[High School Students] Popular Songs Ranking by Generation [2026]

peace signYonezu Kenshi29rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Peace Sign

A powerful song themed around challenge and growth makes the perfect cheer anthem to support practice for sports days and athletic festivals.

Included on the album BOOTLEG, released in November 2017, and chosen as the opening theme for Season 2 of the anime My Hero Academia, this track sings about the importance of moving forward by overcoming past failures and regrets.

With its bright, energetic sound, it fills listeners with courage and hope.

It’s sure to be a song that gives a push to everyone working hard toward their sports day or athletic festival.

MiracleGReeeeN30rank/position

GReeeeN – Kiseki

Released in May 2008, this song drew attention as the theme for the TV drama “ROOKIES.” Centered on the themes of the “miracle” of meeting a loved one and the “path” they have walked together, it conveys hope for the future and gratitude in straightforward words.

It was also chosen as the entrance march for the 81st National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament in 2009, gaining popularity as a cheer song that colors passionate moments of youth.

Its warm yet powerful melody will gently give you a push as you strive toward your goals.

to clear up (weather)Yorushika31rank/position

Yorushika – Haru (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

It is a story of hope painted with a translucent singing voice and a beautiful melody.

Through rain and sunshine, it expresses the joys and sorrows of life, and its powerful message—drawing strength from nature to keep moving forward—resonates deeply.

With n-buna’s delicate arrangement and suis’s fragile vocals in perfect harmony, the song is a remarkable piece.

Released in January 2024, it was chosen as the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and was also featured in a web commercial for Suntory’s gin SUI.

It is the perfect song for moments when you want to share the precious feeling of believing in the light ahead while sensing the changing seasons and life’s impermanence.

Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)Yonezu Kenshi32rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)

This is an evocative duet that overlays memories of the past with present emotions shared with a dear friend.

Kenshi Yonezu and Masaki Suda blend their voices to portray the innocence of a youth that remains unforgettable even in adulthood, as well as the way relationships change amid days of missing each other.

Included on the October 2017 album “BOOTLEG,” the song carries a wish to remain unchanged even while being swept up in daily life.

It’s truly a perfect track for school and cultural festivals, where friendship and bonds are key themes.

My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS33rank/position

RADWIMPS – Zenzenzense (movie ver.) [Official Music Video]

This is a RADWIMPS song created for director Makoto Shinkai’s animated film, singing of a fateful love that transcends time.

It’s a pop tune that conveys strength amid poignancy, marked by energetic guitar sounds and a driving, up-tempo rhythm.

Included on the album “Your Name.” released in August 2016, the track drew major attention alongside the film’s mega-hit success, and it’s also beloved as a staple at school festivals where everyone can get excited together.

If you simplify the guitar and drum rhythm parts, it can be enjoyed in performance regardless of skill level.

To Those Who Know the Blue of the Skyaimyon34rank/position

Aimyon – A Person Who Knows the Blue of the Sky [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A bittersweet youth love song filled with yearning.

Inspired by a film, Aimyon paints a track that conveys the ache of unrequited love alongside a faint glimmer of hope.

Released as a single in October 2019, it drew attention as the theme song for an animated movie of the same name.

The lyrics evoke a nostalgic look back at a love that has passed, gently wrapping you in feelings of heartache that everyone has experienced.

It’s perfect for high school students who want to listen while thinking of someone they like.

It’s great for quietly listening alone, and also for sharing with friends to reminisce about your youth.

one’s true feelingssumika35rank/position

sumika / Honne [Music Video] *Theme song for the 99th All Japan High School Soccer Championship

A song by sumika that directly expresses a universal inner conflict—“Maybe I should give up, but I really don’t want to!”—that everyone has felt at least once.

It was written as the official support song for the 99th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.

The dramatic arrangement woven by piano and band is striking, building from a quiet, introspective verse into a chorus where resolve crystallizes, stirring the heart.

More than just a typical cheer-up anthem, its appeal lies in portraying the determination to move forward only after first acknowledging one’s own weaknesses.

It’s perfect for high school students standing at the milestone of graduation, about to take a new step, reminding them of the immense importance of friends who strive alongside them.