[For Junior High School Chorus] A Curated Selection of Challenging Popular Works and Classic Songs

Mysteries of the Seasakushi: Kawasaki Hiroshi / sakkyoku: Hirayoshi Takushu

[National Gold Prize] 'Mysteries of the Sea' ♪ The sea is vast and boundless~ (Hachinohe City Nejo Junior High School Choir) #NCon

This choral piece brilliantly captures the vastness and mystery of the sea.

Its wave-like, undulating melodies and harmonies are striking, and the lyrics—woven with references to the coelacanth, the Mariana Trench, and Ryukyuan legends—invite listeners into the ocean’s wondrous realm.

Selected as the set piece for the 1989 NHK All-Japan School Music Competition (Junior High Division), it continues to be featured in choral competitions nationwide as a “high-difficulty” work.

Let’s practice together and bring to life a grand drama of the sea.

knot; tie; bind; concludemiwa

miwa / Yui (Bond)

A heartwarming ballad themed around human connections and bonds.

Chosen as the set piece for the junior high school category of the NHK National School Music Competition, this work showcases Miwa’s delicate sensibilities.

Its simple yet powerful melody and her warm vocals weave a gentle worldview that moves listeners’ hearts.

It was performed at the 67th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in collaboration with the Kumamoto City Obiyama Junior High School Choir, leaving a deep impression on many.

Designed with junior high school vocal ranges in mind, it’s perfect for choir competitions and school events.

YELLikimonogakari

[Chorus] YELL (Mixed Choir in Three Parts)

A song by Ikimonogakari that captured the hearts of young people as an anthem encouraging the courage to reflect on your past self and take a step forward.

It offers a warm message that stands by anyone facing anxiety or doubts on the path to their dreams and gives them a gentle push toward a new beginning.

After its release in September 2009, it drew major attention, including earning the group their first No.

1 on the Oricon charts.

It’s a song you’ll want to sing on special days spent with friends—at graduation ceremonies, school events, and the culminating stages of club activities.

Believesakushi:tanikawa shuntarō/sakkyoku:matsushita kō

Believe (Lyrics: Shuntaro Tanikawa, Music: Koh Matsushita)

“I Believe,” with lyrics by the poet Shuntaro Tanikawa and music by Ko Matsushita, is a choral piece that offers a rewarding challenge for middle school students.

It was composed as the set piece for the Middle School Division of the 71st NHK All-Japan School Music Competition.

The lyrics, which celebrate believing in oneself and in those around you, are perfect for middle schoolers who are beginning to experience various doubts on their way to adulthood.

Although the first half proceeds calmly, the impression shifts dramatically in the middle, making that transition a key difficulty.

In the latter half, the music returns to a similarly gentle section like the opening, so try singing while fully sensing the changes in melody and lyrics that unfold within the single piece.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem

running riverKurosawa Yoshinori

Choral Piece: The Running River

A choral piece that depicts the power of nature and an indomitable spirit.

The image of a river’s rapids biting into rocks and surging forward in sprays of foam is expressed through a vigorous melody and moving lyrics.

It was premiered in 1993 as the second movement of the mixed-voice choral suite “Wings of Water,” commissioned by Minami Junior High School in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture.

Widely performed at junior high school choral competitions across Japan, it has become beloved by many students and educators.

With music by Yoshinori Kurosawa and lyrics by Chieko Kanazawa blending beautifully, this work conveys the beauty of nature and the strength of the human spirit through music.

When you need the courage to face difficulties, be sure to give it a listen.

The Sea I Saw With YouWakamatsu Kan

Singing 'The Sea I Saw With You' with a vocalist who graduated from Geidai #choir #choralcompetition

A beautiful choral piece by composer Kan Wakamatsu, who has brought many choral works into the world.

Its distinguishing features are lyrics that recount memories of time spent by the seaside at summer’s end and a heartwarming melody.

With a unique musical style that blends pop and acoustic elements, it is loved by a wide audience, especially students.

Released in March 2010, this work also carries hints of jazz and folk, making it particularly intriguing.

It’s a recommended piece for class- or grade-wide choral competitions and for graduation ceremonies.

HikariSakushi: Seto Saori / Sakkyoku: Matsushita Kou

[Choral Piece] Hikari (Light) / Mixed Three-Part Chorus [With Lyrics]

Hikari unfolds with a grand, cinematic atmosphere, as if you’re watching a scene from a musical.

Its lyrics were created using a poem selected as an outstanding work for the 70th anniversary of NHK’s All-Japan School Music Competition.

At the beginning, the song depicts a pitch-dark world with no light at all, and as it progresses, both the lyrics and the melody express the gradual emergence of light.

Capturing this gradual transition in the flow of the piece, as well as singing from the middle section in the somewhat challenging 6/8 time, are key difficulties.

Learn the rhythms thoroughly, and sing while fully immersing yourself in the world the music conveys!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem