Japanese Pop ‘Sakura’ Song Rankings [2025]

Cherry blossom seasonFujifabric64rank/position

Fujifabric – Sakura Season

A nostalgic cherry blossom song that blends melancholy with warmth.

It’s a track by the rock band Fujifabric—known for hits like “Wakamono no Subete”—released in 2004 as their major-label debut single.

The guitar phrases, imbued with funk music’s essence, and the emotionally resonant piano draw you in with their interplay.

The lyrics, which capture subtle emotional nuances without framing farewell as either hopeless or positive, read almost like literature.

Cherry blossoms, along the path where petals swirl upElephant Kashimashi65rank/position

Elephant Kashimashi – “The Road Where Cherry Blossoms Dance Up”

Sakura no Hana, Maiagaru Michi wo, released by Elephant Kashimashi in 2008, portrays a resolve to live forever together with a beloved person, building a future as beautiful as cherry blossoms.

It tells of how meeting someone special changed the narrator’s indifference toward cherry blossoms into a desire to walk toward a wonderful future with that person.

Encounters with others can truly transform our feelings, can’t they? If you’ve had a meeting that changed your life, please give this song a listen and let your future bloom even more.

The cherry blossoms bloom.ET-KING66rank/position

ET-KING / Sakura Saku

I think it resonates especially when you listen to it at times like graduation or moving away from your hometown! It’s a song by the Osaka-born music group ET-KING, released in 2010 as their 13th single.

Thanks to its catchy melody and down-to-earth vocals, the message in the lyrics comes through directly.

Having friends who make you feel this way is truly wonderful, isn’t it? Because of its content, I can recommend it as a great song to sing at a farewell party karaoke!

Before the cherry blossoms bloomMushroom Empire67rank/position

Kinoko Teikoku – Before the Cherry Blossoms Bloom

Kinoko Teikoku’s “Before the Cherry Blossoms Bloom” portrays leaving a familiar town to chase dreams and goals.

Released in 2015, the song is their debut single.

The lyrics depict someone who, though reluctant to part with the time spent with friends, expresses a resolve to leave this place for their own ambitions.

The words convey a strong determination and poignancy—as if saying they may never meet again—while a touch of playful phrasing still lets you feel the weight of their goal.

And the idea of leaving even before the cherry blossoms bloom gives it a cool edge, too!

Let the cherry blossoms bloomstorm68rank/position

[+81 DANCE STUDIO] Arashi – Sakura Sake / Performed by Travis Japan

It’s a beloved classic that’s hugely popular as a cheer song.

It’s a track by the national idol group Arashi, released in 2005 as their 14th single.

Incredibly catchy, with a refreshing rock-style sound—it’s a pleasure to listen to.

The positive lyrics, packed with a powerful message to keep moving forward no matter what, are also a major draw.

It may resonate especially with those about to take entrance exams.

It’s also a great pick for karaoke.

cherry blossoms drifting awayHikaru Utada69rank/position

Hikaru Utada – Sakura Nagashi (Short Ver.)

When it comes to the film series of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Hikaru Utada is a strong association for many, and the song “Sakura Nagashi” was also the theme for Evangelion: 3.

0 You Can (Not) Redo.

This track, her first single after returning from hiatus, is also well known for having been written with the Great East Japan Earthquake in mind.

The memories of cherry blossoms we saw together are vivid, yet that person is no longer here.

The sorrow and helplessness are rendered even more poignant by the piano melody and strings, which make the feelings resonate deeply in the chest.

springreGretGirl70rank/position

reGretGirl “Spring” Official Music Video

This song portrays a bittersweet springtime farewell.

With the arrival of a new season, it vividly captures the moments when the heart wavers in the face of change.

Its pop sound carries a touch of nostalgia, sure to strike a chord with listeners.

Released on April 15, 2020 as reGretGirl’s first single, it showcases the band’s hallmark down-to-earth lyrics.

It’s a perfect track for anyone holding complex feelings—anxieties and expectations before stepping into a new environment, lingering attachments to the past, and more.

Highly recommended for those who have experienced parting with someone important as cherry blossoms fall.