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

era; age; time; periodYakushimaru Hiroko

Jidai

This work is a cover of Miyuki Nakajima’s classic released in 1975, delivered with a beautifully transparent vocal tone.

Issued as a single in July 1988, it marks Hiroko Yakushimaru’s 11th release.

Originally included on the album “Sincerely Yours,” the song also became familiar as the image song for the film “Downtown Heroes” and the ending theme for the TV program “Naruhodo! The World.” It resonated with many listeners, reaching No.

9 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and selling a total of 89,000 copies.

With a grand theme that speaks to the cyclical nature of joy and sorrow, Yakushimaru sings gently yet with a firm core.

Heard during graduation season, when farewells and new departures intersect, it may warmly encourage you, reminding you that even tears shed now will one day become cherished memories.

Please give me wingsakai tori

Red Bird “Please Give Me Wings” 1971

A beloved national classic that has been included in textbooks and that almost everyone has hummed at least once, “Tsubasa o Kudasai” (“Please Give Me Wings”).

Its melody, brimming with hope as if soaring into the sky, and its lyrics filled with a heartfelt wish for the future deliver a moving experience perfect for a graduation day—the start of a new journey.

The song first appeared as the B-side to the folk group Akai Tori’s 1971 single “Takeda no Komoriuta.” It was originally written for the 1970 music contest “Gonen Popular Festival” (Nemu Popular Festival), and later became established as a cheer song for Japan’s national soccer team.

As a standard number passed down across generations, it’s a wonderful choice to listen to when expressing gratitude to mentors and friends, or when you need the courage to take a new step forward.

Entrance to DreamsItō Maiko

Maiko Ito – Entrance to a Dream

Maiko Ito, who has been expanding her activities as both an actor and a researcher, released this work in June 1983.

With lyrics by Masao Urino, it is a classic that vividly captures the wavering emotions of youth.

True to its title, the lyrics blend anticipation and anxiety about stepping into the unknown, transcending the bounds of a love song to resonate with moments like graduation and new beginnings.

It was released during a period when she was gaining attention for her role in the TV drama “Kokosei Fufu,” and it is also included on the album “Yume no Iriguchi” (Entrance to a Dream).

Featuring a dazzling sound born from Tatsuji Umegaki’s melody and Eiji Kawamura’s arrangement, the track shines with Maiko Ito’s refreshing vocals.

The last spring breakItō Maiko

Maiko Ito “The Last Spring Break” (with lyrics)

It’s a ballad that conjures the scene of stepping into a school building during spring break after graduation, when everyone’s gone, and being suddenly overcome with loneliness.

Written and composed by Yumi Matsutoya, this classic—performed by both Hi-Fi Set and Yuming herself—was covered by Maiko Ito.

It’s included on her album “Yume no Iriguchi,” released in June 1983, and her clear, translucent vocals from her idol days—she now works widely as an actor and researcher—really touch the heart.

In 1991, a story inspired by this song aired on the TBS drama “Rouge no Dengon,” testifying to its lasting popularity.

The slightly youthful vocals make the lyrics’ poignancy feel even more immediate, and it’s a track you’ll want to listen to alone, slowly, in the season of farewells.

Before graduationOzaki Hitomi

Hitomi Ozaki — before graduation

It’s a hidden gem of idol pop that seems to capture that unique atmosphere right before a graduation ceremony.

Rather than focusing on the parting itself, it delicately portrays the heartache of the time leading up to it.

Written by Tsubasa Kazu and composed by Kyoko Kosaka, this piece was included on the record released in February 1986 as the B-side to Hitomi Ozaki’s debut single “Early Springtime.” Although it’s a B-side that tends to be overshadowed by the A-side, the melody—where the brightness of early spring coexists with the premonition of farewell—is simply irresistible.

There weren’t any notable tie-ins, but it has long been cherished as a seasonal song known to those in the know.

For anyone approaching an important seasonal milestone with unspoken feelings in their heart, this song will quietly stay by your side.

uniformMatsuda Seiko

Seiko Matsuda: Uniform

A graduation song by Seiko Matsuda, one of the iconic idols of the 1980s.

Released as the B-side to the smash hit “Akai Sweet Pea,” this track features lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto, music composed by Yumi Matsutoya under the pen name Kureta Keiko, and arrangement by Masataka Matsutoya.

It portrays the bittersweet realization, at graduation, that the classmate you thought was just a friend actually meant more to you.

People often say you only recognize something’s value after you’ve lost it; similarly, noticing someone’s importance only when you’re about to part is a feeling many can relate to, not just in romantic contexts.

Recommended for those who find themselves in a sentimental mood as graduation approaches.

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Full of memoriesH₂O

Full of Memories / H2O (Full/Lyrics Included) covered by SKYzART

A classic by H2O that began appearing in music textbooks around the 2000s.

It was used as the ending theme for the anime “Miyuki.” The song has been covered by many artists across various genres, including May J.

and Megumi Ogata, and has been featured in many tie-ins, making it a beloved track for many years.

It evokes memories preserved in graduation albums.

From the perspective of one’s now fully grown self, it fondly portrays how, at the time of graduation—when facing those memories and taking a step closer to adulthood—one was still quite a child.

For those graduating now, it’s a song that offers hope: that the anxieties and uncertainties you feel today will one day make sense.

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