Composing a School Anthem — Nasu Chuo Junior High School

In 2016, a newly established public school in Tochigi Prefecture, Nasu Chuo Junior High School, opened its doors.
I was commissioned to compose its official school anthem.

It was never something I imagined I would do.
Even now, when I tell people that I have written a school anthem, they are usually surprised.
That reaction itself reminds me how rare and meaningful this experience was.

Fortunately, I have been told that the song has been well received.
As someone who lives close to the school, I am relieved that the music has been embraced by the community.

Receiving the Commission

The request came about two years before the school officially opened.
The principal of one of the schools prior to the merger approached me directly.

Because of the scale and responsibility of the project, it took some time for the reality to sink in.

For a composer, writing music that is guaranteed to be sung and performed for many years — possibly for generations — is a uniquely demanding task.

A school anthem is sung repeatedly, regardless of personal taste.
I felt a strong pressure imagining a student being forced to sing a piece they did not connect with, over and over again.

What I Wanted the Anthem to Be

At the same time, I held an opposite hope.

That when graduates hear this song years later,
they would remember their school days with clarity and warmth,
and feel that their past was meaningful,
that the path they walked was a good one.

Before composing, I studied many existing school anthems.
I found that many were difficult to enjoy as music in an ordinary sense —
some resembled military songs or rigid marches.

I decided not to be bound by conventional ideas of what a “school anthem” should sound like.
Instead, I aimed to create something natural and singable — music that could be hummed without effort.

Still Sung Today

The anthem is still sung at Nasu Chuo Junior High School today.
It is performed not only at graduation ceremonies and official events,
but also regularly in music classes, according to the school’s music teacher.

Knowing that the piece continues to live within the daily life of the school is something I value deeply.

School Anthem of Nasu Chuo Junior High School

Music: Taro Ishida / Lyrics: Yuki Mashiko

(Lyrics omitted in English presentation unless specifically required)