Blow away the May blues! Cheer songs and feel-good tunes to listen to in May

Again and againHinatazaka46

Hinatazaka46 “Again and Again”

This is a straightforward cheer song by Hinatazaka46, an idol group that has won support through activities that make viewers smile, using their “happy aura” as a weapon.

It’s included on their single “Tteka,” released in October 2021, and was chosen as the support song for NTV’s “High School Quiz 2021.” Its powerful message of affirmation—that it’s okay to fail as long as you start again from there—feels perfect for the season when May blues can weigh on your heart.

Gently encouraging you that there’s no need to rush by comparing yourself to others, this track is one you’ll want to hear if you’re struggling with studies or work.

Try making it your BGM on your commute to school or work and reset your gloomy mood.

May bluesKIRINJI

Gogatsubyou (2018 Remaster)

Amid the crossing of spring greenery and sunlight, this gem of a masterpiece delicately portrays the feelings of urban dwellers.

It was released by KIRINJI in October 1998 on the classic album Paper Drivers Music.

Its mellow, country-tinged light melody beautifully balances a fresh sense of the season with the solitude of city life.

Within the lyrics, everyday scenes reveal a subtle sense of unease—struggling to adapt to a new life and feeling unsure about the distance between oneself and others.

Quietly beloved, the song resonates with those who carry anxiety or emptiness brought on by changing environments, and with anyone who finds it hard to feel at home in the city.

OtonokeCreepy Nuts

Creepy Nuts – Otonoke [Official MV] [Dandadan Opening]

It’s a masterpiece that eerily yet beautifully portrays how music slips into the human heart, gently intersecting the worlds of the occult and animation.

The unconventional track by Creepy Nuts was released in October 2024 as the opening theme for the popular anime “Dandadan.” Featured on the album “Legion,” the song has earned high acclaim, including reaching No.

1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.

It’s an ambitious work that reinterprets the power and influence of music through the lens of “kaiji” (supernatural phenomena) and fuses it brilliantly with the anime’s worldview.

Highly recommended not only for fans of ghost stories and urban legends, but also for anyone intrigued by the mysterious allure of music.

rootKing Gnu

King Gnu – Root

Even if I’m someone who doesn’t stand out, I want to be someone who matters to the person I love.

This is a mid-tempo ballad by King Gnu that weaves delicate emotions into its fabric.

Like the roots of a flower slowly spreading underground, it gently portrays relationships that grow over time and two people supporting one another as they draw close, expressed with a tender sensibility.

Released in October 2024 as the theme song for the TBS drama “Diamonds Sleeping in the Sea,” it layers a beautiful piano-and-strings melody with a contemporary sense of rhythm and choral parts reminiscent of a nursery rhyme, vividly capturing the flow of time and feelings that never change.

While embracing life’s transience, the song invites you to reflect on what it means to live quietly yet with strength.

It’s a track that will resonate in your heart when you’re anxious about a new environment or uncertain about a relationship with someone important to you.

to clear up (weather)Yorushika

Yorushika – Haru (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

When I close my eyes, feelings for someone dear well up inside me.

The soundscape—melding electronica and rock—built from a translucent singing voice, guitars, and synthesizers is striking.

This is a song Yorushika released in January 2024, depicting the anticipation of a bright future with the arrival of spring.

It was selected as the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and was also featured in a collaborative web commercial with Suntory’s gin SUI.

Its poetic world overlays the fluctuations of emotions—joy and pain, hope and despair—onto natural phenomena like rain and sunshine, offering comfort to those who feel lost while sensing the transience of spring.

A hundred flowers in full bloomIkuta Rira

A hundred flowers in full bloom

This is a heart‑pounding number by Lila Ikuta, painted with grand, sweeping soundscapes that capture the scene of brilliantly colored flowers in full bloom.

It’s an impressive work that conveys a strong longing for a hopeful future that opens up beyond the trials and hardships everyone faces.

Released in December 2024, it was chosen as the opening theme for the anime The Apothecary Diaries, airing from January 2025.

As Ikuta’s first solo tie-in with an anime, the piece beautifully blends her transparent, airy vocals with a dramatic melody.

It’s a song that sincerely supports those taking a new step forward or standing at a crossroads in life, offering warm encouragement and a gentle push on your back.

Happy New DayKaneyori Masaru

Kaneyori Masaru [Happy New Day] Music Video

Kaneyori Masaru is a three-piece band based in Osaka, winning support with down-to-earth lyrics.

Released digitally in April 2024, this track rides on a high-velocity rock sound that feels like a fresh breeze through the heart.

It was chosen as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s Mezamashi 8, brimming with the freshness perfect for starting your morning.

The song is also included on their mini-album “To Us Who Don’t Live in Yesterday,” released in January 2025.

Its lyrics and melody, which give you the courage to face a new day, are sure to boost that holiday refresh mood even more.