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.
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Still packed with timeless classics! A roundup of Japanese graduation songs from the 1970s (41–50)
cherry blossom blizzardchiaki naomi
You’re graduating and leaving, I’m closing up shop and heading back to my hometown… It’s a sad farewell, yet somehow it carries a certain warmth.
Known for hits like “Kassai” and “Aka Tombo,” and also active as an actress, this is a song by Naomi Chiaki, released in 1975 as her 19th single.
Chiaki’s free, slightly husky vocals are irresistible.
It feels as if the words slip straight into your heart.
The lyrics are another charm, making you feel like you’re watching the final scene of a drama.
A town you stopped visiting much after graduating—don’t you have one of those, too?
Still packed with timeless classics! A roundup of 1970s Japanese graduation songs (51–60)
Journey of the Heartchūrippu
Anecdotally, it was released with a do-or-die mindset—“If this song doesn’t become a hit, we’ll go back home to Fukuoka”—and it became Tulip’s signature track in 1973.
The lyrics and music were by Kazuo Zaitsu, with Tatsuya Himeno on lead vocals.
The words candidly trace feelings about various farewells—graduating from you, graduating from the town I’m used to—and it’s the kind of song that can bring a tear to your eye.
Beyond that, the song also carries a certain elegance of folk music.
It drew attention when covered by artists like Keisuke Kuwata and Ayaka.
To say goodbyebiriibanban
Released in 1972, Billy BanBan’s signature work is a classic that portrays lost love and determination for the future.
Widely known as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “3-chome 4-banchi,” it also marked the duo’s first appearance at the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen (the 23rd edition).
While it incorporates elements of folk music, it also retains the charm of Japanese kayōkyoku, creating a distinctive style.
The lyrics, imbued with the sorrow of parting and the courage to take a new step, are sure to resonate deeply with students approaching graduation.
This song is perfect for those who cherish their past memories yet are ready to look ahead and move forward.
Love Dial 6700Fingā 5
A signature song by Finger 5 that evokes a Japanese-style Jackson 5—and a massive hit.
It was released in 1973, but it still plays on TV and in commercials, so most people have probably heard it at least once.
Back then, the sunglasses worn by member Akira—known as “tonbo megane” (dragonfly glasses)—became a huge fad and were hard to get.
In today’s terms, it really “went viral.” The lyrics are pure and cute: a boy wanting to somehow confess to his crush before graduation.
For the generation raised on smartphones, “What’s a dial?” might be the reaction.
THE END If we meet unexpectedlyfoorību su
Despite disbanding after the relatively short span of just ten years from their record debut, the idol group Four Leaves remains a name passed down through the years.
Their 38th single, “THE END – If We Should Meet Unexpectedly -,” is a memorable track whose intro layers a wistful guitar riff over a piano-and-strings ensemble.
The lyrics, which look back on youthful love, evoke a feeling of melancholy while still suggesting a determination to face forward.
It’s a sentimental pop tune—pop in style yet suffused with sorrow.
Just like back thenBureddo & Batā
A graduation ceremony with cherry blossom petals dancing in the air, and a moving song of departure.
Released in the 1970s yet loved across generations, the song is Bread & Butter’s “Ano Koro no Mama.” Kureta Keiko’s poignantly beautiful lyrics are paired with a gentle, subdued composition by Haruomi Hosono and Masataka Matsutoya.
The contrasting worldview—between the passion of chasing dreams and the cool composure of letting them go—resonates with everyone and is sure to touch the heart.
school daysPegī Hayama
Peggy Hayama’s “Gakusei Jidai” (“Student Days”) continues to be cherished as a classic graduation song.
Since Peggy Hayama graduated from Aoyama Gakuin, it’s said that the lyrics refer to Aoyama Gakuin.
With its heartwarming melody, the song vividly portrays various memories from school life and, as an anthem of encouragement for children at the moment of graduation, it remains beloved by many to this day.