[Middle School Students] Popular Japanese Songs / J-POP Rankings [By Generation]

Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE1rank/position

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Blue and Summer

Brimming with the sparkle and exhilaration of summer, this piece is perfect as BGM for sports days and athletic festivals.

Created by Mrs.

GREEN APPLE, it was released in August 2018 as the theme song for the film “Aonatsu: 30 Days of Love.” It was later included on the album “Attitude.” Its refreshing band sound and a worldview that captures the brilliance of youth are the song’s key charms.

Overflowing with energy that gives listeners a push forward, it boosts the motivation of students practicing hard for the big day.

How about playing it during relays, cheer battles, and other moments when you want to heat up the field? It’s sure to become a cheer that resonates in the hearts of those working up a sweat.

HarukaYOASOBI2rank/position

YOASOBI 'Haruka' Official Music Video

A moving work spun from the story of a mug that has watched over someone’s half a lifetime.

In YOASOBI’s music-led tale, the mug sometimes illuminates life’s milestones and at other times gently embraces small moments of growth.

Everyday scenes sprinkled throughout vividly reflect the bittersweetness of partings and growing up that everyone experiences.

Released in December 2020, this work is based on Osamu Suzuki’s novel “Tsuki Ouji” (Moon Prince).

It has also been featured as the commercial song for Takara Tomy’s LCD care toy “Puniruns” and as the image song for “Art Aquarium 2021 — Hakata: Festival of Goldfish,” garnering support from a wide audience.

It is a song that stays close to those who have parted with a cherished memento or who are facing a farewell with someone dear.

A Little Love SongMONGOL8003rank/position

MONGOL800 / A Small Love Song

The classic song “Chiisana Koi no Uta” is still loved by many people today.

Although it’s an older track released in 2001, it’s a curious song that continues to be highly popular among younger generations.

I think many current junior high school students also know this song.

The opening part sits very low in the register, so many people may feel it’s difficult.

However, that low delivery is primarily a vocal choice to make it sound good; if you’re aiming for a high score in karaoke, songs like this one with lots of low notes can actually be easier to sing.

Find the key that suits you and give it a try.

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Ryo

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If you laugh at the skywacci4rank/position

wacci “If You Laugh at the Sky” Music Video

wacci is a rock band that delivers music that fits seamlessly into everyday life.

Their song “Sora ni Waraeba,” included on the 2018 album Gunjō Refrain, empowers people striving toward their dreams and goals.

The lyrics unfold like a portrait of days spent working hard with classmates toward a school sports festival.

Even when things get tough, you can picture everyone overcoming it together.

With a warm band arrangement incorporating beautiful strings, it’s a moving song that resonates with the heart.

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mutō

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horizonback number5rank/position

back number – Horizon

A gem of a ballad delivered by back number, a band that captures listeners’ hearts with poignant lyrics.

Beginning with a gentle piano melody, this song weaves a story about the pain of dreams and hopes suddenly collapsing, and the will to look forward and begin anew.

Many will find their own experiences reflected in the raw, urgent feelings—like a cry for one’s existence—born from unnoticed loneliness.

Created for high school students whose Inter-High was canceled, the song was released on YouTube in August 2020.

It’s a classic that quietly stays by your side when summer fun has passed and a faint loneliness sets in.

Only for you, clear skiesYorushika6rank/position

Yorushika – Just Clear Skies for You (MUSIC VIDEO)

This piece is included on the second mini-album released in May 2018, “Losers Don’t Need an Encore.” It’s a nostalgic portrayal that recalls summer scenes spent with someone special, and it tightens your chest as you listen.

It depicts a protagonist who, while growing up, feels the anxiety of falling behind and carries feelings they can’t put into words—something that will surely resonate with junior high school students in the midst of their youth.

Despite the heartrending lyrics, the refreshing tone and melody offer a sense of relief, making it an emotional number.

lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE7rank/position

Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Lilac” Official Music Video

A high-velocity guitar rock track that vividly captures both the radiance and the shadows of youth! Released by Mrs.

GREEN APPLE in April 2024, this song was written specifically as the opening theme for the TV anime “Oblivion Battery.” It became the fastest in the band’s history to surpass 100 million streams and even won the 66th Japan Record Awards—a true classic.

As vocalist Motoki Omori has said, he created it with the feeling of an answer song to their hit “Ao to Natsu,” and it gives you the courage to move forward by affirming even your past self and your anxieties.

Try listening to it on the morning of your entrance ceremony as you slip into your new uniform, syncing with your pounding heartbeat.

You’ll surely feel your heart grow lighter, thinking, “I’m fine just the way I am!”