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

It might be a train.tama

Toshiyaki Chiku – Soul Experiments – It Might Be a Train

Friends in the same box will probably be on the same train until graduation.

That said, our destinations will change quite a lot while we’re still in school.

Do we really exist? What if the moment comes when the scenery we’re seeing stops being true? It’s a song that makes me feel like I’m being asked questions from a modern literature class.

Denden Passiondenpagumi.inc

Dempagumi.inc “Denden Passion” MV [Isn’t it silly if there’s nothing fun!?]

An uplifting song from an eccentric, on-the-brink idol group.

There are times when you might feel like giving up on your goals, but listening to this track lifts your spirits and makes you think, “Maybe I can try again tomorrow.” Standing before their bright, high-spirited voices, you’ll start to feel that brooding over things is just pointless.

Deliberately not resistingyurayura teikoku

Yura Yura Teikoku live at RSR 2008

Unreasonable homework from cram school, blatantly unachievable goals from club activities, unfair demands from parents, sudden calls from friends.

What do they even think I am!? When you’re burdened with a feeling that’s neither anger nor sadness—something suspended in midair—why not try raising your hands and choosing not to resist, unbound by anything? It might help you avoid the risk of getting shot.

If I can’t use magic, I want to die.Omori Seiko

Seiko Oomori “If I Can’t Use Magic” PV

A song I want to listen to when everything feels hopeless.

On those unbearable days when I end up staying up late, and even when I try to sleep, I can’t.

Isn’t this the kind of song you put on repeat a few times to console yourself? The magic of a school uniform only lasts for six years, you know.

We againSG

We Again (Wind Ensemble ver.) – SG (Official Behind-the-Scenes Music Video)

This work by SG has gained support as an encouraging song that resonates deeply during graduations and farewells.

Its gentle melody, which accompanies young people as they overcome partings and take new steps forward, and its lyrics filled with hope for reunion are especially appealing.

Released in April 2021, it has become a popular track with a cumulative 150 million streams.

Starting in November 2024, it has also been featured in Calorie Mate’s exam-season support commercial, and a concert band version by the Hanazono Tokuei High School Wind Ensemble has been making waves.

It’s a heartwarming song for farewells, graduation ceremonies, and moments when you long to see someone special again.

It’s a recommended track for times when you want to cherish your memories while looking ahead and doing your best.

I want to tell you how I feel (my love)aimyon

Aimyon – “I Want to Tell You I Love You” [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

It’s singer-songwriter Aimyon’s second single, released in May 2017.

It reached No.

51 on the Oricon weekly chart.

I think it’s a perfect song for middle schoolers at that age when they want to act more grown-up.

Letter ~Dear Fifteen-Year-Old Me~Anjura Aki

Angela Aki “Letter ~Dear You, Fifteen~” Official Music Video (HD)

A heartwarming ballad that gently embraces the worries and uncertainties of adolescence.

Angela Aki’s clear, translucent voice and piano melody offer comfort to the anxiety we all carry.

Released in 2008, the song drew significant attention as the compulsory piece for the NHK National School Music Competition’s junior high division and as an insert song in the film “Shodo Girls!! Our Koshien.” Its appeal also lies in the grand arrangement that begins with simple piano accompaniment and gradually adds strings and chorus.

It’s a song that resonates in the heart—an anthem that gives you the courage to believe in yourself when you stand at a crossroads in life.