10 Popular Japanese Sakura Songs
Hi there, it’s Mr. Wada back on duty. Do you know what Sakura is? Well, it is cherry blossom, also a popular girls’ name and songs! I am going to introduce 10 popular Japanese Sakura songs this time.
Actually many graduation songs involve Sakura in the lyrics as well. I shall exclude ones that I already introduced in the previous posts.
Seasonal songs
Spring
10 Popular Japanese Sakura Songs
Top Japanese Spring Songs
New Japanese Graduation Songs
11 Classic Japanese Graduation Songs
Top Japanese Rain Songs
Summer
Popular Japanese Summer Songs
Winter
Top 5 Popular Japanese Christmas Songs
Top 5 Popular Japanese Christmas Songs part 2
Contents
10 Popular Japanese Sakura Songs
Note:
For some videos you need to change country setting on youtube. Click youtube logo in the video and open youtube. Country setting is at very bottom of the page.
Sakura Sakura
Released year: unknown
This is likely the oldest sakura song of all time. I suppose you may be more familiar with this version by the Koto instrument played in Japanese restaurants.
With vocal.
Yozakura Oshichi by Fuyumi Sakamoto
Released year: 1994
This is an Enka song but I find it neat that it stars with a slow tempo then a change of rhythm. It’s totally rock!
Cherry by Spitz
Released year: 1996
A semi-folk band from the 90s. I think we sang it at the graduation in Jr. high.
Sakura-zaka by Masaharu Fukuyama
Release: 2000
One of the biggest hits all time. Not so catchy or pop but perhaps people liked its calm sound…
SAKURA Drops by Hikaru Utada
Released year: 2002
A super popular singer from the late 90s. This is her rather early songs and also one of her biggest hits. It doesn’t seem to relate to Sakura much but still is considered a Sakura song.
Sakura by Kawanishi Kyogo
Released year: 2003
A very typical one-hit wonder from the early 2000’s. It spread through the radio chart.
Sakura Iro Maukoro by Mika Nakashima
Released year: 2005
Sounds classy. I suppose this kind of songs are preferred for the textbooks.
Sakura by Ketsumeishi
Released year: 2005
A sakura song by a (pop) HIP-HOP group from the early 2000’s. This song turned out their biggest hit. It isn’t as classy as other sakura songs but very catchy.
CHE.R.RY by YUI
Released year: 2007
One of YUI’s hit songs. It’s very catchy & pop.
SAKURA by Ikimonogakari
Released year: 2007
This song is Ikimonogakari’s debut song. As they got known, this song turned out one of their popular songs.
Lastly
How do you find it? I now feel seasons are very much attached to J-POP. Spring (sakura, graduation), summer (fireworks), and winter (Christmas). Not sure of autumn songs though.
See you around!
You may also be interested in these.
New Japanese Graduation Songs
11 Classic Japanese Graduation Songs
5 Familiar Theme Songs and Jingles in Japan
Top 5 Popular Japanese Christmas Songs
The winner is obviously the instrumental version of Sakura (koto; not synthesizer). I love the koto. It really does have a lovely sound.
The runner-up? Hard to say. A few videos are “not available in my country” (Yozakura Oshichi, Sakura Drops, Sakura Iro Maukoro, CHE.R.RY) so I can exclude them…. Might be the last, Sakura (Ikimonogakari). Or Cherry (Spitz)…. of the two, if my life depended on it, I’d have to select Ikimonogakari (Congratulations)
The worst? That’s easy. Sakura (Ketsumeishi). I flunk Ketsumeishi for tepid, lazy hip-hop. (Congratulations)
For some videos, you need to open youtube videos (click youtube logo in the video) and change country setting (at bottom).