[University Students] Popular Japanese Music / J-POP Rankings [By Generation]

horizonback number22rank/position

back number – Horizon

Back number is a rock band famed for poignant love songs that depict the complexities of relationships.

Their 2021 release “Suiheisen” (Horizon) is a song that honors those who worked hard for the day of their sports festival.

It was written for high school students who had aimed for the 2020 Inter-High, which was canceled.

The lyrics, brimming with realism around themes of “dreams” and “goals,” are deeply moving.

With a warm, mid-tempo band sound, it resonates across generations.

It’s the perfect song to applaud not only the athletes who took first place, but everyone who took part.

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mutō

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RPGSEKAI NO OWARI23rank/position

SEKAI NO OWARI「RPG」

SEKAI NO OWARI’s “RPG,” perfect for a closing ceremony, has a good tempo and is also recommended for the exit march.

It’s a song that will let you feel fulfilled and accomplished after taking part in the sports day with your classmates and having fun together.

In the end, the entire venue will surely become one, with everyone holding hands for a moving moment.

The powerful vocals and the band’s performance make it a song that sends encouragement to children stepping into the future.

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mayumi

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KanadeSukima Suichi24rank/position

Sukima Switch – “Kanade” Music Video : SUKIMASWITCH / KANADE Music Video

This song is also famous as one that someone always sings when you go to karaoke.

It was used as an insert song in the film “Rough,” the theme song for the third night of Fuji TV’s four-night drama series “Sotsu Uta,” and as the ending theme on the final day of the 2006 broadcast of “Netto Koshien.” Although it was released in 2004, it’s a timeless classic that still consistently charts in karaoke and greatest-songs rankings.

One moreFUNKY MONKEY BABYS25rank/position

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS “One More”

This is a ballad released in 2010 by Funky Monkey Babys, a hip-hop unit that delivers passionate feelings with a pop touch.

“Ato Hitotsu” always brings to mind that moving mass sing-along just before the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles clinched the Japan Series championship in 2013, and it really gets me choked up.

It’s about that moment when steady, step-by-step effort finally blossoms.

It’s an inspiring song that resonates across all sports.

At school sports days and athletic festivals, it cheers on hardworking friends, students, and our own children, and makes those emotional moments even more powerful!

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KEI

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Fanfaresumika26rank/position

sumika / Fanfare [Music Video]

An uplifting anthem that strikes a chord with its driving melody and bright lyrics! It’s a song that encourages a brave first step—from darkness into light, breaking out of your shell.

The invigorating sound alone gives you energy, and the storytelling—accepting your own weaknesses while stepping into a new world—is memorable.

This refreshing track, woven by sumika’s band sound, was released as a double A-side single in August 2018 and also drew attention as the opening theme for the animated film “I Want to Eat Your Pancreas.” It’s perfect for school festival dances, choirs, or band performances, and is sure to gently embrace the entire venue!

InfernoMrs. GREEN APPLE27rank/position

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Inferno

This song, used as the opening theme for the anime Fire Force, conveys a sense of speed from the very first drum beats and a feeling that something is about to begin.

In events where momentum is crucial—like cavalry battles—it will surely boost athletes’ motivation with a “Let’s go!” spirit.

In fact, the song encapsulates both transience and passion, asking what meaning we find in a life that will one day end and how we live with that awareness.

It’s an ideal track for spending your school days—a youth that will inevitably come to an end—with burning intensity.

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kojifumi

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As many times as you likeDREAMS COME TRUE28rank/position

DREAMS COME TRUE – “Nando Demo”

DREAMS COME TRUE’s “Nando Demo” has encouraged and energized countless people across Japan.

Chosen as the theme song for the third season of the drama “Emergency Room 24 Hours,” it was the most-played song on the radio in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

In the many practices leading up to the sports festival, there will be times when you feel fed up, get discouraged when things don’t go well, and repeat days like that.

But just like the song says, no matter what happens, if you keep facing forward and practice again and again, it will lead to success on the big day.

This song has the power to remind you of those painful days leading up to the festival and transform them into beautiful memories.

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SAKI

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