[Spring Songs] Classic and Latest Hit Collections Perfect for a Bright, Gentle Spring

Graduation PhotoArai Yumi

Graduation Photograph / Sotsugyou Shashin (2022 Ｍix)

When you’re feeling sad, you open an album and gaze at the photos, or you spot someone in town but can’t bring yourself to call out… It’s a classic by Yumi Arai filled with the bittersweetness of youth that everyone has felt at least once.

Released in February 1975 as a song provided to Hi-Fi Set, it was later included in Yumi Arai’s own album “COBALT HOUR” in June of the same year.

Since then, it has been used as the theme song for the film “Watch with Me” and in the drama “Sotsu Uta,” resonating across generations.

It’s a heartwarming song that gently stays by your side when you want to bask in nostalgia or when you’ve gone through a farewell with someone dear.

JourneyFuji Kaze

Fujii Kaze – Tabiji (Official Video)

A gem of a ballad by Fujii Kaze that likens life to a journey, wrapping reflections on past mistakes, the importance of learning, and an unchanging state of heart in his gentle, warm vocals.

It has a nostalgic atmosphere and a pleasant sound, as if you’re flipping through a photo album of your youth.

Released digitally in March 2021, the song was written as the theme for TV Asahi’s Thursday drama “Nijiiro Carte.” It is also included on the album “LOVE ALL SERVE ALL,” showcasing Fujii’s kindness and deeply human expressiveness to the fullest.

Highly recommended for anyone starting a new chapter in life or looking back on memories with dear friends.

SAKURA. I love you ?Nishino Kana

Kana Nishino - “SAKURA, I love you?” (short ver.)

Set against the backdrop of a beautiful spring scene with cherry blossoms dancing in the air, this pure and elegant song by Kana Nishino poignantly portrays a woman’s heart swaying between lingering feelings for a past love and the pull of a new romance.

Its delicate piano melody and crystalline vocals gently envelop the bittersweet memories of love that resurface with the arrival of spring.

Released in March 2012, the track was featured in Sony’s Walkman “Play You.” commercial and included on the album Love Place.

It’s a gem of a ballad perfect for a spring night, where the emotions wavering between memories revived under rows of cherry trees and complex feelings toward an ideal present lover resonate with the fleeting beauty of nighttime blossoms.

No NameASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

No Name

There are quite a few times when memories are preserved together with songs, aren’t there? This work by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION is a refreshing track that evokes the arrival of spring.

Masafumi Gotoh’s literary lyrics unfold a vivid world, hinting at the beginning of a new season.

Included on the album “Kimi Tsunagi Five M” released in November 2003, it captured the hearts of many fans as their major-label debut.

It’s the perfect song for those starting a new chapter in life, wrapped in the warmth of spring.

As springBlue Mash

Spring As Is – Blue Mash

This song by Blue Mash is a track that captures bittersweet feelings with the arrival of spring.

It portrays the ache of recalling an ex-lover and the sudden pangs of memory that surface in everyday life.

It’s the kind of song that makes you look back on your past—like high school days—triggered by its melody.

Included on their second EP, “Gakuseigai yori e.p.,” released in October 2022, it’s crafted into a bright, springlike piece.

Offering the courage to embrace a new season, this work is perfect for listeners eagerly awaiting spring and for anyone embarking on a fresh start.

1096Cody Rī (Ri)

Cody・Lee (Li) – 1096 (Music Video)

Released in June 2024, this song captures the anxieties and conflicts of youth.

Looking back on high school experiences, it portrays feelings of loneliness and regret by likening them to snow.

At the same time, it also sings about how meeting important people and discovering music became a source of salvation, which truly resonates with listeners.

Cody・Lee (Li)’s distinctive sound and Hibiki Takahashi’s down-to-earth lyrics are especially appealing.

It’s a perfect track for those jumping into a new environment in spring or anyone wanting to face their past self.

Listening to it during cherry blossom season may make it feel even more relatable.

Show me a dreamCö shu Nie

Cö shu Nie – Show Me a Dream (Official Video)

Cö shu Nie’s song “Yume o Misete” is a digital single released on September 28, 2022, depicting the separation of a couple.

Its delicate sound captures subtle emotional shifts, bringing the lyrical world into sharper focus.

The lyrics portray both the happiness of better times and the heartbreak and sadness of a love that has ended—something many listeners will likely relate to.

In particular, the first half of the lyrics includes an image of a cherry-blossom-lined street as a memory from those happy days; for those who spent a joyful spring only to later experience a breakup, it may resonate deeply.