Emotional songs to listen to in spring: a collection of masterpieces that suit the season of meetings and farewells.

cherrysupittsu

Spitz / Cherry

A gem of a rock number with a refreshing melody that evokes the start of a new season and paints bittersweet memories of love.

Released by Spitz in April 1996, this song topped the Oricon chart in its fourth week and became a massive hit, selling a total of 1.613 million copies.

Its gentle, enveloping tune captures the sweet-and-sour memories of youth, while the members’ tight, cohesive performance weaves an exquisite harmony.

Masamune Kusano’s poetic lyrics portray a protagonist who accepts the end of a romance yet strives to move forward, resonating deeply with listeners.

It’s a song that quietly stays by your side as you carry the pain of heartbreak and still choose to step into the future.

oneselfNEW!Tani Yuuki

My True Self – Tani Yuuki [MV]

Singer-songwriter Tani Yuuki, who captivates many fans with his unique sensibility and melodic flair.

His song “Jibun Jishin,” which depicts the strength to believe in yourself and the anxiety of taking a first step in down-to-earth words, is an encouraging anthem that stays close to the listener’s heart.

Released in March 2022 as the web-exclusive CM song for UQ mobile’s “UQ Ouen-wari,” it is also included on the March 2023 album “Tamentai.” Spring is a season that brings both excitement for new surroundings and a sense of unease, isn’t it? Listening at such times, you may feel gently nudged forward by the kindness that affirms your wavering emotions as they are.

It’s a number we hope will be heard by those chasing their dreams and those standing at the starting line of a new life.

I don’t need it.NEW!Sakanakushon

I don't need it.

Sakanaction is a rock band that fuses literary lyrics with dance music.

Released for streaming in February 2026, this track was written as the theme song for the drama “Kochira Yobi Jieieiho?!” It opens with a scene shaded by light and shadow, then portrays a conflicted psyche—where rejection and fixation intermingle—set to a danceable beat.

Ichiro Yamaguchi’s word choices, known to span over 60 lyrical drafts at times, truly shine here, and the song will pierce deeply on spring nights when changes in the environment can make one feel lonely.

While harboring a sense of alienation, as if rejected by society, one still can’t help but seek connection somewhere.

Embracing those complex emotions, it nudges you forward by setting your body in motion—an emotional number you’ll want to listen to alone on a spring night.

globeNEW!Yonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Spinning Globe

Kenshi Yonezu, a singer-songwriter whose overwhelming songwriting prowess leads the music scene and garners high acclaim overseas.

This piece, written as the theme song for Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli film “The Boy and the Heron,” is a beautiful ballad imbued with respect for his own formative experiences.

The song, which reportedly took about four years to create, carries a strong resolve to forge a new path beyond the rubble, even while experiencing farewells with loved ones.

It became a hot topic upon the film’s release in July 2023 and is also included on the album “LOST CORNER.” It’s a track that deeply resonates with those who, in the spring when encounters and farewells intersect, move forward despite their anxieties.

The season of farewellNEW!SHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “Season of Goodbyes”

This track, which closes out the album SHISHAMO 2 released in March 2015, feels like it captures the bittersweet air of graduation season just as it is.

Many listeners will likely feel a tightness in their chests at the lyrics depicting unspoken feelings for a beloved upperclassman and the inevitable moment of parting.

Upon its release, it was selected as SPACE SHOWER TV’s POWER PUSH! and also drew attention as InterFM’s Hot Picks.

With a delicate band sound that conveys the sorrow of a love that ends without ever being confessed, it’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you want to soak in a sentimental mood as you feel the spring breeze, or on nights when you want to look back on precious memories.

Best friendNEW!Snow Man

Snow Man “Best Friend” Official Lyric Video

This song is included on the regular edition of the single “Dangerholic,” released in September 2023 by Snow Man, a nine-member idol group known for their acrobatics and dance.

It’s a heartwarming, mid-tempo friendship song that straightforwardly depicts gratitude to a best friend and an unchanging bond.

The lyrics express a heartfelt “thank you” to a friend who quietly nodded and stayed by one’s side during a time when everyday life was exhausting and the heart felt worn out.

Evoking a page of youth—like talking about dreams on the way home under a sunset—the words mirror the deep relationships among the members and are sure to move listeners.

The gentle melody layered with the voices of all nine members brings a sense of reassurance, reminding you that you’re connected even when apart.

It’s a modern classic you’ll want to listen to in spring, when life changes, as you think of your cherished friends.

FutabaNEW!aimyon

Aimyon – Futaba [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

This is a classic song by Aimyon that gently gives a push to young people carrying both anxiety and hope for the future.

Released in March 2022 as the theme song for NHK’s “Aimyon 18 Festival,” the track was written in response to the feelings of 1,000 eighteen-year-olds gathered from across Japan.

Opening her fourth album, “Falling into My Eyes Record,” it’s marked by a warm sound where acoustic guitar tones intertwine with strings.

The lyrics portray the confusion and joy of growing into adulthood, resonating with the feelings of spring as we leap into a new world.

It’s an encouraging, heartwarming anthem to play when you need the courage to start something new.