A wonderful classic

What songs are popular among elementary schoolers? Well-known and sing-along favorites! [2026]

DancerFukkun:)Tatsuki Fukuda
Primarily active in Tokyo, I have experience as a backup dancer for artists, a music video dancer, and a commercial dancer. I continue to work as a dancer while also engaging in article production. After discovering Michael Jackson in junior high school, I began dancing in my second year of high school. Since starting dance, in addition to the J-Pop and Japanese rock I had been listening to, I began exploring Western R&B, rap, alternative music, and other tracks commonly used for dance. In elementary school, I spent three years in a choir, and because I love singing, I often go to karaoke for fun. These days, I enjoy a wide range of music, from Japanese rock and rap to K-pop.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

These days, you can listen to songs and watch music videos through various social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

Of course, many adults do, but I think a lot of elementary school kids watch them too.

This time, we’ll be introducing songs that are popular among elementary school students, as well as highly well-known tracks!

We’ve gathered plenty of songs that today’s elementary schoolers often hear—like dance numbers that blew up on social media and tracks used as theme songs for popular anime—so please read to the end!

If there are any songs you don’t know, be sure to give them a listen!

Now, let’s get started.

What Songs Are Popular Among Elementary School Kids? Well-Known and Sing-Along Hits! [2026] (41–50)

loveHoshino Gen

Gen Hoshino – Koi (Official Video)

loveHoshino Gen

A single by singer-songwriter Gen Hoshino, who is active across acting and music, and his ninth release.

It was used as the theme song for the TV drama “We Married as a Job!” (Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu), in which he also appeared, and became a hit thanks to the “Koi Dance,” a cover performed by the cast in the drama’s ending sequence.

With its lively tempo and dance, it became popular even among elementary school students, and the flood of dance cover videos posted by celebrities and many others turned the song into a social phenomenon.

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Hoshino Takashi

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What Songs Are Popular Among Elementary School Kids? Well-Known and Sing-Along Hits! [2026] (51–60)

Defeated Herokoron

【MV】Defeated Hero / Colon

Defeated Herokoron

This is a song released on May 29, 2019—Colon’s birthday—by Colon, the light blue member of the hugely popular kids’ entertainment group, Sutopuri.

It was specially written by fellow member Root as a birthday present, with lyrics penned by Colon himself.

The message is that a single failure isn’t the end; it’s okay to keep trying, fail, and grow stronger each time.

It’s a powerful cheer song, perfect for elementary schoolers who are about to take on all kinds of new challenges.

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horizonback number

back number – Horizon

horizonback number

It’s a tear-jerking rock ballad that washes away frustration and sadness.

The song is by back number, a three-piece band known for hits like “Takane no Hanako-san” and “Happy End,” and it was released in 2020.

In the same year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic that became a major social issue, the Inter-High School Championships were canceled.

This piece was written for the high school students who had been striving for that dream stage.

And it wasn’t only the high schoolers who were moved by the feelings woven into the song.

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tapestrySnow Man

Snow Man “Tapestry” Music Video

tapestrySnow Man

Snow Man’s eighth single, released in 2023, is “Tapestry.” It was selected as the theme song for the film “My Happy Marriage,” which marks Ren Meguro’s first solo lead role, and it reached No.

1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.

It’s a love song that sings about the “love” that connects two lovers, tying in with the film’s story.

The lyrics, passed from one member to the next, really strike a chord.

Be sure to give it a listen!

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Is there still anything that love can do?RADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Is There Still Anything That Love Can Do? [Official Music Video]

Is there still anything that love can do?RADWIMPS

Following the smash-hit 2016 film Your Name, this is the theme song for the movie Weathering with You, with music by RADWIMPS.

It’s a beautiful, moving ballad centered on the theme of love.

While the film is geared toward high school and college students, elementary schoolers who keep up with popular songs are likely already familiar with it.

RADWIMPS’ music is popular with people of all genders.

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Blue HabitatKitanitatsuya

Where Our Blue Is / Tatsuya Kitani

Blue HabitatKitanitatsuya

A heart-stirring number by Tatsuya Kitani that sings of the bittersweetness of youth and the regret over lost time.

His delicate vocals and refreshing melody evoke a deep sense of nostalgia.

The lyrics, which capture summer memories, are sure to resonate with many listeners.

Released in July 2023, the song drew major attention as the opening theme for Season 2 of the popular anime Jujutsu Kaisen.

It’s a track even anime-loving elementary schoolers will know—perfect for listening to on the way home from school or at dusk, coloring those fleeting moments of youth.

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Don’t give upZARD

Don't Give Up – ZARD (Full)

Don't give upZARD

A moving classic that just about everyone in Japan knows.

It’s one of ZARD’s signature songs and a track that had a major impact on the Japanese music scene.

Released in January 1993, it was used as the theme song for the TV drama “Reiko Shiratori de Gozaimasu!” and became a huge hit, propelling ZARD to the top.

Izumi Sakai’s clear, pure vocals and the heartfelt lyrics are captivating.

As an anthem that gives you the courage to face difficulties, it continues to be loved by many.

It’s a song that pushes you forward in all kinds of moments, from graduation ceremonies to sporting events.

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