Timeless Ballads to Enjoy in Spring: From Classics to the Newest Hits, All in One Guide

GraduationKobukuro

Kobukuro “Graduation”

It’s a graduation song by Kobukuro.

Released in 2020 as their 31st single, it has such a clear theme that you might assume it was tied to something—but it actually wasn’t.

The duo created it with the hope that it would be sung at graduation ceremonies.

The lyrics carefully trace memories leading up to graduation day, and listening to it during graduation season really grabs your heart.

It’s the kind of song that will likely make you feel nostalgic when you listen to it while watching the cherry blossoms.

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cherry blossomKobukuro

Anri Kumaki – “Sakura” (cover of Kobukuro’s “Sakura”)

They are a musical duo formed in 1998, consisting of Shunsuke Kuroda and Kentaro Kobuchi.

With numerous hit songs like “Tsubomi” and “Koko ni Shika Sakanai Hana,” they are beloved by all generations.

“Sakura,” released in 2005 as their 12th single, was used as a TV drama theme song and won the Gold Award at the 47th Japan Record Awards.

It’s also a karaoke staple—familiar and easy for everyone to sing.

A masterpiece befitting spring, it’s a moving song you’ll want to listen to again and again.

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Kobukuro – Tsubomi

A song written as the theme for “Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad.” Despite being unusually long for a single at over six minutes, there’s no slack in any phrase—once again a testament to Kobukuro’s strength.

The lyrics, which seem to depict the love between parent and child, take on diverse meanings depending on the listener, and I think that very diversity resonated neatly across generations.

Many people will be starting life away from their parents this spring.

If you feel lonely, listen to this song—it will surely lift your spirits!

After the FlowersHitoto Yo

Hitoto yo – Hana no ato 2010.02.25

Yo Hitoto’s song “Hana no Ato” delicately portrays love, parting, and the feelings that accompany a new beginning.

Chosen as the theme song for a film starring Keiko Kitagawa, it has a gentle, unhurried melody that evokes the charm of old Japan.

Like the flow of the Yura River, it sings of life’s transience and beauty, resonating deeply with those who have experienced farewell.

Debuting in 2002, Hitoto won the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist with “Morainaki.” In 2004, “Hanamizuki” became a major hit and one of her signature songs.

It’s a track that makes you want to listen while strolling along a petal-strewn riverbank, feeling the arrival of spring.

FlowerNaka Kousuke

Koji Nakamura “Hana” Music Video 2016 ver.

Combining gentleness and strength, this song was released in April 2007 as Takashi Nakagawa’s third single.

It was also featured in a commercial for Satsuma Shuzo’s sweet potato shochu “Satsuma Shiranami,” winning the hearts of many.

Nakagawa, a native of Amami Oshima, conveys the beauty of living like a flower through his soft, soothing voice.

It’s perfect for the spring season of farewells and new encounters, and will surely give you the courage to take a new step forward.

How about listening to it for graduation ceremonies or the start of a new chapter in life? Its heartfelt lyrics and melody are sure to give you a gentle push.

It was spring, wasn’t it?yoshida takurou

It Was Spring... Takuro Yoshida

A timeless masterpiece that rides on the spring breeze and resonates in the heart.

Featured on the 1972 album “Genki Desu.”, this song is known as one of Takuro Yoshida’s signature works.

Its lyrics delicately depict scenes of a lost spring and the emotions woven into them, leaving a lasting impression.

Set to a nostalgic melody, it reminds us of the preciousness of time gone by.

It’s especially recommended for listening in spring—the season of new encounters and farewells.

Fond memories and unforgettable loves are sure to come rushing back.

It’s a song that will stay by the side of anyone facing life changes, such as graduation or moving.

SAKURA DropsUtada Hikaru

Hikaru Utada – SAKURA Drops

Hikaru Utada’s “SAKURA Drops,” released in 2002, is a song that also served as the theme for a drama of the same name.

While springtime cherry blossoms often make us feel light and excited, the blossoms at night or as they fall can evoke a sense of melancholy and leave us feeling sentimental.

This song perfectly matches those emotions—an ideal number to listen to while gazing up at the cherry blossoms at night.

The theme is love; at first you might think it’s about romance in cherry blossom season.

But if you listen closely, the lyrics also prompt reflection on how our feelings change over the course of a year and on the way we live.

Pay attention to those words.

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