![[2026] A lineup of next-generation artists! Autumn songs we want people in their 20s to hear](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/o3m7OqT8IhY/maxresdefault.webp)
[2026] A lineup of next-generation artists! Autumn songs we want people in their 20s to hear
When people in their twenties are asked about songs that evoke autumn, what tracks come to mind? Many in their twenties—who likely came of age around 2010—are close in age to artists often labeled as the new generation.
Autumn songs tend to have many sentimental themes, and you may find yourself resonating in real time with the emotions of the artists who created them.
So this time, we’re introducing autumn songs we recommend for people in their twenties.
We’ve also included the latest releases, so take a moment to soak them in and savor the season.
[2026] A Lineup of Next-Generation Artists! Autumn Songs 20-Somethings Should Hear (1–10)
Summer-colored FireworksSnow Man
A medium-tempo ballad where the beautiful tones of piano and strings gently evoke the days of a summer now gone.
The lyrics, infused with a touch of late-summer melancholy and gratitude toward a loved one, perfectly suit the sentimental air at the start of autumn.
This track is included on Snow Man’s single “SERIOUS,” released in July 2025, from a group renowned for their breathtaking performances that captivate many.
While the title track serves as the theme song for a film starring member Shota Watanabe, this song—despite being a coupling track—has earned high popularity for the way the delicate voices of all nine members intertwine in harmonies that truly resonate.
How about listening to it on a contemplative night as you look back on your summer memories?
osmanthus (fragrant orange osmanthus; sweet olive)natori
Set on an autumn night scented with fragrant olive, this song portrays people’s lives.
Natori’s distinctive whispery vocals delicately capture the night sky, the scent of osmanthus, and the end and beginning of the night.
The lyrics, themed around faint longing and escape, as well as comfort amid sorrow and pain, are sure to resonate deeply with listeners.
Released digitally on August 25, 2023, the track is also included on the album “Gekijō,” released on December 20 of the same year.
It’s a sentimental pop tune you’ll want to listen to alone on a long autumn night.
a balmy autumn daytsukuyomi
The works of Tsukuyomi, the music project led by Vocaloid producer Yuri Kannon, are truly captivating in how deeply story and music are intertwined.
Released in August 2024, this song is set against a fleeting tale from the original novel about the meeting of a sick girl and a boy.
What’s striking is how a bright, refreshing sound carries a poignancy like the clear air of autumn, letting the protagonist’s feelings—cherishing the present in the face of an inevitable parting—resonate deeply with listeners.
The track is also included on the mini-album “We Call That God.” If you listen on a long autumn night when you’re in a sentimental mood, you’ll find yourself even more drawn into the world of its story.
DearMrs. GREEN APPLE
Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, the rock band that has continued to dominate the J-POP scene with unwavering popularity since Phase 2 began in 2022.
Released in May 2024, this song was written as the theme for the film “Dear Family.” The lyrics, filled with a straightforward devotion to a precious someone, resonate gently and deeply—especially when listened to in the autumn season, when we tend to long for connection.
The grand, beautiful melody line and the powerful ensemble of the band’s sound further elevate the irreplaceable love portrayed in the lyrics.
It’s a warm yet emotional rock tune that makes you rediscover the happiness found in everyday life.
Masquerade RhapsodyHatsuboshi Gakuen
Hatsuboshi Academy, brought to life by FAKE TYPE.’s high-tension sound, is irresistibly captivating.
This track, which casts a bewitching glow over an autumn night, is an electro dance number set at a Halloween party.
Its rapid-fire development feels almost like a spell being cast.
The lyrics convey the exhilaration of a protagonist who, emboldened by their costume, frees their heart for one extraordinary night.
The song serves as an event track for the game “Gakuen Idolmaster: Hatsuboshi Academy,” and in November 2024 the CD album Season Solo Collection Vol.
3 “Masquerade Rhapsody” was also released.
It’s perfect for those who’d rather spend a thrilling night than sink into sentimentality.
Try putting it on as party BGM when you gather with friends and let the excitement run wild!
MapleŌmori Motoki
On long autumn nights, do you ever feel a touch of loneliness? Embracing that sentimental mood is a duet featuring singer-songwriter Miku Motomatsu, crafted by Motoki Omori, frontman of Mrs.
GREEN APPLE.
Included on his solo EP “Midnight,” released in August 2021, this track captures the delicate emotional shifts between a man and a woman so vividly it feels like they’re unfolding right before your eyes.
The bittersweet mix of anxiety and anticipation when you arrange to meet someone you like may resonate with your own experiences as you listen.
It’s a heartwarming number that was also chosen as the theme song for an ABEMA dating show.
chantAdo
With its lively beat and exotic sound, the track perfectly matches Ado’s overwhelming vocal power and captivates listeners.
Released digitally in September 2023 as a collaboration song for Universal Studios Japan’s Halloween event “Halloween Horror Nights,” it became a major hit.
Its highly message-driven lyrics celebrating diversity and freedom have resonated especially with the younger generation.
It’s an energetic EDM tune that’s guaranteed to get the crowd going at karaoke.
C.O.S.M.O.S. ~Cosmos (Autumn Cherry Blossoms)~Sandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
A song that beautifully captures the changing of the seasons has been delivered by Sandaime J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE.
Inspired by cosmos flowers, this piece is filled with the unique charm of the group, combining both delicacy and strength.
Released in October 2014 as their 14th single, the track captured the hearts of many fans.
The world it creates—woven from crystal-clear vocals and emotional dance performances—evokes the very essence of autumn scenery.
With lyrics that sing of love and the beauty of nature, it is sure to resonate deeply with listeners.
It’s perfect to listen to alone on a long autumn night or to share with someone special.
If you want to feel the autumn breeze in your heart, be sure to give it a listen.
NonfictionSaucy Dog
Saucy Dog is a three-piece rock band known for relatable lyrics and emotive vocals.
Released digitally in January 2022, this track candidly expresses a heart swaying between ideals and reality.
The opening dives straight in without an intro, and the driving beat exceeding 200 BPM seems to amplify the protagonist’s impatience.
With lyrics portraying the melancholy of comparing yourself to others in the season scented with fragrant olive, it’s likely to resonate with many people in their twenties.
The song was chosen as the theme for the WOWOW original drama “Ryunosuke Kamiki’s Day Off” and is included on their 6th mini-album, “Sunny Bottle.” It’s a rock tune that accompanies a sentimental autumn—one to play when you’re struggling with being yourself.
100 Things That Hasten AutumnThe Otals
A track by the shoegaze duo The Otals with a pleasantly nostalgic sound reminiscent of 2000s indie pop.
The subtle emotional shifts we all experience—anxiety about the passing seasons and unease with the “public-facing” self we present in a new life—are delicately rendered through shimmering guitars and dual male-female vocals.
Everyday snapshots pair with bittersweet melodies to tighten the listener’s chest.
The song appears on the EP “The 100 Things,” released in February 2025.
The fact that it was created right after their first live show in August 2024 speaks to the band’s momentum at the time.
It’s the perfect number for an autumn night when you’re feeling lonely and want to sink into a sentimental mood.