Japanese Pop Sakura Song Rankings [2026]

After the cherry blossoms (all quartets lead to the?)UNISON SQUARE GARDEN22rank/position

UNISON SQUARE GARDEN 'After the Cherry Blossoms (all quartets lead to the?)' MV

The exhilarating sound and vocals might clear your mind in an instant! This track by the three-piece rock band UNISON SQUARE GARDEN was released in 2013 as their eighth single.

It was used as the opening theme for the anime Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta.

It’s got that signature sharp, punchy production that they’re known for—packed with highlights like crisp guitar cutting and a wildly active bassline.

The positive lyrics about “enjoying the moment” are truly empowering.

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Araki Jakkan

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10-year cherry blossomsAKB4823rank/position

[MV full] 10nen Zakura / AKB48 [Official]

A heartwarming AKB48 song that accompanies the season of graduations and farewells.

Its lyrics, depicting friends vowing to reunite in ten years, beautifully capture the universal loneliness of parting and the hope for the future.

Released in March 2009, the track became the group’s first to reach the Oricon Top 3.

It’s a gentle push for those taking a new step with the arrival of spring, and is also recommended as background music for send-offs and graduation ceremonies.

lightly; nimbly; flutteringlyŌhara Sakurako24rank/position

Sakurako Ohara – Hirari (Music Video YouTube ver.)

Sakurako Ohara’s “Hirari” evokes cherry blossoms blooming with a gentle smile.

Released in 2017, the song was chosen as the theme for the film “Let’s Go, JETS! From Small Town Girls to U.S.

Champions?!”.

Even as spring arrives and we go our separate ways, we’ll never forget the memories we shared and the cherry blossoms we saw together.

Whenever something happens, we’ll recall those happy times and keep pushing forward.

The lyrics portray turning that kind of friendship into strength to live boldly into the future.

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SAKI

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A happy promise.riria.25rank/position

riria. / A Happy Promise [Music Video]

A warm ballad that weaves together scenes from the cherry blossom season with a straightforward love for someone special.

It’s a song by Riria, a singer-songwriter who delicately captures the feelings of youth, and it opens her album “Kiseki,” released in January 2025.

It also drew attention as the opening theme for Season 2 of the anime “My Happy Marriage.” The lyrics are striking, expressing the joy of walking side by side with someone and a sense that even the fear of happiness breaking will fade away.

The way bonds deepen with the arrival of spring feels like watching a beautiful story unfold.

As your surroundings change with advancement to the next grade or graduation, listen to it while thinking of the friends and family you want to stay with forever.

Even if we forget springaibii karaa26rank/position

Ivy Color [Even If We Forget Spring] Music Video

Set against a flurry of cherry blossoms, this work poignantly portrays a scene of parting.

Ivy to Color’s delicate lyrics and nostalgic piano melodies seep deep into the heart.

Released in March 2019 as the single’s title track, it beautifully expresses both the hope that comes with spring’s arrival and the melancholy of farewell.

It resonates even more strongly when heard during graduation season or the start of a new chapter.

Recommended for anyone who has experienced parting with someone dear against a springtime backdrop, it stands as a signature piece that fully showcases Ivy to Color’s musicality.

cherrysupittsu27rank/position

Spitz / Cherry

It’s a classic song with a warm yet wistful melody that makes you feel the arrival of an exciting new season.

Its world depicting parting and new beginnings overlaps with the scenes of spring.

Released as a single by Spitz in April 1996, it’s also included on the album “Indigo Chiheisen.” Although it had no tie-in at the time of release, it became a million seller, and in 2019 it was used in an NTT East Japan commercial.

It’s a song I’d recommend to elementary school students facing big changes like graduation or new class assignments.

Why not take a new step forward with this piece, which can turn anxious feelings into courage?

Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi28rank/position

Yumi Matsutoya – Come, Spring

A tender, bittersweet portrayal of early spring, this gem by Yumi Matsutoya seeps into the heart.

Its lyrics, which beautifully harmonize nostalgia for days gone by, parting from a beloved, and hope for a new season, together with a universal melody infused with traditional Japanese elements, resonate deeply with listeners.

Featured on the album “THE DANCING SUN,” released in November 1994, and used as the theme song for an NHK morning drama series, this piece will gently stay by your side when you need courage to face hardships, when you long to reunite with someone dear, and when you await the arrival of spring.