[Graduation Live & Farewell Concert] Graduation Songs You’ll Want to Play with Your Band [2026]

Precious thingsroodo obu mejyaa

Lord of Major / Precious Things

This song, one of the signature tracks by the rock band Road of Major, is brimming with the charm typical of youth punk.

With firmly distorted guitar tones and a straightforward song structure, it’s easy to get into the groove.

On the other hand, when you look at the lyrics, memories with school-time friends come flooding back, and it really tugs at the heart.

It might resonate even more with those who were involved in club activities.

With its uptempo, upbeat vibe, it’s a perfect track to lift the mood and get everyone excited.

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Hane Keisuke

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dear my friendHi-STANDARD

Hi-Standard – Dear My Friends

A track from the classic album “MAKING THE ROAD” by Hi-STANDARD, the rock band that has led Japan’s melodic hardcore scene.

The lyrics are all in English, but when you look at the content, you can feel a message written about a friend who’s far away.

Those lyrics filled with friendship, bonds, and compassion are also perfect for graduation scenes! The lines before the chorus that vow to meet again are especially moving.

The tempo is fast and the performance is a bit challenging, but if you love Hi-Standard or melodic hardcore, there’s no reason not to play this song at your graduation live show!

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Hane Keisuke

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CHERRY BLOSSOME10-FEET

Kyoto Daisakusen 2011 CHERRY BLOSSOM

If I had to pick one 10-FEET song that’s perfect for graduation, it would be this one! Although it’s a track from their first album “springman,” released in 2002, it’s still a staple often played live, so many of you might already know it.

The lyrics carry a message like a truth of life: when something ends, something new begins.

It’s sure to give you the strength to keep pushing forward as you graduate and step into a new environment.

And if you perform it live, how about incorporating the towel-throwing bit that happens every year in the audience at Kyoto Daisakusen?

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Hane Keisuke

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youth↑THE HIGH-LOWS↓

Youth / THE HIGH-LOWS

THE HIGH-LOWS’ songs are always straightforward, and every single one is amazing! Among their punk rock tracks, the one that will make you tear up if you let your guard down is Seishun (Youth).

It’s a song that sings, raw and unvarnished, about those uncool moments from back in the day.

Keep punk rock in your heart—play with feeling, even if you’re clumsy or uncool!

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Murakami Shinpei

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Last SongOfisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – Last Song [Studio Live Session]

A song I’d like to recommend for the milestone of graduation is “Last Song” by Official HIGE DANDism.

Its faintly bittersweet lyrics seem to speak for the feelings of everyone setting out on a new path.

Satoshi Fujwara’s warm, heartfelt vocals bring back memories of the days when friendships and love were nurtured.

With its gentle, easy-to-listen-to melody and relaxed ballad style, this piece can captivate an audience live if you practice well.

As you bask in the afterglow of the graduation ceremony, why not perform this track to color both the end of your youth and the start of something new?

Stand by MeSaucy Dog

Stand By Me

Here’s a straightforward song that portrays the inner conflict felt during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

It’s included on Saucy Dog’s third mini-album, Blue Period, released in October 2019, and was pre-released in September of the same year.

The lyrics, written in down-to-earth language, capture the struggle between wanting to remain a child and the reality that you still have to move forward.

Shinya Ishihara’s emotionally charged vocals, paired with the simple yet powerful sound of a three-piece band, resonate deeply with listeners.

The song was also used in Kao’s “Babu / MegRhythm” support video for exam-takers, and has become cherished as a track that gently encourages those standing at a turning point in life.

Perform it at a graduation concert or farewell party while looking back on the days spent with friends, and it’s sure to become a special moment.

TRACEWANIMA

WANIMA -TRACE (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

It’s a song that gently weaves together down-to-earth emotions—the resolve to keep moving forward, step by step, even while carrying wounds you can’t tell anyone about.

It’s a track from WANIMA, a three-piece band from Kumamoto Prefecture, included on their first single “Think That…,” released in August 2015, and it was also used as the ending theme for TV Tokyo’s program Premier MelodiX!.

The music video was filmed at an elevation of about 2,800 meters in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture; the grueling process of hauling equipment up the mountain mirrors the song’s lyrical theme of “leaving footprints.” Rather than giving a flashy push from behind, it’s striking for quietly singing about the presence of someone who stays by your side in hard times.

It’s a perfect song for those facing graduation and the sorrow of parting from friends, or for anyone who wants to express gratitude to the people who have supported each other up to now.