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 (91–100)
Full-Power BoySukima Suichi
Isn’t it the privilege of youth to be able to give your all to anything? A popular song that embraces the beauty of going all out is Sukima Switch’s “Zenryoku Shonen” (“Full-Power Boy”).
Its sparkling sound perfectly matches the image of youth.
Even adults will be reminded of their own younger days, so it’s recommended for anyone who wants to look back on the past or for grown-ups who don’t want to forget their original spirit.
youthSukima Suichi
When you think of Sukima Switch, you might strongly associate them with beautiful ballads, but this song is a refreshing, youthful track that captures a love story much like those in their ballads.
Scenes of school life are depicted throughout the lyrics, and for adults who’ve already graduated, that alone might make your heart tighten with nostalgia.
What’s more, the lyrics portray a man who once confessed his feelings and was turned down, but still can’t give up and is trying to express his feelings once again.
Have you ever had an experience like that? It’s a song that can take you right back to your youth just by listening.
Farewell, YouthChatto Monchī
Chatmonchy, a two-piece rock band that has had a tremendous impact on the girls’ rock scene since 2000.
“Saraba Seishun,” included on their independently released album I Want to Be Chatmonchy, stirs the heart with its sentimental melody and ensemble.
The lyrics tell a story of realizing, just before graduation, that what once felt ordinary was actually special—something that may resonate both with those about to graduate and those for whom graduation is already a distant memory.
It’s an emotional number, with vocals carried by a relaxed beat that amplifies the bittersweetness.
Youth DiaryRyukku to soine gohan
Formed when the members were first-year high school students and based in Tokyo, Ryuck to Soinen Gohan is a band known for this track.
Many students have likely found courage in its lyrics, which strongly push young people to sprint through their youth with the message: “There’s definitely something only the current you can do!” In our school days, we tend to stop and dwell on things that, in hindsight, aren’t a big deal.
Perhaps the meaning of this song sinks in even deeper when you look back on it as an adult.
GraduationOzaki Yutaka
Yutaka Ozaki was a singer-songwriter who enjoyed overwhelming support from young people in the 1980s.
His representative songs include “I LOVE YOU” and “15 no Yoru (THE NIGHT).” The song “Sotsugyo” (“Graduation”) was released in 1985 as his fourth single.
It portrays adolescent distrust of adults, the search for one’s own worth, and a loneliness that can’t be shared with anyone.
Although it’s an old song for today’s teenagers, if you give it a listen, it will surely strike a chord.
boyhoodKaientai
It’s a masterpiece whose nostalgic imagery, so characteristic of Tetsuya Takeda, stirs the hearts of many.
As the theme song for the classic Doraemon film “Doraemon: Nobita’s Little Star Wars,” it has been loved across generations.
The boy’s heart woven through the gentle vocals embodies a profound worldview where anxiety and hope intermingle.
Is youth embarrassing, or is it youth if it’s embarrassing?Ryokushokushakai
A song by Ryokuoushoku Shakai that brilliantly captures the conflicts and radiance of adolescence.
Released digitally in July 2024, it was selected as the theme song for the ABEMA drama “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita: Summer Vacation 2024.” The feelings of cherishing each fleeting moment of youth—precisely because it is finite—are conveyed through clear, transparent vocals and a pop melody.
Carefully weaving together the complex emotions of adolescence, where embarrassment and earnestness coexist, this piece will resonate with anyone who wants to live fully in the present.
It’s an uplifting track that cheers on your youth and leaves your heart feeling refreshed.