Popular Youth Songs Ranking [2026]

March 9Remioromen81rank/position

Remioromen – March 9

This is the third single by Remioromen, known for the massive hit of the winter classic Konayuki.

The song was used as an insert track in the TV drama 1 Litre of Tears and was officially announced as a piece created to celebrate a friend’s wedding.

Because of its lyrics, it’s often sung at graduation ceremonies, so many people in their twenties may have sung it at school.

The vivid, scene-evoking lyrics and the gentle, wistful melody resonate with the atmosphere of graduations and bring tears to your eyes.

It’s a masterpiece that inevitably makes you think of gratitude toward someone.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

Broken RadioTokunaga Hideaki82rank/position

Hideaki Tokunaga – The Broken Radio

Like music flowing from a nostalgic radio, a timeless song that seeps into the heart along with memories was created by Hideaki Tokunaga in July 1990.

The track, which overlays the feelings of a boy transitioning from adolescence to adulthood with the image of a broken radio, was used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Tokai no Mori” (“Urban Forest”) and reached No.

5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

Featuring a grand arrangement by Ichizo Seo and beautifully harmonized with Tokunaga’s delicate vocals, the song artfully blends elements of pop and ballad into a moving piece.

It was also included on the album “JUSTICE” and performed at NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2006 and 2009.

Conveying the transience and passion of youth, as well as a yearning for self-renewal, this work gently embraces the emotional fluctuations everyone experiences while growing up—a resonant song that speaks to the heart.

rivalShonan no Kaze83rank/position

Shonan no Kaze “Rival” MUSIC VIDEO

For high school baseball players aiming for Koshien, teammates striving for the championship together and players from rival schools they compete against are both invaluable.

Shonan no Kaze’s song “Rival” celebrates those comrades-in-arms.

It was chosen as the theme song by broadcasters for the 98th National High School Baseball Championship regional tournaments held in 2016.

The players from opposing schools, of course, are rivals, but so are the teammates who push each other to improve and compete for starting spots.

The members of a team that overcomes various obstacles to win at Koshien must have had the experience of a lifetime.

That determination and emotion are captured in “Rival.”

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hamada Takuya

Report a problem

We againSG84rank/position

Us, Again – SG (Official Lyric Video)

Singer-songwriter SG, a Japanese-Korean artist who gained popularity through TikTok and YouTube, released this song in April 2021.

Embraced as a “Reiwa-era graduation song,” it captured the hearts of younger listeners and surpassed 150 million streams.

The lyrics, which blend the loneliness of parting with the hope of reunion, resonate with people at life’s turning points, such as graduation or changing jobs.

In November 2024, a concert band arrangement was featured in Calorie Mate’s exam-season support commercial, and a collaborative production with the Blossoming Tokuei High School Wind Ensemble also drew attention.

Its simple “don-don-pa” rhythm makes it easy to sing and popular at school events.

It’s a perfect song for those facing farewells with someone important, as well as middle and high school students about to graduate.

spring melancholyMrs. GREEN APPLE85rank/position

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Spring Melancholy

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE delivers a deeply personal song written the day after a graduation ceremony.

It’s a heartwarming track that carefully weaves together the transience of youth and the preciousness of everyday life.

Set to a subtly wistful melody, it portrays time spent with friends in high school, the sadness of parting, and the difficulty of being honest with one’s feelings—beautifully capturing the complex emotions of adolescence that everyone experiences.

Released to the world in February 2018 as the B-side to the single “Love me, Love you,” it was also featured in a commercial for Suntory’s Craft Boss.

Embracing all who cherish everyday life, this work gently rekindles memories you want to keep tucked away in your heart.

It’s sure to resonate not only with high school students in the midst of their youth, but also with anyone who nostalgically looks back on their school days.