[2026] Recommended for Women! A Collection of Moving J-POP Graduation Songs

Never ForgetMōningu Musume.

Morning Musume – Never Forget

When it comes to ballads that touch the heart in the season of goodbyes, this masterpiece comes to mind.

Created for the graduation of Asuka Fukuda, an early member of Morning Musume, this song gently sings of the bittersweet feeling of departure and the hope for the future.

Its lyrics, which portray facing forward with memories engraved in one’s heart, remind us of the enduring value of friendship across any era.

Released in February 1999 as the B-side to the single “Memory Seishun no Hikari,” it can also be heard on the album “Second Morning” and various best-of compilations.

Cherished among fans as an underrated gem, it has long been celebrated as a gold standard of graduation songs.

Why not sing it at a farewell party as you bid goodbye to friends, or as a cheer for companions setting out toward new dreams? It’s sure to wrap everyone in a warm, moving glow.

The meaning of goodbyeNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 'The Meaning of Goodbye'

Nogizaka46’s “The Meaning of Goodbye,” released in 2016 as their 16th single.

Nanami Hashimoto served as the center, and the group also performed this song at that year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Many people may feel down as they face graduation and the prospect of being separated from friends.

True to its title, this song makes you reflect on “the meaning of goodbye.” There isn’t a single answer; it encourages a positive outlook that each farewell surely has its own meaning and reason.

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Sky-blue DaysSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “Sky-Blue Days”

Mizuiro no Hibi, which captures the freshness of youth and the loneliness of graduation, is a song many students on the verge of graduating can relate to.

Its lyrics, depicting the everyday moments we once took for granted, are delivered with clear vocals and a pleasant melody.

As you look back on your school memories, SHISHAMO’s music is sure to gently keep you company.

With its mid-tempo, refreshing vibe, it’s also a great one to try at karaoke.

HarukaYOASOBI

YOASOBI 'Haruka' Official Music Video

As you graduate from school—the place where you learned and grew—and move on to the next step, YOASOBI’s “Haruka” is a song that gives you a gentle push toward a new beginning.

Its heartfelt lyrics and melody resonate with those reaching the milestone of graduation.

Since its release in 2020, it has been loved by many, even reaching fifth place on Billboard’s download chart.

Depicting the story of a girl named Haruka and a mug, with lyrics that express gratitude for the past, it’s a perfect fit as a graduation song.

It will surely give you the strength to move forward beyond farewells.

Singing it together with friends at karaoke will also become a memory to last a lifetime.

Only the graduation photo knowsHinatazaka46

The Only One Who Knows Is the Graduation Photo by Hinatazaka46

A song by Hinatazaka46 themed around graduation.

It gently sings of the bittersweet feelings of the cherry blossom season and the love that went unspoken.

Memories and regrets sealed in graduation photos resonate deeply, intertwined with clear, transparent vocals.

Set for release on January 29, 2025, the track features Nao Kosaka as center and will be available in five editions: limited first-press versions and a regular edition.

It was premiered at their Tokyo Dome concert on December 26, 2024.

It’s a recommended listen not only for students entering graduation season, but also for anyone who wants to reflect on past loves.

See you.NEW!o nyanko kurabu

See you.

When it comes to graduation season, while many songs are tear-jerking ballads, this track—with its exuberantly bright and breezy melody coloring the farewell—gave us a fresh shock back then, didn’t it? Released in February 1986 as Onyanko Club’s third single, it was created to mark member Miharu Nakajima’s graduation and became a massive hit, earning the group their first No.

1 on the Oricon chart.

The upbeat message penned by Yasushi Akimoto has the power to turn the sadness of parting into smiles.

It was also used in dramas like NHK’s Asadora Amachan as a song emblematic of the ’80s.

Play it at a class reunion with old classmates or on a springtime drive, and the after-school scenes of those nostalgic days are sure to come vividly back to life!

Even though it’s springKashiwabara Yoshie

Harunanoni

This is a classic song themed around spring, a season that symbolizes bittersweet feelings and the changing of seasons.

Written and composed by Miyuki Nakajima, it features Yoshie Kashiwabara’s clear, pure vocals that resonate deeply.

Released in January 1983, it peaked at No.

6 on the Oricon chart and achieved official single sales of 610,000 copies.

The lyrics portray the complex emotions of a female student on the verge of graduation, expressing the pain of parting that accompanies the arrival of spring, set to a beautiful melody.

Cherished for many years as a staple for graduation ceremonies and a popular karaoke choice, it’s a song you’ll want to listen to in spring—one that offers comfort to those who have experienced farewells with someone important.