Good songs recommended for junior high school students. Classic and popular Japanese hits.

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.

Daphne (winter daphne)DISH//

DISH// – Sweet Daphne [Official Video]

It’s a warm, gentle cheer song that softly stays by the side of a heart that feels like giving up on studying.

With a rhythm inspired by a “march to move forward” and a theme that conveys the comfort of having a place to return to, it eases tightly wound feelings.

It’s a popular song by DISH//, also known for being co-written by Takumi Kitamura and Hattori from Macaroni Empitsu.

Released as a single in 2021, it was used as the theme song for the drama “The 100th Love with You: The Classroom of Certain Success” (NIGATSU NO SHŌSHA – ZETTAI GŌKAKU NO KYŌSHITSU).

It’s now included on the album TRIANGLE.

Give it a listen during exam season when you’re feeling anxious, or when you want to remember your gratitude for those who support you.

The kindness this song carries will surely give you a gentle push forward.

MagicMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE「Magic」Official Music Video

With the theme of “a little magic that changes your everyday mood,” this exhilarating number gives listeners a powerful push forward.

When your heart feels weary, its message helps flip your mindset to a positive “might as well enjoy it.” Released by Mrs.

GREEN APPLE in June 2023, it’s also known as the opening track of the album ANTENNA.

Written specifically for a Coca-Cola commercial, the song has garnered strong support, surpassing 300 million streams.

It’s perfect for a quick refresh between study sessions or when you just can’t get motivated.

The uplifting sound will clear away a gloomy mood in an instant.

ChessboardOfisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – Chessboard [Official Video]

This work by Official HIGE DANDism likens the game of life to a chessboard, teaching us the importance of taking steps that are true to ourselves—not just winning or losing.

Its lyrics, depicting someone advancing while hesitating on black-and-white squares, are sure to resonate deeply with junior high school students who feel uncertain about the future.

Released in September 2023 as a double A-side single with “Nichijou” (Everyday), it was created as the set piece for the Junior High School Division of the 90th NHK National School Music Competition.

It was also broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta, so many of you may have heard it.

Give it a listen when you’re stuck in your studies or unsure about the path you should take.

It’s a masterpiece that gives you the courage to find a meaning on the board that’s yours alone.

Premeditated revengeMakishimamu Za Horumon

Maximum the Hormone 'Yoshu Fukushu' Music Video

The album “Yoshu Fukushu,” released in July 2013 after roughly six years in the making, keeps Maximum the Hormone’s signature ferocious sound and genre-blurring musicality intact, while taking a further step by placing greater emphasis on the lyrics.

Shifting away from their traditional style of clever rhymes and wordplay, the band pivots to raw Japanese expressions that focus on delivering the message clearly.

The result is a work where overwhelming sonic brutality coexists with the weight of words, as if laying bare the impulses and emotions deep within.

A masterful record that topped the Oricon charts for three consecutive weeks and won the Grand Prize at the 6th CD Shop Awards in 2014, it also features “Benjo Sandal Dance,” which was used as a support theme song for the film “Kick-Ass 2.” It’s a work that resonates especially with those carrying a haze of unresolved feelings or struggling to find the right words to tell someone something important.

Wasted NightsONE OK ROCK

ONE OK ROCK: Wasted Nights [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

A song written as the theme for the film “Kingdom,” released in April 2019, that became a huge talking point.

The grand sound that weaves in dynamic shifts, paired with Taka’s soaring, ever-reaching vocals, is insanely cool! It carries a powerful message: “Live this very moment to the fullest so you won’t have regrets,” and listening to it fills you with courage from deep within.

Its melodious, accessible style makes it a great recommendation for people discovering their music for the first time.

It’s a masterpiece you’ll want to make your personal anthem for life.

AlgernonYorushika

Yorushika – Algernon (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Yorushika is a musical duo that has won popularity with their ennui-tinged melodies and profound messages.

They have many high school fans as well.

Composed by n-buna and inspired by a famous novel, this work centers on the delicate emotional shifts that occur as the world slowly changes through an encounter with someone.

The protagonist’s feelings—hesitant yet striving to look forward—overlap with vocalist suis’s clear, translucent voice, making your chest tighten as you listen.

Released in February 2023, the song was also used as the theme for the drama “Yugure ni, Te o Tsunagu” (Hold My Hand at Dusk).

It is included in the music art collection “Gento.” It’s the kind of song that, when you’re feeling a bit down or want to spend a quiet night deep in thought, will gently give you a supportive push and leave you with a warm, tender feeling.