Also great for karaoke with friends! Youthful songs that hype up the Reiwa era
In the past, “youth songs” often brought romantic themes to mind, but in recent years more songs have portrayed youth in a variety of ways.
Of course, youth and romance are inseparable, but there’s been a rise in broader takes on youth songs—tracks about friendship or songs that evoke club activities, for example.
So this time, we’re introducing youth songs released in the Reiwa era.
They’re the kind of tracks that not only lift your spirits just by listening, but also get everyone hyped when sung together at karaoke.
Be sure to check them out!
- Packed with everything from friendship to romance! Youth anthems recommended for Gen Z
- Easy-to-sing youth songs for karaoke: recommended classics and popular hits
- Bright friendship songs recommended for high school students. A collection of hype-up tracks.
- [Clubs, Friendship, Romance] Youth songs middle schoolers should listen to
- An anthem for your 30s. Beloved and popular songs that are both heart-pumping and heart-fluttering.
- Colorful coming-of-age songs perfect for autumn listening
- [For adults too] Youth songs that let you look back on your memories
- [Classic & Latest] Famous and Popular Songs That Sing of Youth
- Friendship songs recommended for high school students: classic and popular J‑pop hits
- Idol Songs from the Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa Eras: Classic and Latest Hits That Light Up Karaoke
- A roundup of youth-themed songs recommended for high school students
- Recommended for high school students! Fun, crowd-pleasing songs for karaoke
- Emotional friendship songs recommended for high school students
Also great for karaoke with friends! Youth songs that enliven the Reiwa era (41–50)
Bye, my friendbokula.
This song is marked by a melody and lyrics that gently envelop the warm memories of friendship.
Included on bokula.’s mini-album “Living by Your Side.” released in May 2022, it conveys the universally shared experiences of parting from friends and reminiscing, all in a heartwarming mood.
The melody is refreshing yet emotionally rich, resonating deeply with listeners.
Heard in spring—the season of graduations and farewells—it brings an even keener sense of the preciousness of days gone by.
With a comfortable sound that fuses pop and rock, the melodic lines carefully portray the value of each fleeting moment spent with friends and the enduring strength of bonds that never change.
It’s a recommended track for those who have experienced farewells with loved ones or who want to reaffirm the beauty of friendship.
FRIENDS!!!imase
Imase’s new song, which portrays long-standing friendship and its changes with a pop sound, is gaining buzz, especially among younger listeners.
It gently conveys the beauty of friendships that don’t fade with age—even amid the awkwardness of a long-awaited reunion—through tender vocals, and stands out with its groovy rhythm and richly arranged instrumentation.
Released in February 2025 as the theme song for the collaborative project “Everyone’s Concert” by the live communication app Pococha and Yamaha Corporation, the track also inspired a special video featuring a performance with over 120 musicians.
It’s a perfect pick for meeting an old friend or reminiscing about cherished memories with someone close.
Friendswacci
This warm, gently drawn song about everyday life with friends is a single released by wacci in March 2020.
It was selected as the opening theme for the TV anime “Uchi Tama?! Have you seen my Tama?” and was written and composed by guitarist Keiji Muranaka.
The lyrics shine a light on the small, ordinary moments of each day and the unchanging routines, carefully weaving bonds with friends and brimming with a kindness that resonates in the heart.
The melody is lively and pleasant, striking a perfect balance with the slightly bittersweet lyrics to create a superb track.
It also works wonderfully as a theme song for school or cultural festivals—an uplifting, heartwarming anthem that colors a page of youth spent with friends.
Last teenYuika
It’s a coming-of-age song that captures the feelings right before turning twenty.
Created by the singer-songwriter Yuika, it was released in January 2025.
The lyrics are filled with a mix of emotions—anxiety and anticipation about becoming an adult, and a nostalgic longing for the innocence we had as children.
Her true-to-life vocals are wonderful, which is why each word slips so naturally into your heart.
It’s perfect not only for teens, but also for adults who want to reminisce about the past.
It’s the kind of song you’ll want to listen to with friends or a partner, making you cherish this very moment.
Marigoldaimyon
Released in August 2018, this is a tender coming-of-age love song woven by Aimyon’s gentle vocals.
Its acoustic sound, though simple, draws out deep emotions, perfectly harmonizing with lyrics that capture the fragility and beauty of love.
The music video, filmed in rainy Shanghai, is also striking; under the direction of Tomokazu Yamada, it expands into an even more poetically rich world.
It’s a recommended track for those moments when you want to quietly look back on the time spent with someone precious in your everyday life.
Melancholy Cherry Blossomsatarayo
Atoyoi’s graduation ballad beautifully portrays the feeling of wishing to reunite someday in the same place, while savoring familiar scenery and bittersweet memories.
It expresses the emotion of how an ordinary spring landscape suddenly feels special as the moment of parting draws near, through a gentle melody and emotionally rich lyrics.
Released in March 2023, the song tenderly accompanies listeners with vocals and sounds that are at times heartrending and at times warm.
It’s a track for those taking a new step with the arrival of spring, and for anyone experiencing a farewell with a dear friend.
Bring it on, spring.non
Non’s new song is a refreshing youth-empowerment anthem that celebrates the arrival of spring.
Bursting with runaway energy and a heartfelt message, it features lyrics that gently give listeners a supportive push.
Released digitally in January 2025, the track had already been popular at live shows.
It’s recommended for anyone looking for a boost at the start of spring or a new chapter in life.
In the music video, Non appears as a member of a student band to capture the spirit of youth; her school-uniform look is striking and sure to lift viewers’ spirits.