[For adults too] Youth songs that let you look back on your memories
What was your youth like?
Did you ever throw yourself into something, agonize over love, or spend tons of time with friends? I imagine each of you has spent that special time in your own unique way.
And among those reading this, some of you might even be right in the middle of your youth now!
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of songs that sing about all kinds of “youth,” the kind that will set your heart ablaze.
It’s a playlist that feels like the very heart of young people—hot, sweet-and-sour, a little bitter, and swirling with all sorts of emotions.
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[For Adults Too] Youth Songs That Let You Revisit Your Memories (41–50)
This is fine.KALMA
‘Kore de Ii n da’ captures the feelings of your teenage years, when everything was fresh and new.
This song is the major-label debut by KALMA, a three-piece band from Hokkaido, released in 2016.
Like the protagonist in the song, there are times when, as an adult, you start to question the way you’re living.
That can lead you to look back on your teenage days and feel down about the gap between then and now.
The song carries the message that “including that past, everything can work out depending on you.” It’s a track that cheers up a downcast heart!
[For Adults Too] Youth Songs That Let You Look Back on Memories (51–60)
Then, the light of youthGOING UNDER GROUND
A timeless, high-quality pop tune that evokes youth, this is the 27th single by the three-piece rock band GOING UNDER GROUND.
Co-written with singer-songwriter and pianist SUEMITSU & THE SUEMITH, the song drew attention for its collaboration, and its breezy rock sound featuring lively piano is exhilarating.
The lyrics, which convey the gap between one’s youth and the present self, realistically depict the changes in environment and position that come with entering society.
It’s a catchy rock tune that rekindles the passion that may have faded amid a busy life.
Heartbeat of the Starskohanaramu
The bittersweetness of youth and the wavering of first love are portrayed atop a clear, translucent melody.
It’s a track by Kohanaramu, slated for digital release in October 2025, and it’s been selected as the ending theme for the TV anime “Tomodachi no Imouto ga Ore ni Dake Uzai” (My Friend’s Little Sister Is Only Annoying to Me).
The lyrics capture feelings of being unable to be honest even when you’re close, and the emotions that tremble deep in your chest, closely reflecting the heart of someone in love.
The arrangement also carries a nostalgic touch that feels wonderfully comforting.
Give it a listen when you’re feeling timid about love.
Graduation PhotoArai Yumi (Matsutoya Yumi)
This song, one of the signature works by Yumi Matsutoya, who has led the J-POP scene for many years, was released in 1975.
Loved by countless listeners as a graduation song, it remains a timeless classic even today.
The lyrics depict an adult looking back at their yearbook and reflecting on their school days, and for many, listening to this song rekindles memories of youth and stirs the heart.
It’s also an anthem that encourages you to carry the burning passion of your youth and keep moving forward.
AccordinglyMrs. GREEN APPLE
A rock number that hurls frustration with relationships and self-consciousness straight at you.
Reconstructed from the impatience and inner conflict Motoki Omori felt in high school, the song carves youthful impulses into powerful vocals and razor‑edged wording.
Released in November 2016 as part of the single “In the Morning,” the initial limited-edition DVD also included studio session footage.
During the fan club tour “The White Lounge” from 2023 to 2024, it was reintroduced with fiercely distorted sound alongside rain and thunder effects, rendering its anger and turmoil even more vividly.
It’s a track to play when you’re stewing with a haze in your heart or need to let everything out late at night.
Shadows of SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
About seven years after 2018’s “Blue and Summer,” this new work returns to a summer theme—a lingering, summery number that delicately captures the changing of the seasons.
The late-summer breeze and lengthening shadows reflect the slow passage of time as we grow up.
The scenes that rise from everyday fragments—like a sweaty shirt or melting ice—are truly moving.
Released in August 2025, it was featured as the song for Kirin Gogo no Kocha’s TV commercial.
The music video, filmed in Fukui Prefecture, also evokes a deep sense of nostalgia.
It’s a song that quietly stays with you at dusk as summer draws to a close, or on the drive back home.
one’s true feelingssumika
This is a song I want current students involved in club activities—or adults who devoted themselves to a club back in their school days—to hear.
It’s a track by sumika, a band known for their refreshing vocals, created as the support song for the 99th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.
As you read the lyrics, which revolve around the theme of bonds with your teammates, you’ll surely find experiences and feelings you’ve had yourself.
Take note of the lyrics that make you empathize, bring back memories, and overflow with the spirit of youth.