[Songs to Listen to in March] Classic Spring Tracks and Moving Songs About Meetings and Partings

Sakuraayaka

Ayaka / “Sakura” (from the LIVE DVD & Blu-ray “Acoustic Live Tour 2017–2018 ~3-STAR RAW~”)

Ayaka’s “Sakura” evokes a quiet stirring in the heart with the arrival of spring.

Though released on October 14, 2017, this song remains timeless, conveying the fleeting moment of new beginnings and departures with her warm, powerful voice.

It was her first song to take graduation as its theme, expanding the breadth of her expressive range.

Fragile like falling cherry blossoms yet brimming with vitality, its melody gives courage to those setting out and comforts those who remain.

It’s a perfect recommendation for anyone embarking on a new chapter amid the changing seasons of March.

GraduationKobukuro

Kobukuro “Graduation”

A new masterpiece that seems poised to become the go-to graduation song for Japan in the 2020s! “Sotsugyō” (“Graduation”) is the 31st single released in March 2020 by the duo Kobukuro—made up of two members: Shunsuke Kuroda, the tall (over 190 cm) main vocalist known for his trademark sunglasses, and Shunsuke Kuroda, who handles acoustic guitar, songwriting, and harmonies.

The song drew attention for being their first track in 11 years and 4 months that the two co-wrote together.

Its piano accompaniment and string ensemble, along with the duo’s perfectly synchronized harmonies, create a beautiful melody that feels like a model example of a great song.

The lyrics, which depict the scenery of March and the delicate emotional shifts of teenagers with simple word choices, are deeply moving.

It has been a difficult era for students, but we can only hope for the day to return when this song is once again sung at graduation ceremonies as a matter of course.

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I Gotta Go feat. kojikoji, WILYWNKA & HiplinGeG

With Lyrics: GeG / I Gotta Go feat. kojikoji, WILYWNKA & Hiplin (official audio)

A heartwarming song that gently embraces the feelings of young people who, with the cherry blossom season, are quietly determined to set out on their journeys.

Its clear, sun-dappled melody shines with GeG’s delicate production touch.

The album “Mellow Mellow ~GeG’s PLAYLIST~,” recorded in March 2020, reached No.

1 on Apple Music’s Hip-Hop chart.

Kojikoji’s pure vocals, WILYWNKA’s powerful rap, and Hiplin’s soulful singing blend beautifully, tenderly portraying both the sorrow of parting and the courage to take a new step.

It’s a track that will gently stay by the side of anyone beginning spring or starting a new chapter in life.

That paper airplane splits the cloudy sky19

That paper airplane splits the cloudy sky

A song that captures a vivid moment of youth was brought to life by 19.

Entrusting dreams scribbled on the back of a test to a paper airplane and letting it fly into the sky beautifully expresses the pure longing and anxiety of young people.

With delicate sensibility and a warm sound, it gently envelops the wavering emotions unique to adolescence.

Released in March 1999, the track was used as a TBS campaign song and reached No.

6 on the Oricon charts.

It was also performed at that year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Included on the albums “Ongaku” and “19 BEST●Ao,” it has been loved for many years.

It’s a song that will quietly stay by the side of anyone taking a new step forward with the arrival of spring.

forget-me-notAwesome City Club

Awesome City Club / Wasurena (MUSIC VIDEO)

This work by Awesome City Club is marked by a sleek, urban vibe.

It was created as an inspiration song for the film “We Made a Beautiful Bouquet.” The lyrics, interweaving memories of love with hopes for the future, leave a strong impression, and the interplay between the male and female twin vocals further elevates the track’s appeal.

Released as an advance digital single in January 2021, it was later included on the album “Grower” in February of the same year.

It was also featured in the film’s teaser and on TV commercials, resonating with many listeners.

It’s the perfect song for anyone looking back on a past romance while getting ready to take a new step forward.

The warm, comforting vocals are sure to soothe your heart.

Winter and Springback number

back number – Winter and Spring

As a beautiful yet heartrending breakup song, this track is quintessential back number.

Like a scene from a film, it portrays a woman’s pain of heartbreak and her process of moving on.

Released in January 2024, it was produced by Masanori Shimada, and in the music video, Iyori Shimizu took on his first directing role.

The song delicately depicts the pain of a breakup—led astray by a fleeting illusion like snow resting on withered branches—and a woman’s emotions as she faces her true feelings with the arrival of spring.

It’s recommended for those who can relate to the feelings of dreaming of a fairy tale–like romance only to meet a different ending in reality, or for listeners who want something to accompany the changing seasons.

Heralding springyama

yama – Harbinger of Spring (Official Video)

Alone in late-night Tokyo, dreaming under the glow of a fluorescent light in a cramped apartment.

The inner landscape yama weaves—where urban solitude and hope intersect—resonates with feelings everyone has experienced at least once.

It delicately portrays a heart swaying between escapism and self-stylization, leaving a vivid impression of a worldview where a sense of an ending overlaps with a desire for renewal.

Released in April 2020, the song was written and composed by Kujira and is included on the album “the meaning of life.” It reached No.

7 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and sparked a huge response, surpassing 300 million streams.

It’s a song that gently stays close to those who, even while bearing deep loneliness, are trying to look ahead.