Lovely hit song

[Yutori Generation] Looking back at the cute songs that colored our youth

Music writer / guitarist / Certified web writing practitionerHoshino Takashi
Drawing on over 30 years of experience with guitars and bands since my high school days, I specialize in music-related articles and have handled many feature pieces to date. While my tastes lean toward genres like hard rock and heavy metal since I first picked up the guitar, I make a point of listening to a wide range of styles, both Japanese and Western, on a daily basis. I began working as a freelance writer in 2018. I hold a Web Writing Practical Certification, and in addition to writing, I’m also studying video editing. In my private life, I’m raising an elementary school child and stay active while supporting their extracurriculars, such as parkour and dance.

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.

[Yutori Generation] Looking back at the cute songs that colored our youth (11–20)

homesickness for one’s homelandToukyou Jihen

Bokoku Joucho -Feelings For My Motherland-

homesickness for one’s homelandToukyou Jihen

Among the tracks on Tokyo Jihen’s 2004 album Kyoiku, led by Ringo Sheena, this song stands out with an especially cute, march-like feel.

In compact yet powerful words, it portrays a narrator determined to grasp the world vividly through sight and sound.

Riding a march-evoking, quarter-note-driven rhythm, the crisp guitar chopping and snare accents click along with a buoyant energy that makes your feet want to move just by listening.

The production story—recording 17 songs in just four days—also conveys the band’s fresh, early-stage vitality.

The album Kyoiku earned Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan, achieving strong commercial acclaim.

It’s a true-to-life youth anthem that brings back the atmosphere of those days—humming along with friends after school in the classroom or on the way home.

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PolyrhythmPerfume

[Official Music Video] Perfume “Polyrhythm”

PolyrhythmPerfume

A signature track by Perfume, released in September 2007.

It was featured in NHK and AC Japan’s environmental campaign commercials, which brought it into living rooms across the country and became the catalyst for their breakthrough.

The lyrics cleverly layer themes of recycling and environmental awareness with romantic feelings, delivering a catchy yet deeply meaningful message, while Yasutaka Nakata’s innovative, multi-rhythmic production lingers in your ears.

In 2011, it was also used as an insert song in the film Cars 2, making it a widely loved track both in Japan and abroad.

It’s a surefire crowd-pleaser at girls’ nights and karaoke, where everyone can join in and hype it up together.

It carries a sense of nostalgia while still sounding forward‑thinking today—if you’re a woman of the yutori generation, you’ve probably hummed it at least once.

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In conclusion

I took a look back at a bunch of cute songs that the Yutori generation listened to during their youth.

When you hear those nostalgic melodies, the feelings and scenes from back then come vividly flooding back.

Why not add a favorite track to your playlist and relive those emotions once more?