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

It’s okayji ma ma

jimama “It’s Okay”

Many of you probably remember that gentle singing voice from the commercial! This song by jimama, a singer-songwriter from Okinawa, is a warm ballad that seems to wrap listeners’ anxieties in comfort.

The words, inspired by “the precious person who always supports you,” resonate deeply with hearts facing graduation or a new departure.

Released as a single in April 2009, it was featured in a Taiyo Yakuhin Kogyo TV commercial at the time and played in living rooms across the country.

It topped the charts in Okinawa and was rediscovered after a 2014 TV appearance, remaining a beloved classic.

It’s also included on the album “BEST OF jimama ~Kimi ni Okuru Uta~.” As spring brings changes, it’s perfect for friends who are feeling anxious.

Rather than forcing encouragement, it’s filled with a gentle presence that simply stays by your side—sing it at a farewell party or karaoke, and the whole room is sure to be wrapped in a warm atmosphere!

Joined handsMINAMI

[MV] MINAMI – The Hands We Held

A ballad that tugs at the heartstrings, “Tsunai da Te” (“Hands Held”), portrays the bond of two people walking hand in hand toward the future.

Conjuring youthful scenes like the after-school chime and a rainbow after the rain, this work is MINAMI’s major-label debut single, released in July 2023.

It’s a song you’ll want to send to a friend who feels the loneliness of parting during graduation season, when anxiety and hope mingle.

Its warm message—supporting one another’s existence—will surely resonate in the heart.

This is me ~Poem of Promise~RIKU

This is me ~Poem of Promise~

RIKU from THE RAMPAGE wrote “This is me ~Yakusoku no Uta~” for his solo tour.

Released as a single in November 2025, it was created to express his true, authentic self.

It embodies a resolve to accept his weaknesses and past, and to live as he is.

The song is filled with a universal message of self-affirmation that encourages listeners to be proud of themselves.

For graduates about to embark on a new world, it will surely resonate as if it were their own story.

BFFMrs. GREEN APPLE

BFF

The loneliness of being separated from a dear friend, and the wish to stay connected no matter what.

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s “BFF” gently embraces those complex feelings.

Released toward the end of their July 2023 album “ANTENNA,” this track bears a title that means “best friend,” yet it goes beyond a simple friendship song, becoming a profound ballad that tenderly accepts distance and the passage of time.

When you want to reaffirm the bonds you share with your companions, give it a listen.

Embrace the presentsatō moka

Satomoka – Embrace the Now (Music Video)

A ballad by Moka Sato that makes you want to gently embrace the “now” we tend to lose sight of during busy days and the season of graduations and farewells.

Released as a single in November 2025, it’s a work that lays bare unadorned feelings.

What really hits home is how it portrays the will to move forward, even while carrying loneliness, through everyday details like familiar rooms and scenery.

It’s a song that sinks into the heart when you’re tucking away precious memories and heading toward a new place.

Thank youikimonogakari

Ikimonogakari 'Arigatou' Music Video

This is Ikimonogakari’s 18th single, written as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series Gegege no Nyobo.

Released in May 2010, it won an Excellence Award at the 52nd Japan Record Awards.

The lyrics, which tenderly portray the love nurtured in everyday life and gratitude toward those dear to us, resonate deeply.

The warmth conveyed by holding hands and the hope for a shared future are expressed through a gentle melody that warmly embraces listeners.

In the 2013 school year, it was included as a choral piece in high school music textbooks, and it has also become a popular staple for graduation ceremonies.

It may feel a bit embarrassing to put into words, but this song is perfect for conveying thanks to the teachers, friends, and family who have supported you.

Why not sing it to express your honest feelings along with your memories of junior high school life?

Waiting for flowersKihara Rui

Rui Kihara / Waiting for Flowers Official Music Video

Written and composed by singer-songwriter Atsu Mizuno, this piece is a ballad distinguished by its warm melody.

It captures the loneliness of parting and a wish to meet again, offering comfort to those standing at the major milestone of graduation.

Released as a single in March 2025, it was also included on the first album, “REPLAY,” released the same year.

It’s a perfect song for spring, a season of new beginnings.