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 1970s Japanese graduation songs (51–60)
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.
Hand-knitted giftOkada Nana
“A Hand-Knitted Present,” released in 1976.
This song has long been cherished as one of Nana Okada’s signature works and is highly acclaimed as a masterpiece in the history of Japanese popular music.
With lyrics that, though simple, evoke deep emotion, and Nana Okada’s clear, translucent voice, it is a piece that profoundly resonates with listeners.
Adolescence (with an autumnal/reflective nuance)Iwasaki Hiromi
It’s a heart-wrenching ballad that makes you inevitably recall your school-days romances.
It’s sung by Hiromi Iwasaki, who was active on the idol scene in the 1970s.
Released in 1977 as her 11th single, it earned her the Vocal Performance Award at that year’s Japan Record Awards.
Iwasaki’s soaring, velvety voice is truly wonderful.
The lyrics, which reflect on the things you only realize once they’ve passed, make you nod along in recognition.
It will especially resonate with anyone who went into their graduation ceremony carrying the weight of romantic regrets.
My friend, don’t cry.Morita Kensaku
It was the theme song for the youth drama “Ore wa Otoko da!” which aired from 1971 to 1972.
Along with “Saraba Namida to Iou,” Kensaku Morita’s refreshing charm gained popularity, and the song became a hit.
Morita’s track “Tomodachi yo Naku n ja Nai” (“My Friend, Don’t Cry”) is an iconic piece that symbolizes the youth drama culture of 1970s Japan.
It is known as a heartwarming message song that stands by the worries and hardships of young people and offers words of encouragement.
Still full of timeless classics! A roundup of Japanese graduation songs from the ’70s (61–70)
A café in a student districtGaro
This song might remind you of a lover you parted with at graduation.
It’s one of the signature tracks by Garo, a folk rock band sometimes called the Japanese CSN&Y, released in 1972.
It became a huge hit after being played on cable broadcasts and radio.
The relaxed rhythm and beautiful choral work are striking, and the softly murmured vocals carry a sense of melancholy.
Feelings we couldn’t understand when we were young… It makes you wish for a love with no regrets.
graduationKurata Mariko
After retiring, singer Mariko Kurata has worked as a career counselor and, since 2015, has served as a specially appointed professor at Tokyo Gakugei University.
Her single “Graduation,” released on January 21, 1979, opens with a sentimental intro featuring a lyrical guitar riff and clear, shimmering strings.
The lyrics, which celebrate a friendship that remains unchanged even after a fresh start, may bring back the bittersweet feelings of a graduation ceremony.
With a chorus that truly stirs the heart, it’s a graduation song loved across generations.
Cotton HandkerchiefŌta Hiromi
The song “Cotton Handkerchief,” with its memorable lyrics imbued with feelings of parting and new beginnings, beautifully matches Hiromi Ohta’s vocals with Takashi Matsumoto’s words.
Released in 1975, it became one of Ohta’s signature songs.
It is loved not only by the generation of its time but also by today’s youth.
Its wistful yet warm melody has inspired numerous cover versions and continues to be sung by many.
This classic, which delicately portrays the emotional distance between lovers through a conversational format, possesses a universality that resonates across generations and makes it a perfect choice for graduation milestones.