Still packed with timeless classics! A roundup of 1970s Japanese graduation songs

ShihoriGorin Mayumi

Shihori

From a single photograph tucked into a half-read book, one quietly looks back on a past love… This is a heart-piercing ballad that paints such a poignant scene.

Written and composed by singer-songwriter Mayumi Itsuwa, this hidden gem appears on her album “Nokoribi,” released in December 1978.

It isn’t a flashy single, but it has remained beloved by fans across time—so much so that a rare live recording was included for the first time on her 2022 best-of album.

The contrast between the gentle spring sunlight and the depiction of parting as someone leaves the room is both beautiful and sorrowful.

Rather than forcing ourselves to forget the past, we tuck it softly into our hearts and move forward.

On a graduation-season evening, why not listen to it alone?

Say goodbye with all your hearttenchi mari

Mari Amachi ☆ Say Goodbye with All Your Heart

Affectionately known by the nickname “Snow White,” Mari Amachi was a top idol who symbolized the 1970s.

In this song she sings a gentle medium-tempo ballad that turns the pain of parting into gratitude toward the other person and looks forward with hope.

It’s the fifth track on the album “Sora Ippai no Shiawase,” released in December 1973.

Though not a single, it has continued to be beloved by many fans for its lyrical world.

Created by Michio Yamagami and Koichi Morita, its melody carries hope that doesn’t end in sorrow, softly encouraging those standing at the major milestone of graduation.

When you wipe away your tears and take a new step forward, it’s a warm number that will surely support your heart.

cherry blossom blizzardŌta Hiromi

cherry blossom blizzard

Written by lyricist Takashi Matsumoto, composed by Takuro Yoshida, and passionately sung by Hiromi Ohta, this song depicts the bittersweet subtleties of a couple whose relationship shifts from lovers to “friends” amid a flurry of falling cherry blossoms.

The repeated words take on new shades of meaning each time they appear, a lyrical world that may tighten the chest of many listeners.

Released on the A-side of the February 1978 album “Senaka Awase no Rendezvous,” the track features a calm band arrangement by Shigeru Suzuki, which is part of its charm.

It has the deep flavor unique to album cuts, distinct from flashy hit singles.

It’s a song we’d especially recommend for those moments when a touch of loneliness steals over you in the spring sunshine, or when you want to quietly revisit the bittersweet memories of youth.

Feel the windHamada Shogo

Feel the Wind / Shogo Hamada (Single/1979)

It’s a fast-paced rock number brimming with a sense of speed, raising expectations for a new season along with a refreshing breeze.

It’s sung by singer-songwriter Shogo Hamada, who stays true to his own style while focusing on live performances.

Released as a single in 1979, it was written specifically for a Nissin Cup Noodles commercial and became his first smash hit.

The song is also included on the album “Kimi ga Jinsei no Toki…”.

Its positive message affirming a free way of life and its light, catchy melody strongly encourage young people about to venture into society.

While facing harsh realities, it gently reminds you to relax your shoulders and be yourself.

It’s a classic you should listen to when you need the courage to dive into a new world.

The last spring breakhaifaisetto

Saigo No Haruyasumi

It’s a heartbreak song about how, during spring break after graduation, you can’t help but feel a pang of sorrow when you go back to school to pick up something you forgot.

It’s a track by the vocal group Hi-Fi Set, known for hits like “Graduation Photo” and “Cold Rain,” and it’s included on their seventh album, Flash, released in 1979.

The lyrics convey a tender crush—not needing anything overt, just being in the same space would have been enough—and it tightens your chest.

And the warm sound seems to amplify those feelings even more.

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Araki Jakkan

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My good friendKamayatsu Hiroshi

My Good Friend – Hiroshi Kamayatsu

A signature song by Monsieur Kamayatsu, aka Hiroshi Kamayatsu.

Of course, no introduction is needed—he was the guitarist for The Spiders alongside Masakazu Sakai and Jun Inoue, and many of The Spiders’ hit songs were composed by Kamayatsu himself.

This track, which he released in 1975, even reached No.

1 on the Oricon charts! The lyrics recall a friend from school days, recounting those memories one by one.

I’d like to be someone who’s remembered even after graduation, like the man who appears in this song.

It’s definitely a number I’d love to sing at a class reunion!

Poem of Youthyoshida takurou

Song of Youth

Singer-songwriter Takuro Yoshida, often called a “founding father of J-POP” for bringing the then-minor genres of folk and rock into the mainstream in the 1970s.

The title track of his first album, “Seishun no Uta” (Poem of Youth), later released as a single, is known as a popular song.

Its lyrics, which include provocative phrases evocative of the era, depict the preciousness of each person’s youth, just as the title suggests.

It’s a song with a universal theme, marked by bluesy guitar phrases and an old-school arrangement.

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Hoshino Takashi

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