Emo songs recommended for junior high school students: A roundup of classic and popular Japanese tracks!

Make sure you study up, okay?zutto mayonaka de ii no ni.

ZUTOMAYO - “Study Me” Music Video (Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni. - O Benkyou Shitoite yo)

“Zenzen Mayonaka de Ii no ni.” (ZUTOMAYO), who became hugely popular especially among younger listeners with their breakout hit “Byoushin wo Kamu,” have done it again.

Compared to “Byoushin wo Kamu,” this track feels much brighter and catchier.

同時に、ZUTOMAYO特有のグルーブ感と、ACAねの力強く高音域のボーカルも健在だ。

The piano and bass in the interlude are especially cool, too.

At first glance, the lyrics might leave you wondering what the song is actually about, but if you read them through to the end, it seems to be expressing the protagonist’s feelings for an unrequited love.

“Study up on my feelings, will you!!” is such an adorable line—and one a lot of people can probably relate to.

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Hane Keisuke

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Wolverine Nenzutto mayonaka de ii no ni.

Zutomayo “Kuzuri Nen” MV (ZUTOMAYO – KUZURI)

A piercing song that captures feelings of loneliness and self-denial.

It’s a track by the band ZUTOMAYO (Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni), centered around the vocalist ACA-ne.

It’s included on the mini-album “Koke no Ichinen Kaiba ni Takusu,” released in October 2024.

The pain of emotional repression is conveyed through ACA-Ne’s transparent vocals and a funky guitar sound.

It’s a song that will resonate with teens and people in their twenties struggling with relationships.

The track “TAIDADA,” also included on the same album, was used as the ending theme for the anime Dandadan.

AliensKirinji

Kirinji – Aliens

This is one of Kirinji’s signature songs.

It became a hot topic when the actress Non sang it a cappella in a commercial, so some of you might know it from that.

Although it’s a song from the ’90s, it doesn’t feel dated at all.

The sweet vocals and harmonies soothe anyone who listens.

Non-breath ObligePinokio P

PinocchioP – Non-breath Oblige feat. Hatsune Miku / Non-breath oblige

There are times when you want to let out feelings that have nowhere to go, right? Nonbreath Oblige is a delicate, heartrending song that you’ll want to listen to when it gets hard to go to school.

Released in 2021 by PinocchioP, it stands out for its lyrics that question a modern society where it’s hard to say what you really mean, and for its beautifully colored music video.

When you’re worn out from being careful around friends at school or when things aren’t going well in class, listening to this track might help ease your mind.

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mutō

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Ghost in the FlowersYorushika

Yorushika – Ghost in a Flower (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Yorushika, formed by Vocaloid producer n-buna and singer suis, is another artist many middle schoolers these days really like! I’m sure a lot of people regularly listen to Vocaloid songs, and if that’s you, you’ll definitely enjoy their music.

One of their biggest draws is their piano rock–based sound, which feels so pleasant; this song also has a tone that evokes youth, doesn’t it? It was written as the theme song for the film “A Whisker Away,” and it’s a track I’d love not only music fans but also movie lovers to give a listen to at least once.

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Hane Keisuke

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