Still packed with timeless classics! A roundup of 1970s Japanese graduation songs
As graduation season approaches, do you ever find yourself wanting to listen to old songs for some reason? Japanese music from the 1970s is full of classics about partings and new beginnings.
Chats with friends, tender first loves, and the mix of excitement and anxiety about the road ahead—songs from that era delicately weave together the complex emotions of youth.
In this article, we’re introducing 70s tracks perfect for graduation season.
We’ve picked a wide range, from songs directly about graduation to pieces that evoke the coming of spring and the brilliance of youth.
Let the nostalgic melodies wash over you as you gently trace back your memories of those days.
- [80s Graduation Songs] Nostalgic Classics & Hits That Have Become Standards
- [Showa-Era Graduation Songs] Nostalgic? Emotive? A curated selection of timeless classics loved across generations
- [Recommended for people in their 70s] Classic nostalgic hits: A collection of youth songs
- [Graduation Songs] Choral pieces perfect for singing at elementary school graduation ceremonies: A collection of moving classics
- [2026 Edition] Songs Loved by People in Their 60s: Classic Hits from Their Youth
- A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
- [2026] A Collection of Memorable Graduation Songs from the 40s [Japanese Music]
- [1970s] Collection of Japanese hit songs. Nostalgic masterpieces of Japan
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- Thank you, Teacher: A Song of Gratitude for Teachers and Mentors — An Emotional Farewell Song for the Journey Ahead
- [For Seniors] Recommended Spring Songs for People in Their 70s: A Collection of Nostalgic Spring Tunes
- [2026] A Collection of Youthful Songs to Play at Graduation Ceremonies [J-POP]
- [Great Lyrics!!] Recommended Tear-Jerking Graduation Songs with Heartfelt, Moving Words [2026]
Still packed with timeless classics! A roundup of 1970s Japanese graduation songs (51–60)
era; age; time; periodNakajima Miyuki
Released in 1975, this is a huge hit by Miyuki Nakajima, Japan’s original diva, and a timeless classic that is still sung today.
It appears in music textbooks and was also selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” Its lyric—“In times of hardship or joy, every era will someday become a fond memory”—is an eternal message that will never fade.
Many artists who share this sentiment, including Keisuke Kuwata and Hiroko Yakushimaru, have covered the song.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to as you graduate—from school, or even from a company or workplace—while holding many feelings in your heart.
interaction; friendly contact; bondingNakamura Masatoshi
It’s one of Masatoshi Nakamura’s hit songs, which was also used as an insert song in a TV drama starring Nakamura himself.
In the show, he plays a teacher who sings this song by a campfire; its lyrics about how people can’t live alone resonate with the drama’s theme, making it a song many people recall at graduation.
You Are the One Who Rings That BellWada Akiko
Akiko Wada’s “Ano Kane wo Narasu no wa Anata” is an immortal classic that colors the farewells of graduation.
Released in 1972, the song won the Best Vocal Performance at that year’s Japan Record Awards.
Its timeless vocal power and strong message continue to resonate with many people.
It has been covered by numerous popular artists, and even decades after its release, it remains beloved across generations.
The reason it continues to be sung is likely because Akiko Wada powerfully expresses the emotions of parting and new departures—experiences shared by everyone.
Et ceteraŌba Kumiko
Drawing from her experience overcoming panic disorder, singer Kumiko Ōba now also works as a psychological counselor.
Her EP Etcetera, released on June 5, 1978, lifts your spirits with its striking guitar riff intro and an ensemble featuring a brass section.
The lyrics evoke the feeling of being unable to take that first step toward someone you like, hinting that a graduation ceremony might become an even more special day.
It’s a catchy pop tune whose funky arrangement still sounds fresh today.
Goodbye, my friend.Yamada Panda
Singer-songwriter Panda Yamada, known as a former member of Kaguya-hime and for his energetic solo career as a folk singer after the group disbanded.
His first solo single, “Sayonara Tomo yo,” is a delicate number built around an ensemble rooted in acoustic guitar sounds.
The lyrics, which depict the resolve to set out on a new journey, evoke the image of taking a major gamble in life.
It’s a wistful yet positive folk song that captures the feeling of each person’s life beginning to move forward after the graduation ceremony.