A classic, bittersweet youth song. Recommended popular tracks.
It’s nice to take some time now and then to reminisce and get a little sentimental, isn’t it?
This time, I’ve gathered Japanese songs that sing about those passionate yet fickle days of youth.
I hope that by listening to these tracks, you’ll be able to say, “The past is the past!” and move on.
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Masterpieces of bittersweet youth songs. Recommended popular tracks (61–70)
Graduationgagaga supi
It’s a famous song, so I imagine many people know it.
It expresses the complicated feelings of parting and the ache of it in a straightforward, cool way.
It has a refreshing sense of racing forward.
There’s something quietly moving about the part where everyone sings the chorus together.
Live.CRAZY KEN BAND
“Life—just being alive is profit!” When I listen to this song by Ken Yokoyama, I start to feel that brooding over things is a waste of our limited time on earth.
It’s not a bossy “come on, try harder,” but more like, “I’ll always be by your side—I’m saved by you too, you know! So come on out into the world.” It speaks to you that way—what a wonderful piece.
It’s a track I especially want the younger generation to hear, from the 2007 album SOUL Denpa.
Young PeopleSanīdēi Sābisu
This is a song whose vocals seep into the heart like gentle sunlight, paired with a strikingly beautiful melody.
Through small everyday moments and scenery, it portrays the delicate emotions of adolescence—anxieties and conflicts about growing up, and the uncertainty of staying true to oneself.
The vocals are understated yet leave a deep afterglow, and the simple but richly expressive performance draws you into its world.
Released in April 1995 on Sunny Day Service’s major-label debut album “Wakamonotachi,” it has long been cherished as one of the band’s signature works.
It’s best enjoyed on a quiet night, alone with your thoughts.
You may find that the unspoken feelings in your heart are gently embraced.
Youth and a momentmakaroni enpitsu
This is a moving song that captures a single, poignant moment of youth that resonates with high school students.
It finds light in the monotony of everyday life and carries a message to cherish each fleeting moment that leads into the future.
Macaroni Enpitsu’s delicate vocals and emotional sound gently embrace the feelings of young people.
Released as a digital single in March 2019, the track was later included on the album “season,” released in September of the same year.
It was also written for a McDonald’s commercial, and the music video featuring actress Nana Mori drew significant attention.
The song was used as the opening theme for the TV Tokyo drama “Ano Ko no Yume wo Mitandesu.” For those feeling bored or lost, and for students in the midst of their youth, this is a song that inspires you to treasure the present moment.
ShipwreckNakamori Akina
Lyrics and music by Tokiko Kato.
Akina Nakamori covered it in 1984.
The arrangement is superb, as if the voice were resonating from the depths of the sea.
This work clearly shows that Akina Nakamori is an excellent singer in her interpretation and vocal delivery.
It’s a song truly worthy of the title “Diva.”
The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi
Yasushi Nakanishi is a singer-songwriter from Nara Prefecture.
“Saigo no Ame” (The Last Rain) is a single released in 1992 and is considered one of his signature works.
Its popularity spread gradually over time, making it a long-lasting hit.
His gentle, wistful vocals leave a strong impression.
BetelgeuseYuuri
This ballad by Yuuri beautifully portrays the bonds between people, using stars shining in the night sky as its motif.
Its warm lyrics, which liken encounters with loved ones and mutually supportive relationships to stars nestling close together, resonate deeply.
The emotional vocals, piano, and strings weave a grand sound that makes the message even more striking.
Released in November 2021, the song was written as the theme for the popular drama “SUPER RICH.” In October 2023, it achieved the milestone of surpassing 500 million total streams.
It’s a heartwarming piece perfect for moments when you want to feel the bonds with someone special from your youth or express gratitude to someone.