AKB48 Youth Songs and Popular Tracks Ranking [2026]

You are the melody.AKB4815rank/position

[MV full] Kimi wa Melody / AKB48 [Official]

An anniversary song that can truly be called monumental, created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of AKB48’s formation.

Amid a dazzling sound that evokes the arrival of spring, a bittersweet melody tinged with nostalgia intertwines—doesn’t it make your heart flutter every time you listen? Released in March 2016 as their 43rd single, this track drew major attention for featuring legendary graduates like Atsuko Maeda and Yuko Oshima.

The vividly colored music video, directed by Mika Ninagawa and inspired by “Ōoku,” is striking, and the song was also widely known as the theme for GYAO! commercials.

Why not pick it for karaoke with friends reuniting after a while, or when you want to bask in fond memories?

Memory ScrollAKB4816rank/position

[AKB48] Memory Scroll Lyric Video / Yasushi Akimoto × AI Yasushi Akimoto

This song drew attention after an AI-written set of lyrics beat Mr.

Akimoto’s in the TV program “Yasushi Akimoto × AI Akimoto: AKB48 New Song Production Showdown,” aired in September 2025, leading to its release.

The lyrics vividly depict scenes of youth revealed as you pick up a long-forgotten phone from the back of a drawer and scroll through its screen.

The message says that tears shed from nostalgia become the light that guides you into tomorrow.

Experience a new era of music!

Baseless rumorAKB4817rank/position

[MV full] Ne mo Ha mo Rumor / AKB48 58th Single [Official]

A track that made waves on social media as the “insanely intense dance” song, featuring a fierce performance infused with lock dancing.

Today’s pick is AKB48’s 58th single, “Ne mo Ha mo Rumor.” Released in September 2021 with Nana Okada as center, it also has a music video set in a high school dance club.

The way it channels the anxiety of being buffeted by rumors into a breathless, driving beat is nothing short of stunning.

Its popularity is undeniable, topping the Oricon weekly chart.

It’s incredibly catchy—don’t overthink it, just let the rhythm take you.

Perfect for singing and dancing with friends when you want to savor that intense, club-activity-style youthfulness.

I want to become a cherry blossom tree.AKB4818rank/position

[MV full] Let's Become a Cherry Tree / AKB48 [Official]

A gentle medium-tempo ballad by AKB48 that portrays the beauty of spring and memories of graduation.

As it likens eternal love watching over those who set out on a new journey to a cherry tree, it warmly sings of the courage and hope to take the first step forward.

Depicting the touching image of young people heading toward a bright future while carrying their anxieties, this work was released in February 2011.

It was used as the theme song for the drama “A Letter from the Cherry Blossoms” and also gained attention as a CM song for UHA Mikakuto.

With a message perfect for graduation season and a gentle melody line that evokes the arrival of spring, it will wrap you in the desire to revel in cherished memories.

Cherry Blossom BookmarkAKB4819rank/position

[MV full] Sakura no Shiori / AKB48 [Official]

Beloved as a graduation song by AKB48, this heartwarming piece uses cherry blossoms as a motif to depict partings and new beginnings.

Its chorus-style melody blends beautifully with Yasushi Akimoto’s emotionally rich lyrics, leaving a deep impression on listeners.

Released in February 2010, the song also gained major attention as the theme for the TV Tokyo drama “Majisuka Gakuen.” It’s a perfect track for graduation ceremonies and the season of farewells, ideal for those who cherish friendships or are about to take a new step forward.

Like cherry blossom petals, why not listen with hope for the future in your heart?

Cherry blossom petalsAKB4820rank/position

AKB48 – Cherry Blossom Petals

This is AKB48’s debut song.

Starting with a school bell chime, it was always performed at AKB48’s milestone events.

The phrase “sakura no hanabira-tachi” (cherry blossom petals) is lovely, and the chime sounds sprinkled throughout are very emotional.

Graduation of Unrequited LoveAKB4821rank/position

Unrequited Love Graduation (Team K Ver.)

Let me introduce an AKB48 number that marks the passage of time at graduation and portrays an unspoken one-sided love.

Released in March 2007 as part of Team K’s 3rd Stage “Nounai Paradise,” it’s a song that has been passed down in theater performances.

You can laugh within your circle of friends, yet say nothing in front of the person you like as graduation day draws near.

Those bittersweet feelings are carefully spun over a gentle, mid-tempo melody.

Rather than flashy production, the arrangement treasures the afterglow of the words, quietly seeping into the listener’s heart.

This work captures a moment of youth swaying between the fear that love might end unfulfilled and the desire to express your feelings anyway.

It’s a number we recommend not only to those about to graduate, but also to anyone who wants to remember who they were back then.