[For University Students] A Stylish Collection of Japanese Songs to Enliven Campus Life

TOGEAKASAKI

【AKASAKI】TOGE (Lyric Video)

AKASAKI is one of the young singer-songwriters who drew attention after the breakout hit “Bunny Girl.” This song, released in September 2025, marks a clear departure from his previously catchy style, tackling a deeply serious theme as he confronts his own painful experiences.

Set against quiet, minimal instrumentation, his vocals vividly convey pain and memory, sure to resonate powerfully with listeners.

It’s a companion for nights when you want to face yourself in silence—capturing a side of college life that isn’t all glitz—and it will undoubtedly offer deep comfort.

crackTele

Tele | Hibi – Music Video

Singer-songwriter Tele, who has garnered popularity for a genreless musical style.

The piece I’m introducing is included on the album released in April 2025: “How to Love a Residual Image, or On a Few Unanchored Days We Spend to Accept the Distortions in Ourselves Born Therefrom.” This work is captivating for the warmth with which it gently affirms the emotional wounds and imperfections that arise in daily life.

Its sound is stylish—pop yet introspective—making it perfect for nights when you want to be alone with your thoughts.

The fact that it was performed at the very end of the main set at the Yokohama Arena show in April 2025 also shows how special this track is.

scenarioRin-ne

scenario – Rin-ne (Official Music Video)

A hip-hop number brimming with storytelling, where a gentle warmth can be felt amid the wistfulness.

Rapper Rin-ne created it as the theme song for the film “Rewrite.” The lyrics, aligned with the film’s world where time loops and youth intersect, portray feelings for days gone by and futures left unchosen.

For any college student who listens, it’s bound to overlap with their own sentimental memories.

With a soft flow and lyrical melody that resonate in the heart, it’s the perfect track for a sentimental mood.

Ms.Sunshinekiki vivi lily

kiki vivi lily – Ms.Sunshine 【Lyric Video】

Singer-songwriter kiki vivi lily, who distills elements of hip-hop and R&B into soothing pop.

Released in July 2025, this track centers on the theme of “cherished presences that continue to live on in our hearts.” Its lyrics capture the feeling of being gently encouraged by the precious things within us—our former selves, irreplaceable friends, and treasured memories—and will likely resonate softly with many listeners.

The atmospheric beat co-created with Sweet William intersects with kiki vivi lily’s delicate vocals, crafting a nostalgic soundscape where past and present overlap.

It’s the perfect companion for a quiet night of solitary reflection.

Happy hourKubota Kai

Happy Hour – Kubotakai (Official Music Video)

Singer-songwriter Kai Kubota, known for his literary lyrics, has released a track in August 2025 that can rightly be called a toast anthem, themed around the joy of nights spent with friends.

Its rap-rooted, easy-flow delivery fuses with a pop sound, evoking the sparkle of the nighttime city.

The song’s warm message—affirming daily fatigue and loneliness through fun times with your crew—will likely resonate with many.

Kubota’s talent is truly remarkable; he won an NHK program competition after just three months of rapping, and he also provided the theme song for the drama “Hakobiya.” It’s a perfect track for gatherings with college friends or for relaxing on your own.

Somewhere far awayNatsuko Nisshoku

Nisshoku Natsuko – “Somewhere Far Away” Official Music Video

Singer-songwriter Natsuko Nisshoku has won popularity with a distinctive style that expresses a world of her own using only the piano.

Her music, which combines strength and delicacy, grips listeners’ hearts and won’t let go.

Among her songs, this is the one I hope you’ll listen to when you’re taking a new step forward.

Featuring a pastoral, country-tinged sound that evokes traveling by covered wagon, it contrasts the past self with the present self while portraying the resolve to move ahead.

The track is included on the album Ginka, released in May 2025, which peaked at No.

29 on the Oricon Weekly Albums chart.

Play it on the way home from a trip with friends, or on a night before graduation as you think about what comes next, and you’ll be reminded of the importance of the connections you made in college.

It’s a little bittersweet, yet it warmly gives you the courage to step into the future.

FOOLHitsuji Bungaku

Hitsujibungaku – FOOL (Official Music Video)

Hitsujibungaku is a three-piece alternative rock band whose sound combines delicacy and power, earning strong support from younger listeners.

Released in April 2023 as the ending theme for the drama “Know the Meaning of Obsession!”, this song pairs roaring, distorted guitars with a heartrending melody line to brilliantly capture the complex emotions of someone who longs to live strongly while carrying inescapable anger and inner conflict.

Also included on the album “12 hugs (like butterflies),” it’s a track you’ll want to play on solitary, contemplative nights or when you feel stuck.

The searing passion of this piece will surely set your heart free.