[2026] Recommended Entrance Ceremony Songs for Junior High Students: Popular J-POP Roundup

Season of BeginningsNEW!Makihara Noriyuki × Hanaregumi

Season of Beginnings

This is the piece I want you to hear in that season when you slip into a new uniform and your heart is a mix of anticipation and nerves.

It’s the first collaborative work by Noriyuki Makihara and Hanaregumi, released in April 2025, which began streaming after an exclusive one-month airplay on FM COCOLO.

Sparked by their appearance together on a radio program, the song weaves in sounds of folk instruments like the charango to evoke spring’s curious sense of uplift.

Its appeal lies in how it gently stays close not only to celebration and brightness, but also to the unease and inner restlessness that come with changes in our surroundings.

As you embark on your new junior high school life, if you ever feel lost or find yourself about to pause, their harmonies will surely offer a quiet hand at your back.

DarlingMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE "Darling" Official Music Video

This song gently embraces the moment when the anxieties and hopes of youth intersect.

Released by Mrs.

GREEN APPLE in January 2025, it was created as the theme for NHK General’s special program “18-sai Matsuri” and drew major attention for its collaboration with 1,000 18-year-olds.

The sound—where calm piano tones interweave with energetic guitars—reflects the wavering hearts of young people searching for where they belong.

It overflows with a warmth that stays close to the inner voice seeking one’s true self and gives you a supportive push forward.

It’s a reassuring track for anyone taking a new step in junior high school.

AuroraBUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN「Aurora」

Here are some songs that gently accompany you through the three youthful years of school life.

Aurora, released by BUMP OF CHICKEN in 2019, was chosen as the theme song for the drama The Good Wife.

Its lively rhythm and grand yet gentle sound will help ease your nerves.

When writing the song, Motoo Fujiwara, who handles the lyrics and composition, said he tried to find common ground even though his friends around him were doing different jobs.

Even if you’re in different clubs or classes, finding friends you click with might become a support for your life.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mutō

Report a problem

New EraAdo

[Ado] New Genesis (Uta from ONE PIECE FILM RED)

Ado’s “New Genesis” is, as the title suggests, a perfect song for starting a new chapter in life.

Released in 2022 as the theme song for the movie ONE PIECE FILM RED, it features an energetic beat and uplifting lyrics that are ideal for a fresh start.

Its catchy, pop vibe naturally lifts your spirits as you listen.

Take this opportunity to revisit the track and enjoy Ado’s remarkable expressiveness on full display.

HarukaYOASOBI

YOASOBI 'Haruka' Official Music Video

This is a heartwarming song by YOASOBI that weaves a story watching over a girl’s growth from the perspective of a mug.

Told by an inanimate object, its down-to-earth emotional expression and the carefully drawn bond between the girl and the item draw you in.

Anyone starting a new chapter in life will find themselves in the forward-looking protagonist.

Released digitally in December 2020 and included on the album THE BOOK, the song was also used as the image song for “Art Aquarium Exhibition 2021: Hakata—Festival of Goldfish” and in a Takara Tomy commercial.

It’s a track we especially recommend to those about to take their first step in a new environment.

YOAKENiziU

NiziU(니쥬) 「YOAKE」 M/V

This is an ambitious song by NiziU that sings of the courage and hope to open a new door with a dazzling dawn.

Its powerful vocals and emotional melody brilliantly capture the tension and anticipation of taking a step into the unknown.

As the lead track of the album “AWAKE,” it began streaming in January 2025, and its expressive music video has also become a hot topic.

The release holds special significance in celebrating the group’s 5th anniversary, and a student support live performance at Universal Studios Japan is scheduled for March 2025.

It’s a song that gently yet powerfully pushes the backs of middle school students who, while feeling uneasy about changing environments, are ready to take a new step forward.

Stand Out Fit InNEW!ONE OK ROCK

ONE OK ROCK: Stand Out Fit In [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

Have you ever read the room and ended up suppressing your true self? In the new social world of high school, you might find more situations where you’re expected to be “normal.” That’s exactly when I want you to listen to this classic track from ONE OK ROCK’s album Eye of the Storm.

It’s been on air as a Honda commercial song since 2018, so many of you probably have it stuck in your heads.

The message “hamidashite najime”—“stand out and still belong”—carries the hope that you’ll blend in without losing who you are.

This piece also mirrors the band’s own journey of continual challenges across different cultures.

On the morning you slip into your new uniform, if you play this song, it will surely give you the courage to take that first step as your authentic self.