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]
- [Great Lyrics!!] Recommended Tear-Jerking Graduation Songs with Heartfelt, Moving Words [2026]
- [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]
Still packed with timeless classics! A roundup of Japanese graduation songs from the 1970s (41–50)
My favorite teacherRC sakuseshon
You probably have a teacher you’ll never forget, too.
This is a work that makes you think, “I’d love to see that person again.” It’s a song by the legendary rock band RC Succession, led by singer-songwriter Kiyoshiro Imawano, released in 1972 as their third single.
The model for the song is Kiyoshiro’s homeroom teacher from his school days.
Set to a pop melody, it sings about what he liked about his teacher, and listening to it gives you a warm, cozy feeling.
At the same time, it brings a slight pang of nostalgia as you think back on your own homeroom teacher.
Maybe it’s time to reach out to that teacher you haven’t seen since graduation.
GraduationKurata Mariko
Since Mariko Kurata is currently retired, her songs are rarely broadcast on TV, but as the title suggests, this is a song about graduation.
Its lyrics—expressing the enduring feelings for friends and the sadness of facing graduation—took the 1970s by storm as a quintessential graduation song.
Cape TourYamamoto Kōtarō to Uīkuendo
It’s a classic song that poignantly portrays a bittersweet love journey, marked by striking images of a beautiful sea and cape.
The gentle, refreshing melody harmonizes beautifully with lyrical verses that circle around memories of a cherished person who has been lost.
The delicate depiction of traveling alone on a trip once promised to a loved one conveys a quiet resilience—a resolve to move forward while carrying sorrow.
Yamamoto Kotaro and The Weekend debuted with this song in June 1974, and it became a major hit, reaching No.
5 on the Oricon charts.
It has long been beloved as the station melody on the Keikyu Kurihama Line and was also used as the ending theme for the anime Heaven’s Lost Property.
For those who have experienced parting from someone dear or who carry deep feelings in their hearts, this song will gently keep them company.
the first strong spring windkyandīzu
The songs by Candies have a refreshing atmosphere that evokes the arrival of spring, which is part of their charm.
The lyrics convey the warmth brought by the spring breeze and the anticipation of new encounters.
This song was released on March 1, 1976 as their ninth single, and it quickly became a major hit.
It was also performed at that year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, making it an important track that cemented Candies’ status as idols.
It’s the perfect song for those who want to feel the coming of spring or who, through the major spring event of graduation, are looking forward to new encounters and romance.
In a distant worldItsutsu no akai fūsen
They’re a folk group that debuted in the 1970s.
The lyrics are addressed to young people setting out on a journey, encouraging them with a message like: “Young people living on the small star called Earth, let’s go search for the world of tomorrow.” It’s an uplifting anthem perfect as a send-off song for graduation.
GraduationAsaoka Megumi
She was one of the iconic idols of the ’70s.
Her looks and style were outstanding, and her cute stage outfits were envied by her contemporary, Masako Mori.
“Sotsugyo,” released in 1976, is a song about graduating from a relationship with the man she was dating.
What’s noteworthy is the phrase “katami ni,” but based on the lyrics, it doesn’t mean that the other person has passed away.
I want to go far away.Duke Aces
A masterpiece born in the 1970s is still sung today as a graduation song.
This work by Duke Aces is a gem that depicts setting off for an unfamiliar town.
Eiji Yoko’s lyrics and Hachidai Nakamura’s composition blend beautifully, giving you the courage to take a new step forward.
The album “60th Anniversary Edition CD,” which also includes the 1992 re-recorded version, is a must-listen.
Used as the theme song for the TV program “Tooku e Ikitai” (I Want to Go Far Away), it has become a song that remains in many people’s hearts.
It’s recommended not only for graduation ceremonies but also as a track that gives you a push before leaping into a new environment.