[80s Graduation Songs] Nostalgic Classics & Hits That Have Become Standards
When it comes to graduation songs, choral pieces used to be the standard, but from around the 1970s, pop-style graduation songs began to appear, and by the 1980s, many hit songs related to graduation were being released.
In this article, we’ll introduce standout graduation songs that were released and became popular in the 1980s.
For those who were students during that era, these tracks will feel nostalgic; for those currently in school, they’ll feel fresh and deeply moving.
Enjoy the colorful world of 1980s graduation songs!
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[80s Graduation Songs] Nostalgic Classics & Now-Standard Hits (41–50)
GraduationTanimura Shinji
Shinji Tanimura’s signature song “Sotsugyo” is a masterpiece that moved many listeners among the graduation songs released in the 1980s.
Its gentle melody and lyrics that link bittersweet memories resonate deeply in the heart.
Listening to this song and picturing the nostalgic scenes of your school days, you’ll find the sweet-and-sour memories of that time washing over you, and the ache and restlessness of youth returning.
It’s a piece that celebrates graduates embarking on a new chapter while renewing our sense of gratitude for days gone by.
Tanimura’s warm vocals gently soothe the loneliness of parting.
Goodbye once moreChekkāzu
A gem-like ballad that gently weaves the pain of parting, set against a scene of lights drifting beyond the window and ice clinking in a glass.
Among The Checkers’ band sound, it’s a masterpiece that delicately portrays the feelings of a grown-up love.
Fumiya Fujii’s poignantly resonant vocals and Naoyuki Fujii’s beautiful melodies tenderly enfold the end of a love that still lingers with regret.
Upon its release in November 1990, the song reached No.
7 on the Oricon charts, and it was also included on the album “THE CHECKERS THE BEST,” soothing the hearts of many listeners.
It’s a track I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who has experienced parting from someone dear with the arrival of spring.
Why not listen alone on a quiet night and immerse yourself in cherished memories?
Yours sincerelyushiroyubi-sasaregumi
Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi was a two-member unit formed by members of Onyanko Club, who enjoyed immense popularity in the idol scene of the 1980s.
Their sixth single, Kashiko, was used as the opening theme for the TV anime High School! Kimengumi.
Its lyrics evoke the image of being unable to convey one’s feelings to someone you love, even at the moment of parting—something many listeners may find resonates with their own memories.
It’s a bittersweet yet comical idol song, marked by a catchy and light pop ensemble.
Maybe a slight fever.Itō Maiko
When you see the name Maiko Ito, some of you might wonder for a moment who that is.
Those who remember her days as an idol in the 1980s will likely know her, but since 1995 she has been better known for her work as an actress and entrepreneur under the stage name Maiko Ito (written in hiragana as “Itō Maiko”).
Among the songs she left from her idol era, I’d like to introduce Hinetsu ka na, which suits the theme of this article.
With lyrics by Masao Urino and music by Takao Kisugi, it has that quintessential idol kayō pop feel, and the lyrics—depicting school days as a “slight fever” with the sensibility of a bookish girl’s poem—are delightful.
Also pay attention to Ito’s innocent, unadorned singing voice!
Lost Property of YouthHori Chiemi
A gem of a ballad that represents Chiemi Hori’s music career.
The lyrics, themed around the nostalgia and bittersweetness of youth, resonate as they look back on days gone by.
Set to a minor-key melody, Hori’s soft yet powerful vocals strike a chord with listeners.
Released in September 1985, the song peaked at No.
12 on the Oricon charts.
Amid her busy schedule, it is said to have brought Hori herself a sense of comfort.
It’s recommended for times when you want to immerse yourself in memories of your youth or when you’ve experienced a parting with someone dear—you’re sure to find moments you can relate to.
Amy’s GraduationKaoru Sudo
Kaoru Sudo’s “Amy no Sotsugyo” is a standout among graduation songs from the 1980s.
Blending city pop elements that color the moments of youth with lyrics that capture both the bittersweetness of graduation and the hope of a new beginning, the song has surely resonated with many graduates.
Sudo’s delicate expressiveness and distinctive melodic lines convey the emotion of the graduation moment to this day.
Even after many years since its release, this timeless classic hasn’t lost its luster and will no doubt give strength to students about to leave their schools behind.
Its universal message ensures it will continue to be loved by many.
GraduationOzawa Natsuki
The moment that wistful intro starts playing, you just know it’s going to be a tearjerker, right? Let me introduce “Sotsugyo” (“Graduation”), the third single released in 1988 by Natsuki Ozawa, who debuted as an idol in the late 1980s and also worked as an actress.
As the title suggests, it’s a song themed around graduation, with beautifully poetic lyrics that portray a positive outlook on parting with “you,” who’s going far away.
Koji Makaino’s melody is wonderful as well—bright yet achingly bittersweet in just the right way.
“Graduation” can be interpreted as graduating from “you,” too, so I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to view separation in a positive light.