[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!

Playlist

[80s Graduation Songs] Nostalgic Classics & Hits That Have Become Standards
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Graduationsaitou yuki		Graduation songs that speak of youthful memories
2	Graduation -GRADUATION-Kikuchi Momoko		Bittersweet feelings of love after graduation and the resolve to part ways
3	GraduationOzaki Yutaka		A graduation song that speaks for students’ youth.
4	youthMorita Kōichi to Toppugyaran		Graduation season: the struggles and memories of youth
5	Beyond the GoodbyeYamaguchi Momoe		Momoe’s final song: farewell and a resolve for the future
6	The PeopleYamashita Tatsuro		Tatsuro Yamashita’s masterpiece “Sōbō” encourages us in life.
7	Farewell, youthogura kei		Kiyoshi Ogura’s renowned masterpiece, a song that accompanies youth
8	YaYa (I Won’t Forget That Time)Sazan Ōrusutāzu		A classic song that sings of beautiful memories of youth
9	As a personKaientai		The classic song 'Sotsugyo' by Kaientai resonates with the heart.
10	Words of FarewellKaientai		The deep meaning of the graduation song “Okuru Kotoba”
11	Don’t give up on your dreamsOkamura Takako		A classic by Takako Okamura that sings about the heart that never gives up on dreams
12	Even though it’s springKashiwabara Yoshie		A graduation song that poignantly sings of springtime farewells
13	Eyes of the heartSakamoto Kyu		Kyu Sakamoto’s “Kokoro no Hitomi,” a song of love and bonds
14	Romantic Flightkome kome CLUB		The appeal of Kome Kome Club’s classic song “FLYING”
15	While shining…Tokunaga Hideaki		HIDEAKI TOKUNAGA’s youthful classic “Love”
16	A Tearful RequestChekkāzu		In the 1980s, The Checkers became a social phenomenon.
17	SOMEDAYSano Motoharu		The spirit of the youth anthem 'SOMEDAY'
18	Linda LindaTHE BLUE HEARTS		A soul-stirring masterpiece by THE BLUE HEARTS
19	The Future Projection IIDREAMS COME TRUE		A timeless classic singing of unwavering love, a love song etched in the heart
20	The youth I walked through with youŌta Hiromi		Hiromi Ohta’s famous song that sings of youthful memories
21	uniformMatsuda Seiko		The graduation song by 80s idol Seiko Matsuda, the bittersweetness of friendship
22	Your Graduation1986OMEGATRIBE		A famous song that portrays the bittersweet feelings of graduation season
23	See you.o nyanko kurabu		Onyanko Club’s cheerful graduation song
24	Entrance to DreamsItō Maiko		A classic by Maiko Itō that captures the feelings of youth
25	The last spring breakItō Maiko		A bittersweet song of loneliness and farewells felt in the school building during spring break
26	Graduationsawada shouko		Shoko Sawada's 'Graduation': The Bittersweet Feelings of Graduation
27	Before graduationOzaki Hitomi		A poignant song of springtime farewells before the graduation ceremony
28	era; age; time; periodYakushimaru Hiroko		Hiroko Yakushimaru covers Miyuki Nakajima’s classic song
29	Please give me wingsakai tori		The appeal of the hopeful classic song “Tsubasa wo Kudasai” (“Please Give Me Wings”)
30	Full of memoriesH₂O		A moving masterpiece that depicts memories and growth
31	GraduationHikaru GENJI		An inspiring song that sings of the sadness and hope of graduation
32	Spring sceneryMinamino Yoko		Harukeshiki, Nanyo Minamino’s classic—a masterpiece overflowing with a young girl’s wistfulness
33	GraduationKurasawa Atsumi		A youthful crush that turns mutual upon graduation
34	Spring La! La! La!Ishino Mako		A classic song about springtime meetings and farewells
35	Goodbye, Student StreetNishimura Tomomi		Idol Masterpieces That Stir Tomomi Nishimura’s Heart
36	A Lonely Graduation CeremonyMita Hiroko		Hiroko Mita’s graduation song: a unique atmosphere and a heavy theme
37	A Lonely Graduation CeremonyAsaka Yui		Heart-touching masterpieces that color graduation and move you to tears
38	CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi		Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s “Kanpai” is a song that cheers on people who are facing turning points in their lives.
39	MY GRADUATIONChekkāzu		The Checkers’ classic song about memories of graduation
40	TIME ZONEotoko		Passionate feelings of love and friendship that continue after graduation
41	Good-bye school dayshaifaisetto		Season of graduation: the tones of parting and hope
42	SWEET GRADUATIONNishida Hikaru		A bittersweet graduation song that colors the youth of the ’80s
43	GraduationTanimura Shinji		Shinji Tanimura’s “Sotsugyo” is a moving anthem of youth.
44	Goodbye once moreChekkāzu		A famous ballad by The Checkers themed around farewell
45	Yours sincerelyushiroyubi-sasaregumi		A youth song by Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi
46	Maybe a slight fever.Itō Maiko		Idol Maiko Ito’s classic song “Binetu ka Na”
47	Lost Property of YouthHori Chiemi		Chiemi Hori’s classic song that sings of the bittersweetness of youth
48	Amy’s GraduationKaoru Sudo		A graduation song of youth, a moving masterpiece that resonates with the heart
49	GraduationOzawa Natsuki		A bittersweet yet hopeful classic graduation song
50	Blue StasieonKawai Sonoko		Sonoko Kawai, a popular idol from Onyanko Club