[Yutori Generation] Stylish, Youthful Anthems You'll Want to Listen To
For those born between 1987 and 2004—the so-called Yutori generation—music is synonymous with youth.
As listening habits shifted from CDs to streaming, iconic J-rock and J-pop songs helped shape a uniquely stylish culture through the streets, cafes, and social media.
Do you remember that song tied to your memories from back then? In this article, we’ll introduce tracks the Yutori generation encountered during their formative years—songs that still exude a chic vibe and continue to be loved today.
- Relive those feelings from back in the day! Youth anthems recommended for the Yutori generation
- [Yutori Generation] Looking back at the cute songs that colored our youth
- [Yutori Generation] Songs That Feel Emoi: Youthful Anthems That Stir Up Nostalgia
- Millennial Generation: Iconic Heisei-Era Songs That Defined Our Youth
- It cleanses the soul… Great J-pop songs recommended for the yutori generation
- Bittersweet feelings come rushing back! Recommended love songs for the Yutori generation
- Masterpieces that color the hot season! Summer songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- Recommended for the Yutori generation! Tear-jerking masterpieces from the J-pop scene
- Memories come flooding back! Graduation songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- Songs that move you to tears from the Yutori generation: Japanese music that shakes the soul
- [Yutori Generation] Heart-piercing, bittersweet songs & lyrics that touch the soul
- Just by listening, you’ll feel braver! Cheer songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- Iconic scenes overlap! Anime songs recommended for the yutori generation
[Yutori Generation] Stylish, Feel-Good Youth Anthems (1–10)
New Treasure IslandSakanakushon
The comical music video, reminiscent of retro Showa-era music programs, caused quite a stir.
The lyrics, which parallel a manga artist drawing lines with a pen and the struggles and joys of making music, are especially striking.
Many fans are moved by the earnest dedication to creation, as they aim for a yet-unseen destination.
Released in September 2015, the song was written as the theme for the film “Bakuman.” Among Sakanaction’s tracks, it remains beloved as an exceptionally catchy, danceable number.
Once you listen, your body will naturally start to move and you’ll feel like stepping to the beat.
It’s a perfect pick when you want to amp up a drive with friends or get the energy flowing at karaoke.
SUNHoshino Gen
Gen Hoshino is a singer-songwriter who also displays multifaceted talent as an actor and writer.
The work that helped him break into households nationwide is a stylish dance number that brilliantly fuses the groove of Black music with J-pop.
Its lyrics, which convey a positive life force directed at people struggling to live even as they feel like they’re about to break, can really lift your spirits.
Released as a single in May 2015 and included on the acclaimed album “YELLOW DANCER,” it also drew attention as the theme song for the drama “Kokoro ga Pokitto ne” (Crazy for Me).
It’s the perfect track for those moments when you can’t shake a gloomy mood or when you just want to start dancing without thinking.
Why not forget your everyday anxieties and let yourself be carried by the pleasant rhythm?
What is it? lolFuji Kaze
Singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze, who’s gaining attention for his unique style that fuses Okayama dialect with R&B.
Released in November 2019, his debut track deeply resonates with the generation that loves ’90s music.
Opening the album “HELP EVER HURT NEVER,” this number became a hot topic mainly on social media despite lacking a major tie-in, captivating many fans.
Give it a listen when you feel like you’re losing yourself, or when you want to relax at a stylish café.
[Yutori Generation] Stylish, Youthful Classics You’ll Want to Listen To (11–20)
PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism
A masterpiece that will go down in J-pop history, its lyrics grippingly portray the inner conflict of “I’m not worthy” in love and the unfulfilled wish that perhaps, in another timeline, they might have ended up together.
This song catapulted Official HIGE DANDism to stardom and was released as their second single in May 2019.
Written as the theme song for the film The Confidence Man JP, it also drew attention for its worldview, said to be inspired by Satoshi Fujihara’s favorite anime, STEINS;GATE.
Its bittersweet yet beautiful piano melody can lend a dramatic, stylish touch to a sunset drive or a quiet café moment alone.
Immerse yourself in the vocals that affirm the pain of unrequited love as a form of beauty.
Theory of evolutionRADIO FISH
This is a hidden gem by RADIO FISH, a dance and vocal unit formed around the comedy duo Oriental Radio.
Using biological survival competition as a motif, the lyrics pierce the heart with a call for resolve and self-reinvention to survive in today’s harsh society.
The electro beat and exhilarating, fast-paced sound will have your body moving before you know it.
Released as a single in April 2017, the track also aired in households nationwide as the song for Lotte’s ACUO commercial.
If you listen to it in moments when you want to break through your current situation or change yourself, it will surely give you strong courage.
It’s perfect for recharging your energy—reset your mind and start running again when you’re stuck at work or studying.
Tokyo FlashVaundy
An early masterpiece by Vaundy that stylishly captures the loneliness hidden in the bustle of the city and the fleeting nature of relationships.
The fact that the music video surpassed one million views just two months after its release in November 2019 speaks to the impact it had at the time.
Featured as an insert song in ABEMA’s “Koisuru ♥ Shūmatsu Homestay” 2021 Spring Tokyo, it was also included on the album “strobo,” and continues to captivate many listeners today.
Lyrics that struggle to gauge the distance between two people and metaphors hinting at dire situations seem to reflect both the light and shadow of urban life in the listener’s heart.
Its groovy sound is perfect for night drives and walks—an ideal track for when you want to sink into a sentimental mood.
I want to see you.iri
Singer-songwriter iri, who distills jazz and hip-hop through her own unique sensibility.
Nurtured since before her debut, this track—featured on her November 2017 EP “life ep”—is a love song that truly represents her.
Based on a true story, the lyrics vividly portray lingering feelings and heartache after a breakup, and if you listen alone late at night, they’re sure to sink deep into your heart.
The mellow beat and her husky vocals perfectly match the urban nighttime atmosphere.
On a sleepless night, why not soak in its stylish, bittersweet afterglow?