[80s Graduation Songs] Nostalgic Classics & Hits That Have Become Standards

YaYa (I Won’t Forget That Time)Sazan Ōrusutāzu

Congratulations on the comeback! Southern All Stars - YAYA (I Won’t Forget That Time) (Cover)

A Southern All Stars number that portrays various moments of youth as beautiful memories.

For those who have long since graduated, listen while looking back on your memories with the same warmth as the song.

For those who are about to graduate, listen while reflecting on the fun times you had at school.

The lyrics include the name of the light music club that Keisuke Kuwata and other members belonged to during their university days, as well as scenes from campus life.

It’s a song that makes you feel that, even when there were hardships and sadness, everything becomes a beautiful memory when you look back.

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Eyes of the heartSakamoto Kyu

Kyu Sakamoto “Kokoro no Hitomi” (Original Song with Lyrics Subtitles)

When we think of Kyu Sakamoto, songs like “Ue o Muite Arukō” (“Sukiyaki”) and “Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o” come to mind, but this song, “Kokoro no Hitomi,” is also a wonderful piece.

Sakamoto’s works feel less like mere “tunes” and more like true “songs,” don’t they? Lyrics along the lines of “Even if time passes and everything changes, love alone remains the same” can be taken as both a love song and a song about bonds.

The words that gently teach us, “We can face partings without sorrow because there is a bond there,” also evoke a faint image of graduation scenes.

The lyrics and music come from the golden Shōwa-era duo, Toyohisa Araki and Takashi Miki.

It’s a good old Shōwa song we want to keep singing forever.

SOMEDAYSano Motoharu

Motoharu Sano “SOMEDAY” MUSIC VIDEO

One song that added color to the graduation season of the 1980s is Motoharu Sano’s “SOMEDAY.” Although it didn’t attract much attention when it was first released, it later regained the spotlight after being used in a TV commercial, transforming into a youth anthem that gave courage and hope to young people.

The powerful message in the lyrics—about “keeping on without giving up”—has not faded with time and remains a key reason it continues to be loved by many.

Along with nostalgia for those who remember that era, its spirit will surely be passed on to a new generation.

A Tearful RequestChekkāzu

Request of Tears - The Checkers - 1984

Boys all over Japan copied vocalist Fumiya Fujii’s hairstyle, with a thin fringe hanging down the center of his face.

It was like how all the girls copied Seiko-chan’s haircut.

One of the signature songs by The Checkers, the band fronted by Fumiya, “Namida no Request” (Tears’ Request), became such a hit that their earlier single “Gizagiza Heart no Komoriuta” (Lullaby of a Jagged Heart) also broke into the Top Ten, turning The Checkers into a nationwide phenomenon.

The lyrics, which could be interpreted as “graduating from someone you love,” made boys’ and girls’ hearts flutter back then.

The Future Projection IIDREAMS COME TRUE

The Future Projection II

Released in November 1989, this is a gem of a love song included on DREAMS COME TRUE’s second album, “LOVE GOES ON…”.

Reportedly written during their high school days, it’s a classic that sings of love that remains unchanged over time.

The memorable line depicting a signal from brake lights became engraved in many people’s hearts as a sign of love.

In 1993, it was featured in a commercial for Sony’s “Handycam,” bringing it even more attention.

When you want to look back on your school days or the bond with someone important, why not hum it softly? It’s sure to warm your heart.

The youth I walked through with youŌta Hiromi

Hiromi Ohta - The Youth We Walked Together

A song by Hiromi Ohta that captured the hearts of many and stands as a signature work from the golden age of folk music.

Written and composed by Shozo Ise, it was released as a single in December 1977 and is also included on the album “12-Page Poetry Collection.” Its lyrics and melody gently embrace the loneliness of the end of youth and the parting from someone dear.

Ohta’s clear, pure voice resonates deeply with listeners.

When you feel like looking back on your youthful days, give it a listen.

Your Graduation1986OMEGATRIBE

Your Graduation

Although it was a B-side on their debut single, this ballad by 1986 OMEGA TRIBE has maintained enduring popularity among fans.

Released in May 1986 as the B-side of the single, it stands in contrast to the sparkling summer song on the A-side, carefully portraying bittersweet scenes of graduation season and the wavering emotions that come with it.

In fact, this was the very first track Carlos Toshiki recorded in Japan as the lead vocalist, and his delicate, translucent voice strikingly enhances the worldview of the lyrics, which dwell on the sorrow of parting.

While it never had any major tie-ins, it has continued to be included without fail on remastered album editions and special box sets, a testament to its long-lasting affection.

It’s a deeply moving song that I especially recommend to those standing at the major threshold of graduation, carrying a mix of uncertainty and hope.