Songs that lift your spirits and keep you going tomorrow: energizing recommendations for the Yutori generation
There are times when you just can’t muster any energy because of fatigue or stress.
Whether you’re a student or a working adult, tomorrow will arrive all the same, and you’ll have to head to school or the office.
Of course, even for homemakers, there are days when you’re overwhelmed by daily tasks and can’t put on a cheerful face.
So this time, I’ve put together a list of songs that will lift your spirits just by listening.
These tracks hit right in the sweet spot for the yutori generation in terms of release period, but I hope people of all ages will give them a listen.
- Just by listening, you’ll feel braver! Cheer songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- It cleanses the soul… Great J-pop songs recommended for the yutori generation
- Just listening will lift your spirits! Energetic and cheer-up songs that defined the Heisei era.
- Hype to the max! Party songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- Definitely when you want a boost of power! Energetic songs recommended for Gen Z
- Songs to listen to when you're feeling down. Recommended feel-good, uplifting tracks.
- Power songs that fill you with energy just by listening. Recommended classics and popular tracks.
- A collection of uplifting songs: positive tracks to support you
- Energizing songs recommended for women in their 50s
- Relive those feelings from back in the day! Youth anthems recommended for the Yutori generation
- Recommended for the Yutori generation! Tear-jerking masterpieces from the J-pop scene
- Uplifting songs recommended for women in their 40s
- A lineup of classic hits! Karaoke songs recommended for the yutori generation
Songs That Lift Your Spirits and Keep You Going Tomorrow! Uplifting Tracks Recommended for the Yutori Generation (21–30)
One moreFUNKY MONKEY BABYS
Released in August 2010 as the 14th single, this song was chosen as the cheer anthem for the 92nd National High School Baseball Championship.
Many of you will fondly remember Masahiro Tanaka appearing on the cover and in the music video.
The hopeful message—“If you can just hang on one more step, your dream will come true”—overlaps with the image of high school players striving toward their goals and resonates deeply when you hit a wall in work or life.
With a structure typical of Funky Monkeys, alternating rap and catchy melodies, it peaked at No.
8 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and remained on the charts for 47 weeks, becoming a long-running hit.
It’s a tear-jerking support song that we especially want those who are giving their all—or on the verge of giving up—to hear.
flying boatKing Gnu
This is a song by King Gnu—known for their distinctive musicality—that gives you a push when you want to break through the status quo and take a new step forward.
It carries a powerful message: don’t be bound by society’s conventions or ideas of correctness—embrace your past and future alike, and move ahead by your own will.
Monumental, stadium-shaking choruses fuse with earth-rumbling low-end to shake the listener to the core.
Released in August 2019, the track was also featured in an ANA commercial.
If you listen to it when you’re facing a major challenge or need to fire yourself up in the morning, it just might make you believe in limitless possibilities.
Eye to EyeSuchmos
Suchmos is a rock band that captivates listeners with their sophisticated groove.
Their sound, blending rock, jazz, and soul, is truly one of a kind.
This track sings of a strong resolve to move forward with one’s heart and pride.
Its message about the importance of believing in yourself resonates deeply, carried by a minimal yet high-energy ensemble.
It also overlaps with the band’s own resurgence, likely giving listeners a powerful push forward.
It’s included on the EP “Sunburst,” released in July 2025.
Perfect for getting fired up on your commute or psyching yourself up before a big moment.
An emotional anthem of encouragement, defined by a cool, urban sound.
Easy Breezychelmico
The high-speed beat and addictive back-and-forth rap make it a joy to listen to.
It’s a track by chelmico, the female rap duo of Rachel and Mamiko, released as a single in January 2020.
Chosen as the opening theme for the anime Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, it became a big talking point alongside its inventive animation.
The straightforward message—“Don’t worry about others; stay true to what you love”—gives a powerful push to anyone who hears it.
Centered on hip-hop with a playful sound, it’s a stylish pep song that blows away the blues and fills you with energy.
It’s also included on the album maze.
LOSERYonezu Kenshi
Kenshi Yonezu, a hugely popular singer-songwriter.
When this work was released, many people were probably surprised by the contemporary dance he showcased in the music video.
The edgy sound infused with hip-hop really pumps you up.
It carries a powerful message: if that’s the case, even a howl is fine—embrace it, and keep rolling forward even if it looks clumsy.
It gives you the courage to charge ahead with nothing holding you back.
Released in September 2016 as a double A-side single with “Number Nine,” it was also featured in 2018 as the song for a Honda JADE commercial.
It’s a rock tune you’ll want to listen to when you feel like you’re about to break or when you’re ready to take a new step.
March Toward TomorrowKuwata Keisuke
Written by Keisuke Kuwata in 2011, at a time when many people were anxious about tomorrow, this is a marching song of hope.
Its unadorned, simple sound centered on acoustic guitar seeps all the more deeply into the heart.
The lyrics carry a strong message to the disaster-stricken areas, and there is a verse that sounds as if it sings “in Tohoku,” a characteristically modest form of encouragement from Kuwata that is profoundly moving.
This warm number was released in August 2011 as part of a triple A-side single and was also used in an NTT Docomo commercial.
It’s a talisman-like song, perfect for those moments when you want just a little boost of energy or a gentle push on the back.
Happinessarashi
From the very first notes of the intro, this song overflows with a positive vibe that clears your mind.
Released in September 2007 as the 20th single by the national idol group Arashi, it also became widely loved as the theme song for the drama “Yamada Taro Monogatari,” starring members Kazunari Ninomiya and Sho Sakurai.
The lyrics, which speak to you and encourage you to start running forward while believing in the future even in difficult times, are truly captivating! Their straightforward and bright vocals deliver a powerful message, urging you to reach out and welcome tomorrow with your own hands.
Listen to it when you’re taking a new step or want to lift your spirits, and you’re sure to get off to a fantastic start!