Farewell Song: A Song About Changing Schools, A Song to Give to Friends
Transferring schools is a big event, isn’t it?
If you’re the one transferring, it means leaving the place you’ve spent so much time in.
And if it’s a friend who’s leaving, it can feel like a hole opens up in your heart… Just imagining it is bittersweet.
In this article, I’ve put together songs on the theme of “transferring schools.”
Most of them are farewell songs, but some pieces feel like they can save you from sadness.
It may be a tearful goodbye now, but someday you’ll feel through music that the experience was something good for your life… That’s the kind of playlist this is.
- A farewell song for a dear friend—an uplifting graduation song that conveys heartfelt gratitude.
- Recommended friendship songs for children. Songs about friends you’ll want to listen to with your pals.
- Friendship songs recommended for elementary school students. Bonding songs you’ll want to listen to with your friends.
- Farewell Song: A goodbye song. A tearful parting song.
- [A moving friendship song] For dear friends and best friends. Songs of friendship that make you feel the bond.
- A gratitude song for friends. A thank-you song dedicated to someone special.
- Farewell Songs: Karaoke tunes to sing at a farewell party. Goodbye songs.
- Six types of farewell songs: goodbye songs for each scene
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- [For High School Students] A Collection of Touching Friendship Songs
- Friendship Songs: Rediscover Your Bonds! A Carefully Curated Selection of Moving Masterpieces That Will Bring You to Tears
- A funny song that livens up a farewell party
- Songs to use in the memory movie. Let’s look back on our memories before graduation!
[Farewell Songs] Songs about Transfer Schools and Songs to Send to Friends (31–40)
SAKURAikimonogakari
A heartwarming song that gently portrays the season when cherry blossoms dance in the air.
Its refreshing, springlike melody is beautifully layered with Kiyoe Yoshioka’s clear, transparent vocals from Ikimonogakari, resonating deeply with the listener.
While carefully depicting the scenes of a season filled with meetings and farewells, it serves as an encouraging anthem that gives you the courage to take the next step.
Released in March 2006 as their major-label debut, it was also used in an NTT East Japan commercial.
It has often been broadcast to coincide with the school graduation season and continues to be cherished as a song of memories.
It’s recommended for those who, in the spring season of partings, want to face forward and start walking, or are about to take a new step.
spring melancholyMrs. GREEN APPLE
A popular song that poignantly portrays graduation and new encounters has been delivered by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE.
Set at a medium tempo, it candidly sings about precious memories and farewells with friends.
The song carries the straightforward feelings of vocalist Motoki Omori, who wrote it the day after graduating high school, and it was also chosen as the theme for Suntory’s “Craft Boss” commercial.
While sensing how quickly student life passes, it depicts the realization that everyday repetition was actually a treasure, weaving in awkwardness when facing friends and the inner conflict of yearning and aspiration.
As spring arrives and the seasons change, the protagonist’s emotions—anxious about the future yet striving to look ahead—are carefully rendered alongside delicate melodies.
It’s a track we especially hope elementary school students working hard at their studies and club activities will listen to.
Goodbye Busyuzu
A gem of a love song that gently wraps farewells and reunions in an acoustic sound.
It’s a heartwarming track you’ll want to listen to as spring arrives.
The protagonist’s hidden feelings and regrets are portrayed over a tender, bittersweet melody.
Yuzu’s refreshing vocals continue to resonate with those experiencing springtime goodbyes.
Released in March 1999 and included on the album “Yuzuen,” it was also featured as an insert song in the NHK morning drama series “Yanchakure,” capturing fans’ hearts.
It’s a song we hope those parting from someone dear, just before starting a new chapter in life, will listen to.
As a spring anthem that gives you the courage to take a step toward the future, it comes highly recommended.
Song of Transfer (School Transfer Song)SHISHAMO
SHISHAMO is a three-member girls’ rock band with experience performing on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Their raw, unfiltered rock sound pairs perfectly with vocalist Asako Miyazaki’s feminine voice, making for an exceptionally pleasant listening experience.
“Tenkō no Uta” (Song of Transferring Schools) is a slow-tempo rock track—calm and easy to listen to.
The lyrics clearly reflect candid feelings about transferring schools.
It’s not exactly a bright song, but you can feel a warm sense of friendship in it.
Memories with friends come flooding back one after another.
telepathyORANGE RANGE
This is a song with a universal message that our hearts remain connected even when we’re apart.
Centered on the bonds that transcend physical distance, it portrays heart-to-heart connections alongside a warm, uplifting melody.
Released in December 2004 as a track on the album “musiQ,” it was also featured in a commercial for au by KDDI, capturing the hearts of many.
The song was used as an insert track in the film “Check It Out, Yo!” and led to a collaboration with MONGOL800.
It’s a work where ORANGE RANGE’s diverse musicality blends beautifully with a technopop sound.
This is a song you’ll want to listen to when parting from dear friends or thinking of companions far away.
[Farewell Songs] Songs about transferring schools / songs to give to friends (41–50)
Youth and a momentmakaroni enpitsu
This song beautifully portrays the importance of friendship and the fleeting nature of youth.
Released in March 2019, it was created by Hattori, the vocalist of Macaroni Empitsu.
Finding value in the boredom and seemingly worthless moments that young people experience, and celebrating the act of holding those moments dear, the song was also used in McDonald’s “These moments are the real treat” commercial.
It’s included on the album “season,” and its music video featuring Nana Mori drew significant attention.
It’s a perfect track for conveying memories to friends—especially for farewells with dear friends or graduation scenes.
Bye-byeMoriyama Naotaro
This is a piece by Naotaro Moriyama themed around parting and setting off, which had previously only been performed live.
It premiered in April 2025 on the YouTube channel THE FIRST TAKE.
It’s a bluegrass song, characterized by a lively, bright sound centered on banjo and fiddle.
Moriyama’s clear, straightforward vocals beautifully capture what lies beyond goodbye, leaving listeners with a positive feeling by the end.
It’s perfect for those at a turning point in life or anyone looking to make a fresh start.