[For adults too] Youth songs that let you look back on your memories

Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako

Unchanging Things

This is a piece with a beautiful piano melody, perfect for those summer evenings when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood.

Through the lyrics—almost as if a character in a film were speaking directly to you—feelings of nostalgia for irreplaceable days gone by and a deep, unwavering affection for someone precious, unchanged by time, come straight through via Hanako Oku’s clear, translucent voice.

If you’ve ever had those sudden moments when a memory rushes back and your chest tightens, this will really resonate.

The song is included on the single “Garnet,” released in July 2006, and can also be heard on the album “TIME NOTE,” released in March 2007.

It is also known for coloring some of the most moving scenes as an insert song in the feature-length animated film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

It’s a work I hope you’ll experience at least once in a summer filled with youthful memories—friendship, first love, and more.

Goodbyekariyushi 58

Kariyushi58 “Sayonara”

A four-piece rock band named after the Okinawan word meaning “auspicious/happy” and Japan National Route 58, Kariyushi 58, released this as their sixth single.

Chosen as the theme song for the TV drama Zenigeba, it’s catchy with its acoustic guitar over a shuffle beat and a driving, cascading melody.

Its message of expressing gratitude at the moment of parting reminds us how fulfilling our youth was.

It’s a pop tune that blends a sense of poignancy with refreshing uplift—one we hope people starting anew in a different place, carrying irreplaceable days in their hearts, will listen to.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Blown by the windElefanto Kashimashi

Elephant Kashimashi – Blown by the Wind [Official Video]

This is a coming-of-age song that portrays the premonition of parting and a turning point in life.

Hiroji Miyamoto of Elephant Kashimashi weaves his innermost feelings into lyrics that flow naturally.

Strikingly using the contrast between the sun and the moon to depict a journey of departure that stretches on forever, this work was released as a single in November 1997.

Selected from the album “Run Toward Tomorrow – Moonlit Songs,” it also became a memorable piece as the theme song for Glico Almond Chocolate’s commercial.

It’s a track you’ll want to listen to when you want to linger in the afterglow of a faint romance, when you’re about to take a new step forward, or when a touch of sentimentality finds its way into an ordinary day.

Thank youFUNKY MONKEY BABYS

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS “Thank You”

This is a song by FUNKY MONKEY BABYS that expresses gratitude as straightforwardly as possible.

Its warm melody, which gently envelops the listener’s heart, is also memorable, and it continues to be loved as a track that prompts us to reflect on our feelings for those who have supported us.

Released in February 2013, the song was chosen as the theme for MBS and GAORA’s broadcast of the 85th Senbatsu High School Baseball Tournament, as well as for Nippon TV’s “Akamru! Scoop Koshien.” The music video features Sanma Akashiya, which drew significant attention.

It’s a song to play when you want to convey your gratitude to someone important or to mark a milestone in life.

Far, far awayMakihara Noriyuki

Tohku Tohku

A gemlike ballad by Noriyuki Makihara that gently portrays the feelings of anyone living away from their hometown.

With a warm, tender voice, it envelops the delicate emotions where the struggle in a new place intersects with the desire to remain unchanged.

Included on the album “Kimi wa Boku no Takaramono,” the song was released in June 1992.

In later years, it was featured in an NTT East Japan commercial, drawing a strong response.

It was also used in 2007 for the reunion special of the TV program “Marumaru Chibi Maruko-chan.” This classic quietly stays by the side of anyone who wishes to stay connected with their loved ones despite the distance.

White Winterfuki no tō

Fukinotou / White Winter (1974) 2024 ≪No.11≫

This is a lyrical piece that poignantly sings of the transition from autumn to winter.

Carried by the gentle tones of an acoustic guitar, it overlays the sorrow of a bygone love and shifting emotions onto the changing of the seasons.

The transparent harmonies of Fukinotou weave a delicate world that resonates deeply in the heart.

Released as a debut single in September 1974, the song gradually gained popularity after being featured on Takuro Yoshida’s All Night Nippon, eventually reaching No.

14 on the Oricon charts.

As the duo’s signature song, it has since been covered by numerous artists.

It is a track that gently accompanies the resolve to quietly accept the end of a romance—one to listen to when you wish to heal the wounds of heartbreak or to put your feelings in order.

The Days of Rainbows and Sneakerschūrippu

TULIP “Back When Rainbows and Sneakers” (Lyric Video)

It is a classic song that leaves a strong impression with its delicate portrayal of youthful love and transience.

The scene of two people embracing in rain-soaked sweatshirts and the tender sentiment of cherishing a pair of sneakers are depicted with gentle warmth.

The lyrics symbolically express the disconnect between a man and a woman, a sudden farewell, and the immaturity of not yet being able to become an adult, all imbued with the bittersweet ache of youth.

Released in 1979 by Tulip, the song drew attention on TV programs such as The Best Ten and Yoru no Hit Studio, gaining popularity as a piece in which folk and pop are beautifully harmonized.

Kazuo Zaitsu’s warm vocals and the beautiful melody will surely comfort those who wish to heal the pain of heartbreak or look back on their cherished memories.