a song performed by the BACKS members.

It was released in October 2025.

The motif is the chilly winds of autumn, and the resolve embedded in the title—“I won’t cry”—conveys a strength that strives to overcome pent-up frustration and loneliness.

Its heartrending melody and cool, airy sound really stir the emotions.

It’s a dramatic idol song perfect for the nip in the air during the colder season.

Everyday, KachushaAKB48

[MV full] Everyday, Kachusha / AKB48 [Official]

If you want to instantly liven up a karaoke session and get into a summer mood, how about picking the song that AKB48 turned into a massive hit in 2011? It’s a quintessential idol tune with a pleasant melody and straightforward lyrics that evoke a sunlit seaside.

The song depicts a bittersweet crush—being drawn to the innocent moment of taking off a headband and wishing to spend time together again next year.

Released in May 2011 as their 21st single, it also became familiar through its tie-in with Asahi Soft Drinks’ “WONDA.” One of the great things about AKB48’s songs is how they energize any party when sung.

Why not try this easy-to-sing, refreshing, summer-memory companion of a number?

Komorebi Mezzo-forte＝LOVE

=LOVE (Equal Love) / 19th Single c/w “Komorebi Mezzo-forte” [MV full]

This piece sings of a gentle love, like autumn sunlight filtering through the trees.

It’s a track by =LOVE, produced by Rino Sashihara, included on their 19th single “Attacked by a Love Song,” released in October 2025.

From a casual moment in a café, it carefully depicts how sincere feelings for the other person gradually grow.

The calm melody line and the members’ soft vocals are soothing, warming the heart.

It’s perfect for listening in the clear air of autumn.

17 minutesNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 “17 Minutes”

A song by the 5th generation members included on the 31st single “Koko ni wa Nai Mono,” released in December 2022.

It’s a sweet-and-sour youth pop tune that sings about the happiness of riding the same bus as the person you like for “just 17 minutes.” The contrast between the sparkling sound and the fresh vocals, together with the bittersweet story of a protagonist in love with someone whose name they don’t even know, makes your heart skip a beat.

The “clock dance” showcased in the music video and the staging where stalled time is set in motion by gears filled with their dreams perfectly embody these girls who carry the group’s future.

If you listen during everyday moments—on your way to school, for example—the world might just start to shine.

The limits of languageHinatazaka46

Hinatazaka46 “Limits of Words” Music Video

This is a track included as a coupling on the single “Onegai Bach!” released in September 2025.

Hina Kawata, who was about to graduate, served as the center.

The song contemplates the vastness of the universe while expressing the limits of putting precious feelings into words and celebrates the bonds of the heart that transcend language.

Its acoustic sound is warm and wonderful.

It’s a message song you’ll want to dedicate to someone setting off on a new journey.

Beyond nostalgiaNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 “Beyond Nostalgia”

An emotional atmosphere flows from this bittersweet mid-tempo ballad themed around graduation.

As a center song for Yuki Yoda, it features a grand arrangement built on piano and strings.

In the multiverse-themed music video, an idol’s life intersects with worlds of alternative possibilities, narratively tracing her path as an artist.

Released as a digital single on February 3, 2025, and followed by the music video on February 11 of the same year, this piece has carved a new chapter in Nogizaka46’s history.

Directed by Seita Yamagishi, the MV also drew attention for its innovative use of Yoda’s first-person perspective.

As an empowering song that resonates with anyone standing at a crossroads in life, it’s sure to leave a lasting impression.