Japanese Pop ‘Sakura’ Song Rankings [2025]

cherry blossomFUNKY MONKEY BABYS43rank/position

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS “Sakura”

Sakura by FUNKY MONKEY BABYS portrays gratitude toward someone you love and the desire to stay together forever.

Released in 2009, the single’s cover features Yoshimi Tokui from the comedy duo Tutorial.

The song depicts confessing long-held romantic feelings while expressing thanks for everything up to now.

It’s filled with a heartfelt wish to keep watching the cherry blossoms together every spring from here on out.

If you’re planning to share your feelings with someone special during cherry blossom season, let this song give you strength!

Cherry Blossom MoonSakurazaka4644rank/position

Sakurazaka46 'Sakuzuki'

A bittersweet song that overlays the parting of youth with the way cherry blossoms fall.

Like a graduation album packed with cherished memories on a single page, Sakurazaka46’s work is wrapped in warm emotion.

Released in February 2023, this track drew attention as Rena Moriya’s first center song and sold 349,000 copies on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, debuting at No.

1.

With lyrics that resonate in the season of new meetings and farewells and a beautiful melody, it’s sure to gently encourage those standing at a life’s turning point.

Sakura, flutterSouthern All Stars45rank/position

Southern All Stars – Sakura, Hirari [Official Visualizer]

The new song by Southern All Stars features a heartwarming melody that evokes the arrival of spring.

With cherry blossoms as its motif, it carries a message of hope and renewal, and it’s truly wonderful.

Released as a lead single from the album “THANK YOU SO MUCH” on January 1, 2025, the track coincided with the first anniversary of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

Keisuke Kuwata’s warm vocals are accompanied by an acoustic guitar that feels like a spring breeze.

It’s a moving song you’ll want to hear during graduation and school entrance season.

I hope elementary school students will listen to it, too.

Cherry blossomSeiko Matsuda46rank/position

"Cherry Blossom 2021" from Seiko Matsuda Concert Tour 2023 “Parade”

It is a classic song with a refreshing melody that evokes the arrival of spring and heartwarming lyrics portraying the beginning of a new romance.

Seiko Matsuda’s poised vocals beautifully express the feelings of a protagonist taking a brave first step.

The sense of anticipation for the future beneath a blue sky, and the joy of being in love, resonate deeply alongside her clear, transparent voice.

Released in January 1981, this piece was born from producer Muneo Wakamatsu’s challenge to explore new music.

It reached No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and was also included on the album “Silhouette.” Loved for many years by countless listeners as a song to enjoy in spring—especially during cherry blossom season—it’s a lively, hopeful track that cheers on the start of a new chapter, and is highly recommended when you want to make a fresh start.

Sakura SongKANA-BOON47rank/position

KANA-BOON “Sakura no Uta” Music Video

KANA-BOON is a four-piece rock band highly praised for their distinctive vocals and tight rock sound.

“Sakura no Uta,” which closes their first mini-album, “Boku ga CD wo Dashitara,” is a track with a backstory: it was written by chance before the album recording and was hastily added to the lineup.

Its lyrics, which recall feelings left unspoken during the season of partings, are likely to resonate with many listeners.

With a driving ensemble that evokes the spring breeze, it’s a refreshing yet sentimental rock tune.

Cherry Blossom Rainabsorb48rank/position

absorb "Sakura no Ame" MV Full

Absorb’s major-label debut single was first released as a Vocaloid song by member Haruyoshi Mori, and later re-released by absorb.

It’s a moving piece that vividly portrays scenes from graduation, a major event of the cherry blossom season.

The lyrics are striking for how they reflect on the precious memories built with friends and the feelings toward those friends as they each set off on their own paths.

While looking back on those memories, the song powerfully expresses a forward-looking hope—the wish to someday reunite with those friends.

Sakura Clear SkiesYuri49rank/position

Sakura Clear Skies

A heartwarming song by Yuuri! It’s a moving piece that gently embraces the feelings of those reaching the milestone of graduation.

Gratitude to family, memories with friends, and both the hopes and anxieties for the future are expressed through a tender voice and beautiful melody.

Released in February 2021 as a digital-only single, the song is also included on the album “Ichi,” and it has resonated with many listeners.

It’s often used at graduation ceremonies and related events, making it a recommended listen for the spring season.

Give it a try when you want to reflect on memories or when you need the courage to take a new step forward.