Popular Spring Songs Ranking [2026]

Daphne (winter daphne)DISH//92rank/position

DISH// – Sweet Daphne [Official Video]

This mid-tempo track gently gives a push to backs filled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety as a new season arrives.

DISH//, who have cemented their place as a dance-rock band, co-wrote this piece with Hattori from Macaroni Enpitsu.

It was used in October 2021 as the theme song for the drama “The Winner in February: The Classroom of Certain Success” and released the following month as their 14th single.

The lyrics carry a warm message: even when you feel like running away, there’s always a place to come back to—words that lighten the hearts of those about to leap into a new world.

Set to a march-like beat, it’s a cheer song that gives you the courage to move forward, one step at a time.

If your chest is tight with nerves before the entrance ceremony, be sure to give this a listen.

You’ll find the courage to believe in the self that has worked so hard up to now and to take a brand-new step forward.

YELLikimonogakari93rank/position

Ikimono-gakari “YELL” Music Video

Let us introduce one of Ikimono-gakari’s signature spring songs that brings back memories of holding back tears while singing at graduation ceremonies.

Included on their 15th single released in September 2009, this track was written specifically as the set piece for the junior high division of NHK’s National School Music Competition.

Amidst a grand sound woven by piano and strings, Kiyoe Yoshioka’s clear, pure vocals seep into the heart.

The lyrics are striking in that they portray parting not only as sorrow, but as an important first step toward pursuing one’s dreams; the protagonist’s determination to move forward while accepting their own weaknesses is deeply moving.

Its warm message—that the bonds with your friends will never fade no matter how far apart you are—will stir your heart every time you listen.

The fact that it became the group’s first No.

1 on the Oricon chart shows how profoundly it resonated with many people.

When spring arrives with its mix of anticipation and anxiety for a new chapter in life, give this song a listen to feel a gentle push at your back.

Song of the WheelsBUMP OF CHICKEN94rank/position

BUMP OF CHICKEN 'Song of the Wheels'

It’s the ninth single, released in 2004, and it’s also included on albums like Yggdrasill and present from you.

The arrangement differs depending on the CD it’s on.

The song is about a close friend who’s going far away, and its lonely lyrics really hit home.

a May flyRADWIMPS95rank/position

RADWIMPS – May’s Flies [Official Music Video]

They cemented their status as a band thanks to the massive hit of Zenzenzense, the insert song from the blockbuster film Your Name.

In contrast to the fresh, clean-cut image many associate with RADWIMPS, May’s Fly is a track with a slightly different vibe.

When it was released, its extreme lyrics became a hot topic on social media and the internet.

The lyrics relentlessly mock and tear down the other person—singing it at karaoke might take a bit of courage…

It’s a song to note not only for its eerie atmosphere but also for its artistic cover art.

road; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)EXILE96rank/position

EXILE / Road

If there’s one song that comes flooding back with memories of graduation ceremonies, it has to be EXILE’s 23rd single.

Released in February 2007, this ballad paints a picture of gratitude toward friends who shared those youthful days and the bittersweet feeling of setting out on a new path.

Carried by lyrical strings and piano, the lyrics look back on days that can never return, resonating deeply in the heart.

In addition to being featured in MTI’s “music.jp” commercial and serving as the opening theme for Nippon TV’s “Music Fighter,” it was also chosen by the National Karaoke Operators Association as a recommended song for graduation season.

It topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and became the 1,000th song in Oricon history to reach number one—an especially memorable single.

Even many years after its release, it remains a staple graduation song sung as a choral piece at schools nationwide.

When spring arrives and you want to recall the scenes of those days, this is a track to press play on gently.

Sakura, You, and Ituki.97rank/position

tuki. 'Sakura Kimi Watashi' Official Music Video

This is the third single by singer-songwriter tuki., who enjoys immense support for their delicate lyrics and expressive vocals.

Released in January 2024, some listeners may remember it being used as an insert song in the romance show “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita.

Graduation Edition 2024.” Set to a gentle acoustic guitar melody, the lyrics depict a bittersweet farewell and a fleeting love alongside scenes of cherry blossoms.

It portrays the sense of loss felt at major turning points in life and how past memories are etched deeply in the heart, making it a ballad that tightens your chest as you listen.

How about using it as spring BGM to enhance an Instagram Reel featuring beautiful cherry blossom scenery?

Sakura (2019)Moriyama Naotaro98rank/position

Naotaro Moriyama – “Sakura (2019)” Music Video

Singer-songwriter Naotaro Moriyama, known for his unique personality and frequent appearances on variety shows.

“Sakura (2019),” used as the theme song for the TV drama ‘My Coworker Sakura,’ is a rearranged version of his second single “Sakura (Dokushō),” one of the pioneering cherry blossom songs in the J-pop scene.

The lyrical melody, with its distinctive falsetto that heightens the sense of poignancy, instantly evokes images of graduation ceremonies.

With its dramatic piano and string ensemble that stirs the heart, it’s a quintessential graduation song.

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Hoshino Takashi

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