[Spring Songs Recommended for People in Their 30s] Carefully Selected Nostalgic Classics & Big Hits

Sakura, Bloom!NEW!arashi

ARASHI – Sakura Sake [Official Music Video]

Loved by many as a springtime cheer song even today, this is a number by the national pop group Arashi, released in March 2005 as their 14th single.

It’s also well-known as the CM song for Jonan Prep School, featuring Sho Sakurai.

Riding on a refreshing rock sound, the lyrics express a strong will to push forward into the future, making it a track that fills you with courage just by listening.

The rap part penned by Sakurai further heightens the song’s sense of speed.

Also included on the album “One,” this piece blows away anxiety and powerfully pushes the backs of those running toward their dreams.

It’s an energetic classic that we want not only exam takers but everyone stepping into a new environment to hear.

road; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)NEW!EXILE

EXILE / Road

If there’s one song that comes flooding back with memories of graduation ceremonies, it has to be EXILE’s 23rd single.

Released in February 2007, this ballad paints a picture of gratitude toward friends who shared those youthful days and the bittersweet feeling of setting out on a new path.

Carried by lyrical strings and piano, the lyrics look back on days that can never return, resonating deeply in the heart.

In addition to being featured in MTI’s “music.jp” commercial and serving as the opening theme for Nippon TV’s “Music Fighter,” it was also chosen by the National Karaoke Operators Association as a recommended song for graduation season.

It topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and became the 1,000th song in Oricon history to reach number one—an especially memorable single.

Even many years after its release, it remains a staple graduation song sung as a choral piece at schools nationwide.

When spring arrives and you want to recall the scenes of those days, this is a track to press play on gently.

YELLNEW!ikimonogakari

Ikimono-gakari “YELL” Music Video

Let us introduce one of Ikimono-gakari’s signature spring songs that brings back memories of holding back tears while singing at graduation ceremonies.

Included on their 15th single released in September 2009, this track was written specifically as the set piece for the junior high division of NHK’s National School Music Competition.

Amidst a grand sound woven by piano and strings, Kiyoe Yoshioka’s clear, pure vocals seep into the heart.

The lyrics are striking in that they portray parting not only as sorrow, but as an important first step toward pursuing one’s dreams; the protagonist’s determination to move forward while accepting their own weaknesses is deeply moving.

Its warm message—that the bonds with your friends will never fade no matter how far apart you are—will stir your heart every time you listen.

The fact that it became the group’s first No.

1 on the Oricon chart shows how profoundly it resonated with many people.

When spring arrives with its mix of anticipation and anxiety for a new chapter in life, give this song a listen to feel a gentle push at your back.

cherry blossomNEW!Kobukuro

Kobukuro “Sakura”

A renowned ballad that evokes a tender, bittersweet feeling along with the gentle warmth of spring.

Released in November 2005 as Kobukuro’s 12th single, it became widely beloved as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Ns’ Aoi.” Cherished and performed since their indie days, this song also serves as an important opening number on the album “NAMELESS WORLD.” Its lyrics, which layer the subtleties of life onto falling flower petals, have been highly praised for their literary quality—so much so that they were included in a high school textbook—and the beautiful resonance of the Japanese language deeply touches the heart.

It is a springtime standard that continues to be loved, gently accompanying not only those embarking on a new chapter, but also anyone who wishes to pause and reflect on the past.

March 9NEW!Remioromen

Remioromen – March 9

A classic by Remioromen with a warmth that makes you pause amid the passing seasons and reaffirm the bonds with those you love.

Its lyrics, which speak of the trust you feel for someone whose presence appears behind your closed eyelids and the joy of dreaming together, resonate deeply with listeners.

It was originally created to celebrate a friend’s wedding, but after being used as an insert song in the 2005 drama “1 Litre of Tears,” it became a staple for graduation season as well.

Released as a single in March 2004, it’s also included on the acclaimed album “ether.” A nostalgic tidbit is that Maki Horikita appeared in the music video before her big break.

It’s the kind of song you want to listen to in spring, as you take a new step forward and think of someone you want to thank.

Come, spring.NEW!Matsutōya Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya – Come, Spring

There are few songs that so beautifully capture the feeling of the winter chill loosening as we quietly await the approach of a new season.

Many of you may remember that this was Yumi Matsutoya’s 26th single, released in October 1994, and that it came into living rooms every morning as the theme song of an NHK morning drama.

With cumulative sales topping 1.16 million and a No.

1 spot on the Oricon charts, it was a massive hit.

Guided by the gentle resonance of the keyboard, the melody blends Japanese sensibility with a contemporary pop aesthetic, while the lyrics—interwoven with a classical, literary cadence—are so accomplished they were even included in Japanese language textbooks.

Rather than swelling into something flashy, it’s a song that slowly seeps into the listener’s heart.

Keep it close at the threshold of spring, when you carry both hope for a new chapter and a hint of unease, or on a night when you want to quietly revisit memories with someone dear.

Sakura (Solo)NEW!Moriyama Naotaro

Naotaro Moriyama – Sakura (Solo)

A quintessential piano ballad by Naotaro Moriyama that I can’t help but want to listen to when I sense the arrival of spring.

Released as a single in March 2003, it has become a timeless graduation anthem loved across generations.

Originally written to celebrate a friend’s wedding, the song conveys not only the sadness of parting but also the resolve to set off into a new world.

At the time of its release, it drew attention as the ending theme for “Sekai Ururun Taizaiki,” and many will remember it being rearranged in 2019 as the theme song for the drama “同期のサクラ” (Sakura, Our Cohort).

Moriyama’s solo vocal style resonates deeply, moving listeners and gently giving them a push forward.

In this season when meetings and farewells intersect, why not take your time to bask in it while reflecting on your cherished memories?