High School Students’ Favorite Bands Ranking [2026]

summer festivalWhiteberry64rank/position

NatsuMatsuri

A coming-of-age love song that portrays a summer festival night spent with a sweetheart in a yukata.

Interwoven with nostalgic scenes like goldfish scooping and sparklers, it captures, in a true-to-life way, the frustration of being unable to confess one’s feelings, the pangs of regret, and the fleeting nature of young love.

Released as a single in August 2000, it became a major hit, peaking at No.

3 on the Oricon weekly chart.

Its sweet-and-sour lyrics and sound make it perfect for school cultural festivals where students are in the thick of youth.

To tell you the truth,yangusukinii65rank/position

Young Skinny – Actually, You Know, [Official Music Video]

Young Skinny’s “Hontou wa ne,” released in 2022, is a track also included on the album “I Thought Anything Would Be Forgiven If I Turned It Into a Song.” The gentle atmosphere—like letting out hidden feelings and one’s own vulnerabilities—comes through in the sound as well.

With a calm tempo and a structure that layers each phrase, the piece is perfect for practicing the finer techniques that articulate those phrases.

It may be important to play each note with certainty, yet with a sense of lightness, aligning your breathing with one another as you perform.

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kappamaki

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READY STEADY GOL’Arc〜en〜Ciel66rank/position

【L`Arc~en~Ciel】READY STEADY GO

Released in 2004 as the 22nd single, it was used as the opening theme for the second season (Episodes 14–25) of the MBS/TBS anime Fullmetal Alchemist.

Due to its popularity and ability to energize crowds, it has become a staple in live performances.

Sora-buneTOKIO67rank/position

Sora-fune (Sky Ship) – TOKIO (Full)

TOKIO elevates a song written and composed by Miyuki Nakajima—imbued with a powerful message—into their own distinctive rock sound.

This gem of a track portrays a strong will and courage to chart one’s own course in life without handing the helm to others.

Released in August 2006 as their 35th single, it was used as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “My Boss My Hero.” It topped the Oricon singles chart and won the Lyrics Award at the 48th Japan Record Awards.

Widely embraced across generations, the song’s structure also makes it easy to perform on school festival stages.

With its dramatic progression and catchy melody line, it’s a piece that lets you fully savor the thrill of live performance.

I miss you.UVERworld68rank/position

UVERworld 'Yearning for You'

The song with heartbreaking lyrics about breaking up with a lover in pursuit of one’s dreams is UVERworld’s “Koishikute.” Released in 2008 as their 11th single, it’s a ballad where vocalist TAKUYA∞’s voice really resonates with the heart.

From the gentle opening verse to the powerful chorus, the sound is compelling as well.

The way the distance grows between lovers because of prioritizing work and time with friends feels very real.

If you’re currently in unrequited love, once your feelings come true, make sure to devote plenty of time to your partner.

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Hamada Takuya

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frecklesJUDY AND MARY69rank/position

Freckles – JUDY AND MARY (Full)

JUDY AND MARY, a rock band that led the Japanese rock scene in the 1990s and continues to be loved across generations even after disbanding.

Their 1996 release “Sobakasu” is a recommended number for light music club members confident in their performance and vocals.

It was chosen as the first opening theme for the anime Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story and became a major hit.

While featuring a pop and cute melody line, it also lets you enjoy technically skilled playing.

Pay attention to the lyrics that perfectly match YUKI’s girly vibe.

If you want to energize your school festival with a fast-paced song featuring female vocals, give it a try!

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mutō

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LOVE ROCKETSThe Birthday70rank/position

The Birthday – LOVE ROCKETS [MV] (Opening theme song of the film “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK”)

This is the opening theme of the film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK, which was released in December 2022 and became such a major topic that it could be called a social phenomenon.

The song was crafted by The Birthday, with Yusuke Chiba—who has long been active in Japan’s rock scene—on guitar and vocals.

It’s a rock tune with a dark atmosphere, characterized by Chiba’s husky, cool voice.

If your band’s vocalist has a husky tone, this is definitely a song you should try.

Also, since the intro layers the bass, drums, and guitar one by one, it could work well in a live setting to open the show with this track and have the members enter the stage one at a time.

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Hane Keisuke

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