Japanese Music Entrance Song Rankings [2026]

Hajimari no Uta ~The Distant Sky Clears~ikimonogakari36rank/position

Ikimono-gakari “Hajimari no Uta ~The Distant Sky, Clear~” Live 2010 (Short Version)

A gem from Ikimonogakari that cheers on the start of a new life filled with dreams and hope.

Opening the album “Hajimari no Uta ~Tooi Sora Sunde~,” this track debuted at No.

1 on the Oricon charts in 2010 and held the top spot for three consecutive weeks.

With its refreshing melody and moving lyrics, it gently encourages those feeling uneasy in a new environment.

Its story—realizing you’re in the midst of your dream and that it’s okay not to have all the answers—will resonate with new students whose hearts are a mix of anticipation and anxiety before the entrance ceremony.

A heartwarming song that gives courage to everyone taking a new step forward.

SunMy Hair is Bad37rank/position

My Hair is Bad – Sun

It’s a heartwarming cheer song that gives you the courage to face the brilliance of youth.

The lyrics paint springlike scenes, beautifully capturing the hopes and anxieties of those taking a new step forward.

With My Hair is Bad’s characteristically powerful rock sound and warm vocals, it gently gives listeners a supportive push.

Released in March 2024, the song was written as the official MBS theme for the 96th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (Senbatsu).

It’s a track I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone starting a new chapter or about to take an important step.

Brimming with hope, it conjures up the sound of brass bands echoing across the field and the sight of young people giving their all.

horizonback number38rank/position

back number – Horizon

A gem of a track by back number that gently stays close to your heart whenever you hit a wall in life.

Even amid the despair that feels like your dreams and hopes are collapsing, the lyrics portray the journey of looking inward and eventually finding light—sure to move you deeply.

This song is also known for being created in August 2020 for high school students after the Inter-High Championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While affirming frustration and sorrow, it gives a sense of the view that awaits beyond overcoming them.

As you step into a new world at graduation, you may feel anxiety or loneliness.

In those moments, this song will wrap your pain in its embrace and give you the quiet courage to take that first step.

paprikaFoorin39rank/position

[Paprika] Dance Music Video | Foorin × Kenshi Yonezu | NHK

“Paprika,” a song that gained popularity across generations and was also performed at the 2019 NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, features choreography known as the Paprika Dance.

Its charming, catchy moves helped spark the song’s success.

It’s a delightful and nuanced tune that you can enjoy singing and dancing to with family, friends, or teachers—perfect for any occasion.

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Murakami Shinpei

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BlessingYOASOBI40rank/position

YOASOBI 'The Blessing' Official Music Video (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Opening Theme)

Close your eyes, and it’s as if those fluttering high school feelings come rushing back—YOASOBI’s anthem of youth etches itself deeply into the heart.

Brimming with forward-looking energy, this work weaves a rich celebration of the joy and pride in living true to yourself, with the theme of life’s important choices.

Rather than riding along rails set by someone else, the strength to carve your own path—together with Ikura’s soaring vocals—shakes the soul.

Released in October 2022, this song was used as the opening theme for the TV anime Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury and is also included on the album THE BOOK 3.

It’s a cheer song that brings courage and hope to everyone standing on the threshold of enrollment and about to take a new step.

sparkleFuji Kaze41rank/position

Fujii Kaze – Kirari (Official Video)

Singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze had been attracting attention even before his official debut, posting videos on YouTube from a young age in which he arranged songs across various genres.

His eighth digital-only single Kirari, written for the Honda VEZEL commercial, is the track that brought his name to a wide audience.

Its refreshing ensemble and catchy melody, which feel like a tailwind at your back, blow away anxieties about a new chapter in life.

It’s a modern dance tune with a driving four-on-the-floor beat that lifts your spirits.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Spring Dayaimyon42rank/position

Aimyon – Harunohi [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Created as the theme song for an animated film about a honeymoon, this piece delicately portrays a loving married couple.

The story of two people starting a new life together—recognizing each other’s strengths and weaknesses and deepening their love as a family—delivers a wonderful message that encourages a fresh step forward in life.

With this song released in April 2019, Aimyon gently captures the world of the anime film Crayon Shin-chan: Honeymoon Hurricane – The Lost Hiroshi.

Memories beginning on a train platform and the feeling of cherishing small everyday joys resonate warmly alongside the gentle melody.

It’s a song we especially recommend to anyone embarking on a new chapter of life.

Even while holding anxieties about the future, it gives you the courage to move forward one step at a time—why not listen to it together with someone special as an uplifting anthem?