Ranking of Popular Choral Songs [2026]

Thank youikimonogakari43rank/position

Ikimonogakari 'Arigatou' Music Video

This is Ikimonogakari’s 18th single, written as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series Gegege no Nyobo.

Released in May 2010, it won an Excellence Award at the 52nd Japan Record Awards.

The lyrics, which tenderly portray the love nurtured in everyday life and gratitude toward those dear to us, resonate deeply.

The warmth conveyed by holding hands and the hope for a shared future are expressed through a gentle melody that warmly embraces listeners.

In the 2013 school year, it was included as a choral piece in high school music textbooks, and it has also become a popular staple for graduation ceremonies.

It may feel a bit embarrassing to put into words, but this song is perfect for conveying thanks to the teachers, friends, and family who have supported you.

Why not sing it to express your honest feelings along with your memories of junior high school life?

the world of dreamsHashimoto Yoshiji44rank/position

[Chorus] The World of Dreams (Mixed Chorus: Three Parts)

Composed by Yoshiji Hashimoto, this piece paints beautiful scenes of nature while singing of memories and hope for the future.

Set to a gentle melody in C major, the lyrics resonate as they look back on the past and give courage to take a step forward into what lies ahead.

Created in the late 1970s, the work has had its sheet music published by Kyoiku Geijutsu Sha and Ongaku No Tomo Sha, and it is also included in junior high school music textbooks.

It’s recommended not only for elementary school students preparing for graduation, but for anyone about to embark on a new chapter in life.

Why not sing it with hope for the future in your heart, while recalling the bonds with friends and the joyful days you shared?

hometownarashi45rank/position

“Furusato” choral piece / Arashi / All parts / With full lyrics – for part practice Covered by Singer micah

This is a J-pop ballad that expresses gratitude for the land where one was born and raised and for heartwarming original landscapes.

With its warm melody at a relaxed tempo and an arrangement that gains depth when voices are layered together, this captivating piece was performed by the national group Arashi and premiered at the 61st NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in December 2010.

It was later selected as the set piece for the 80th NHK National School Music Competition in 2013 and used as the ending theme for the drama “Hajimari no Uta,” and it is included on the album “Japonism,” released in October 2015.

It’s recommended for moments when you want to unite hearts with your classmates while resonating with beautiful harmonies.

If you sing it on a school festival stage, it’s sure to be etched deeply in your heart as a precious memory.

The world is smiling at you.Little Glee Monster46rank/position

Little Glee Monster 'The World Is Smiling at You' Short Ver.

An upbeat melody and powerful harmonies make this a heart-pounding track! Beloved as one of Little Glee Monster’s signature songs, it was released in August 2018 and quickly became a hot topic after being featured in a Coca-Cola commercial.

With themes of “smiles” and “positivity,” it sings about the world smiling upon you.

The lyrics, brimming with hope for a bright future, are perfect for weddings to celebrate the newlyweds’ new beginning.

If everyone claps along and sings together, the venue is sure to be filled with happiness!

Believesakushi:tanikawa shuntarō/sakkyoku:matsushita kō47rank/position

Believe (Lyrics: Shuntaro Tanikawa, Music: Koh Matsushita)

“Shinjiru” (Believe), with lyrics by the poet Shuntaro Tanikawa and music by Ko Matsushita, is a choral piece well worth the challenge for junior high school students.

It was composed as the set piece for the Junior High School Division of the 71st NHK All-Japan School Music Competition.

The lyrics, which celebrate believing in yourself and trusting those around you, are perfect for students who, on their way to adulthood, are beginning to experience various uncertainties.

Although the first half unfolds at a relaxed pace, the character shifts dramatically in the middle section, making that transition a difficult point.

The latter half then returns to a similarly calm section like the beginning, so as you sing, be sure to feel the shifts in melody and lyrics that unfold within a single piece.

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COSMOS48rank/position

[Choral Piece] COSMOS / One Singer per Part [Astonishing Quality with a Small Ensemble]

The choral pieces that students sing with heartfelt emotion at junior high school graduation ceremonies have a power that lingers in the heart.

Among them, “COSMOS,” arranged by Yutaka Tomizawa, is especially recommended.

Written and composed by Mimas and released by Aquamarine in 1999, the song later became a beloved choral piece at many schools.

Its beautiful melody, arranged in E-flat major, and lyrics that evoke the vastness of the universe offer hope and deep emotion for the new journey that graduation represents.

Why not sing the moving “COSMOS,” a piece truly fitting for this milestone?

ultramarineOda Miki49rank/position

Ultramarine (Gunjo)

This song was born in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Students of Odaka Junior High School and music teacher Miki Oda were involved in its creation, and the CD was released in September 2014.

The lyrics express feelings for friends separated by the disaster and the connection with beautiful nature.

You can feel the emotions of overcoming sorrow and seeking hope.

It is often sung at graduation ceremonies and choral competitions, and has been passed down as an important song that conveys the memory of the disaster and the wish for recovery.

It is sure to resonate in the hearts of elementary school students stepping into a new environment.