Boost your new life and new school term! A top pick of encouragement songs that connect to the future

AdventureNEW!YOASOBI

YOASOBI "Adventure" Official Music Video

This work captures the exhilaration of stepping from an ordinary day into something special.

Its refreshing melody evokes the arrival of spring, and ikura’s buoyant vocals make your heart dance! Created as the theme song for Universal Studios Japan’s “UniHaru,” it was based on Nao Aoi’s novel “A Sparkle Through the Lens.” Released digitally in February 2023, it was later included on the EP THE BOOK 3.

If you’re on the verge of a new life or a new school term and want to take a little courageous adventure, this is the perfect pep song.

It helps you make memories with friends and gives you a push to take that first new step!

At all times.NEW!Makihara Noriyuki

[Official] Noriyuki Makihara “No Matter What” (Music Video) [3rd Single] (1991) Noriyuki Makihara/donnatokimo [No. 1]

An anthem that reminds you of the importance of being yourself when you feel like you’re losing who you are.

The lyrics, which encourage you to walk the path you believe in without being trapped by others’ gazes, gently push you forward as you dive into a new environment.

Released in June 1991 as a single by Noriyuki Makihara, this classic has sold over 1.67 million copies.

Written as the theme song for the film “No Problems on the Employment Front,” it was also selected as the entrance march for the 1992 National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament.

Its universally known melody continues to be loved across generations.

Take a break from packing—or play it on your first morning in your new home.

As you embark on a new life filled with both excitement and uncertainty, give it a listen.

uneven; bumpy; irregularNEW!Mayumura Chiaki

Chiaki Mayumura “Uneven” MV (Chiaki Mayumura New Song “Uneven” Music Video)

Have you ever felt like you were losing sight of your true self? This is the song I want you to listen to at times like that, sung by Chiaki Mayumura.

It’s a soothing track that affirms the bumpy, uneven parts within you as precious individuality.

It was produced in July 2024 as the CM song for NEC’s job-hunting support campaign “I’m Unstoppable—Move Forward!” and later included on the album “Ufufu,” released in November 2024.

Its boundless imagination blows away that urge to play it small.

Hard Knock DaysNEW!GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE

GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE / “Hard Knock Days” Music Video (Short Version) — with lyrics

This song by GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE features a powerful rock sound that really gives you a strong push forward.

Released as a single in August 2015, it’s well known as the opening theme for the hugely popular anime One Piece! Capturing the hearts of many—peaking at No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart—it’s also included on the classic album SPEEDSTER.

With a new chapter of life, a new school term, or changes in your environment, it’s easy to feel anxious when the obstacles ahead seem towering.

In those moments, this pep song gives you the indomitable courage to rise again and again.

Why not give it a listen as an energy boost to charge toward your dreams?

Burn!Fuji Kaze

Fujii Kaze – MO-EH-YO (Official Video)

Singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii, who continues to captivate many with his outstanding piano playing and vocals.

Released in 2021 as a Google Pixel commercial song and included on the album “LOVE ALL SERVE ALL,” this track is a fiery pep song that lights a spark in listeners’ hearts.

Many of you may remember his performance on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Its message—embracing even failures and embarrassment and urging you to move forward—will surely resonate deeply with exam-takers battling anxiety.

When your studies hit a wall or you need one last push, listening to it will fill you with energy from within.

far; distant; by farGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Haruka

I’d like to introduce a moving ballad where the loneliness of leaving home intertwines with a strong will to pursue one’s dreams.

This work by GReeeeN expresses gratitude to the parents who raised us, and every listen warms the heart by reminding us of family love.

Released in May 2009 as their 11th single, it’s also famous as the theme song for the blockbuster film “ROOKIES: Graduation.” By setting aside the rap parts to let the vocals take center stage, the song resonates deeply.

It’s perfect not only for students about to leave home, but also for adults who’ve long been out in society and want to recall their original resolve.

Highly recommended as background music for graduation season or for videos expressing thanks to someone special.

FanfareTamaki Kōji

Koji Tamaki “Fanfare” MUSIC VIDEO (Theme song for TBS Sunday Theater ‘The Royal Family’)

In the days you devote to studying for exams, don’t you ever feel a moment when your heart is about to break? That’s exactly when I want you to listen to a powerful track by Koji Tamaki, the singer-songwriter renowned for his overwhelming vocal prowess.

Released as a single in November 2025, this piece was chosen as the theme song for the TBS Sunday drama “The Royal Family.” Its lyrics, layered with memories of his childhood landscapes in Hokkaido and growing up alongside horses, teach us the importance of moving straight ahead as our true selves—not just chasing wins and losses.

Carried by a driving, exhilarating melody, his voice will warm you and give you a strong push forward through those anxious nights.