An idol-sung youth anthem: a roundup of songs celebrating sparkling, radiant days

Among idol songs, there are tracks with a wide range of lyrical themes, and youth-themed songs are especially popular.

From songs that depict the bittersweet romances of school days, to songs that celebrate the hard work built together with friends toward a shared goal, to songs about friendship—“youth songs” come in many varieties.

In this article, we’ll introduce a curated selection of recommended youth-themed tracks from the vast world of idol songs.

We’ve gathered songs with various themes, so try listening while reading the lyrics.

We hope you’ll find a track that sets your heart on fire.

Playlist

An idol-sung youth anthem: a roundup of songs celebrating sparkling, radiant days
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Twin-tails until I’m 20♡kyururin tte shite mite		A bold track that rebels against stereotypes of femininity
2	Fall in love.Boku ga mitakatta aozora		A coming-of-age song about a shy-in-love protagonist mustering the courage to confess
3	Sky-colored spray of waterBoku ga mitakatta aozora		Expressing a passion for rowing with a thrilling, high-speed melody
4	First Love Cinderella≒JOY		An idol song of first love and heart-throbbing excitement
5	Bashful Short≠ME		A cute winter song by ≠ME themed around winter romance
6	Last chance, last dance≠ME		≠ME’s new song: a classic pop about unrequited love
7	≒JOY≒JOY		The group's first original song became a big hit.
8	B-b-but.≒JOY		The group’s first unit song is a love-support anthem.
9	Peach tea and peach pie≒JOY		A sugary pink love song
10	Blue Hawaii Lemon≒JOY		A refreshing, summer-themed pop song brimming with exhilaration
11	Tell me your phone number!≒JOY		An idol J-pop song about the courage of unrequited love
12	≠ME≠ME		Expressing the youthful sense of speed in ≠ME’s debut song
13	Confidential Incident≠ME		A pop song that breezily captures the exhilaration of love
14	Only the graduation photo knowsHinatazaka46		An idol song depicting a springtime farewell
15	A Crescendo of Falling in LoveHinatazaka46		A Hinatazaka46 song that depicts feelings of love for a childhood friend
16	Chasing your bright futureFRUITS ZIPPER		Introduction to FRUITS ZIPPER's debut song
17	Your third button＝LOVE		=LOVE’s youthful love song
18	sweet timeriLiFE!		The moving songs of iLiFE! popular among Generation Z
19	First Love RevivaliLiFE!		Music that depicts an unexpected spark of excitement
20	The puzzle of youth remains incomplete.iLiFE!		An exhilarating song that affirms the incompleteness of youth.
21	#LoveCodeiLiFE!		A bittersweet, high-energy love song of the digital world
22	MessageiLiFE!		High-energy, fast-paced rock from iLiFE!
23	Color contacts winkAKB48		Yuki Kashiwagi’s final culmination single
24	You are the melody.AKB48		AKB48 10th anniversary song: the arrival of spring and a sense of nostalgia
25	Baseless rumorAKB48		AKB48’s 58th single, the rumored high school dance song
26	Idol Life Extra PackiLiFE!		A moving song that portrays an idol concert scene
27	Kimi-sen!iLiFE!		Cheer your heart with an idol song
28	MemoriesNiziU		A moving song that depicts NiziU’s spring memories
29	We ate cherry blossoms together.HKT48		A moving spring song that portrays the season of parting
30	Smiling Backkyandīzu		Candies' moving graduation song
31	Spring La! La! La!Ishino Mako		Mako Ishino's light, springtime single features a striking love triangle.
32	Graduation of Unrequited LoveAKB48		A coming-of-age song about an unrequited love before graduation
33	Lost and Found at the Graduation CeremonySKE48		A song that poignantly sings about the moment of graduation
34	See you.o nyanko kurabu		An emotional graduation song by Onyanko Club
35	Flower of youthKobushi Fakutorī		Kobushi Factory’s moving graduation song
36	GraduationHikaru GENJI		Hikaru Genji’s graduation song, a moving youth ballad
37	Graduationsaitou yuki		Yuki Saito’s classic song “Sotsugyo” (Graduation), memories of youth
38	uniformMatsuda Seiko		On graduation day, feelings swaying in a sea of umbrellas
39	Even though it’s springKashiwabara Yoshie		A classic song portraying farewell and hope at graduation
40	A Lonely Graduation CeremonyAsaka Yui		Graduation, the poignancy of feelings I couldn't say
41	Goodbye, Secret Baseshiritsu ebisu chūgaku		A moving graduation song that portrays parting and memories
42	Graduation -GRADUATION-Kikuchi Momoko		A classic that colors the graduation season: Momoko’s youth
43	Graduationkyandīzu		Candies’ bittersweet youth classic
44	Search for Diamond Lily＝LOVE		A moving song that portrays spring scenery, graduation, and friendship.
45	It smelled like shampoo.22/7		A song depicting a bittersweet first love for a senior at an all-girls school
46	TwinkleStartChou Tokimeki♡Sendenbu		A moving song that paints hope for the future
47	Campus mode!!Hatsuboshi Gakuen		The youth theme song of Hatsuboshi Academy, full of energy!
48	That is a fairy.Boku ga mitakatta aozora		Record Award in the first year of debut, The Story of the Blue Sky
49	Getting hurt is what youth is about.STU48		A moving song that depicts the youth of STU48
50	It’s the cutest ever!Chou Tokimeki♡Sendenbu		From heartbreak to self-acceptance: a song of a forward-looking heart
51	The world’s number one idolChou Tokimeki♡Sendenbu		Cheering song of Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu
52	17 minutesNogizaka 46		17 Minutes of Youth: A Sparkling, Bittersweet Love
53	Why do we run?Nogizaka 46		Depicting the headlong rush of youth and an unstoppable impulse
54	The limits of languageHinatazaka46		Hina Kawata sings of bonds of the heart ahead of graduation.
55	Everyday, KachushaAKB48		An AKB48 song that accompanies summer memories
56	Self-esteem skyrocketing, lovey-dovey songHatsuboshi Gakuen		Idol Academy’s fight song, regaining confidence
57	Youth ClockNGT48		A pure schoolboy’s wistful first love painted along a springtime route to school
58	Girls and Ivorykaren na aibori		A Girl’s Sea Voyage: A Tale of Dreams and Bonds
59	I wish you lots of happinessnaniwa danshi		An uplifting song with lyrics that resonate with the heart
60	Slow motionNakamori Akina		A classic hit by Akina Nakamori depicting an encounter on the beach
61	tightlySexy Zone		An anthem of encouragement whose message of “It’s okay” heals the heart
62	Parachute of the uniformBoku ga mitakatta aozora		A moving song that depicts the brilliance of youth and the exhilaration of love
63	Our Uniform Christmas＝LOVE		Uniform Christmas, bittersweet memories of youth
64	Between YES and NO22/7		A rock-style idol song that sings of the hopes of youth
65	Dreaming 15-year-oldSumairēji		A song depicting the bittersweet summer love of a 15-year-old girl
66	ENDLESS SUMMERKis-my-ft2		A refreshing song that sings about summer memories
67	Sister Summer of the SeasideNEWS		A refreshing classic that sings of summer memories
68	After all, I’m an idolKoizumi Kyoko		A masterpiece that portrays the ideal and reality of idols
69	Critical♡PrettyiLiFE!		iLiFE!'s cute idol tune
70	Rock this Partytimelesz		A pop dance tune by timelesz
71	ClickME:I		A future-themed pop song born on social media
72	LOVE YOU ONLYTOKIO		A love song with which TOKIO made their debut and performed at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen
73	STAR LIGHTHikaru GENJI		The gem-like debut song by Hikaru GENJI that colors youth
74	darknessSTU48		STU48’s debut song depicts scenes of youth.
75	Here we go! Phantom Thief GirlMomoiro Kurōbā Zetto		A cute idol song with a phantom thief motif
76	10-year cherry blossomsAKB48		An AKB48 song depicting cherry blossoms, graduation, and reunion
77	I want to become a cherry blossom tree.AKB48		A song that sings of graduation memories and the beauty of spring
78	orchestraBiSH		Looking up at the night sky, BiSH’s masterpiece that resonates in the heart
79	Sakura GirlNEWS		Expressing the bittersweetness of spring love through cherry blossoms
80	graduation tripNMB48		A song that cherishes the bonds and memories with friends
81	The meaning of goodbyeNogizaka 46		A heartfelt song that portrays farewell and hope
82	When the fleabanes bloomNogizaka 46		A heartwarming Nogizaka46 song depicting farewells and encounters in spring
83	Oh, early summer rainSakurazaka46		A bittersweet love song with an early-summer rain motif takes first place
84	SCHOOL DAYSshiritsu ebisu chūgaku		A female idol group with the concept of “eternal middle schoolers.”
85	believe feat. Ema Sakurai (Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku)Gekkan Guuzou		Ema sings, gaining confidence with a song of youth.
86	Spring SwallowHey! Say! JUMP		Hey! Say! JUMP spring cheer song
87	Mileage Love SummerNiji no Conquistador		NijiCon: diverse music and energetic activities
88	I’M YOUR IDOLtakane no nadeshiko		A song that portrays the bond between an idol and their fans
89	Map of the HeartBOYSTYLE		A song about the mindset of helping one another with BOYSTYLE companions
90	Sorry, SUMMERSKE48		A song that evokes memories of youth
91	Ode to YouthMomoiro Kurōbā Zetto		A graduation song that captures youthful emotions, singing of parting and hope.
92	Spring of departure has come.Sumairēji		A graduation song to cheer on spring departures
93	Blue in the classroomHoshimachi Suisei		A moving song where the radiance of youth and the light of friendship shine.
94	Please never quit being an idol.＝LOVE		A cheer song that sings of love and dreams for idols
95	Until graduationBoku ga mitakatta aozora		A moving work that beautifully sings of youthful feelings
96	Lap Time of YouthNMB48		The NMB48 so-and-so released in 2011...
97	Blue-Sky Unrequited LoveSKE48		If it’s a youth song, I’d rather not sing those bittersweet love stories…
98	Hi-FiveME:I		ME:I's refreshing summer track is going viral on TikTok
99	Can’t Stop!!-LOVING-SMAP		An early-days youth anthem of SMAP
100	Thinking about the blue skyBoku ga mitakatta aozora		A moving song that portrays the dreams and hopes of student days