[Yutori Generation] Looking back at the cute songs that colored our youth
In the 2000s and 2010s, when the yutori generation spent their youth, countless adorable songs were born that make your heart feel warm and light.
Do you have any songs packed with memories—ones you hummed with friends on the way home from school, or listened to alone in your room with a flutter in your chest? Pop and catchy melodies, down-to-earth lyrics, and bright, uplifting sounds that give you energy just by listening.
In this article, we’ll introduce cute tracks that vividly capture the atmosphere of that time.
Let yourself sink into nostalgia and remember how you felt back then.
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[Yutori Generation] Looking back at cute songs we spent our youth with (1–10)
Peach-Colored Unrequited LoveMatsuura Aya
Released in February 2002 as Aya Matsuura’s fifth single, this song was featured in Shiseido’s “Tissera Mune-Kyun Peach” commercial, which also drew attention for Matsuura’s own appearance.
It peaked at No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart, sold over 220,000 copies, and was included on the album T.W.O.
The lyrics liken the flutter of unrequited love to a peach-pink hue, and the bouncy melody that kicks off with a shouted call is instantly memorable—just listening to it lifts your spirits.
It’s the perfect track for getting hyped at karaoke with friends after school or for those heart-pounding moments when you’re nursing a crush.
User ManualNishino Kana
Kana Nishino’s 27th single, used as the theme song for the film “No Longer Heroine,” released in September 2015.
Its unique lyrics, which liken a woman’s delicate emotions to an instruction manual, became a hot topic and won the Grand Prize at the 57th Japan Record Awards.
The lyrics, where she introduces herself through the metaphor of a user manual, are both chuckle-worthy and heart-fluttering just by listening.
The song is included on her 6th album, “Just LOVE,” and has become a wedding staple.
It’s a perfect love song not only for those with a crush or in a relationship, but also for when you want to convey your feelings to your partner.
paprikaFoorin
Written and composed by Kenshi Yonezu, this song was released in August 2018 and, after being broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” became a long-running hit loved by people of all ages across Japan.
Choreographed by Tomohiko Tsujimoto and Koharu Sugawara, its easy-to-dance moves have helped the song be passed down at school events and local festivals.
In 2019, it won the Japan Record Award and was performed on NHK’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
With its bright, uplifting lyrics and catchy melody that warms the heart, it’s the perfect song to hum along to with family and friends.
[Yutori Generation] Looking back at the cute songs that colored our youth (11–20)
Moo！Pimm’s
A danceable rock number that makes your heart skip, released by Pimm’s in April 2019.
The lyrics were written by Koji Uehara and the music and arrangement by Hidetoshi Nishihara.
Sharp-edged guitar riffs and a driving beat blend perfectly with an idol-like delicacy.
The lyrics use light, witty metaphors to depict the swell of a mature crush and a sense of self-liberation—resonating, perhaps, with young people of the time who were eager to act a bit older.
It was also played over in-store broadcasts at convenience stores, so some may remember catching it while shopping.
With an irresistibly catchy chorus that makes you want to sing along, it’s a pop tune perfect for a drive with friends or the walk home after school.
do do pi doCAPSULE
Included on the 2005 album “L.D.K.
Lounge Designers Killer,” this song charms with its light beat and sparkling synths.
Its onomatopoeic phrases and girlish lyrics leave a strong impression, and the down-to-earth feelings resonated with young listeners at the time.
Yasutaka Nakata’s polished production layers seamlessly with Toshiko Koshijima’s transparent vocals, fusing a lounge vibe with pop sensibilities.
In 2014, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu covered the song, and it was also used in a CHINTAI TV commercial.
It’s the kind of track you’d listen to with friends after school or play while relaxing in your room—one that brings back the bittersweet feelings of those days.
Joyfulikimonogakari
It’s that catchy, popping-sounding track you’ve probably heard at least once in a Pocky commercial.
Released in 2009 as a double A-side single with “YELL,” it created a huge buzz as the theme song for Ezaki Glico’s ads.
The upbeat arrangement, featuring a horn section and handclaps, pairs with Kiyoe Yoshioka’s bright, smile-inducing vocals to make your body start moving without even thinking.
It’s perfect for getting hyped with friends, and it’d be amazing played at school events or sports days.
It’s also a karaoke staple everyone knows, making it an ideal pick when you want to liven up the mood.
SantaMomoiro Kurōbā Zetto
When it comes to bright, bubbly Christmas songs that colored the winters of the 2000s, this track by Kenichi Maeyamada, better known as Hyadain, stands out.
Released in November 2011 as a B-side to the single “Rōdō Sanka,” it comically captures the sparkle of city illuminations and the excitement of waiting for Santa Claus.
The entire song is packed with playful wordplay, onomatopoeia, and puns, making it irresistibly fun to sing along to.
Later, two remix versions by ☆Taku Takahashi and NARASAKI were produced, and the song became a winter staple in Momoiro Clover Z’s repertoire.
It’s the perfect pick for a Christmas karaoke session with friends—everyone can get hyped with clapping and call-and-response.