Japanese Pop Sakura Song Rankings [2026]

10-year cherry blossomsAKB4821rank/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.

Sakura MitsutsukiSPYAIR22rank/position

SPYAIR “Sakura Mitsutsuki (Short ver.)”

It’s a rock number that exquisitely blends wistfulness with a sense of speed, conjuring scenes of a spring night and falling cherry blossoms.

Its appeal lies not only in the loneliness of parting, but also in the strong resolve to move toward the future, giving listeners a powerful push forward.

Released as a single in March 2013, it became widely known as the opening theme for the popular anime Gintama.

It’s also included on the album MILLION, and stands as one of SPYAIR’s signature works, highlighted by their energetic performance and catchy melodies.

Perfect for this season of new beginnings, it’s the kind of song you’ll want to listen to while gazing up at the night sakura.

With heartbreakingly poignant lyrics, it’s especially recommended for those who have experienced farewells or departures with someone important.

Sakura, flutterSazan Ōrusutāzu23rank/position

Southern All Stars – Sakura, Hirari [Official Visualizer]

The new song by Southern All Stars features a heartwarming melody that evokes the arrival of spring.

With cherry blossoms as its motif, it carries a message of hope and renewal, and it’s truly wonderful.

Released as a lead single from the album “THANK YOU SO MUCH” on January 1, 2025, the track coincided with the first anniversary of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

Keisuke Kuwata’s warm vocals are accompanied by an acoustic guitar that feels like a spring breeze.

It’s a moving song you’ll want to hear during graduation and school entrance season.

I hope elementary school students will listen to it, too.

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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Even if we forget springaibii karaa25rank/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.