[2026] A Collection of Graduation Songs Recommended for Gen Z [A Page of Youth]

Friend ~Time of Departure~yuzu

Yuzu “Friend ~The Time of Departure~”

Even if graduating doesn’t quite feel real yet, a growing loneliness wells up as the day of the ceremony draws near.

At the heart of that feeling, isn’t it the parting from friends? Speaking directly to those emotions is Yuzu’s 38th single.

Released in September 2013, it was selected as the compulsory piece for the junior high division of the 80th NHK All-Japan School Music Competition and gained wide recognition through broadcasts on Minna no Uta.

The song is based on a piece Yujin Kitagawa originally wrote to encourage their tour staff after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Its message—that hearts remain connected even when we’re apart—makes it a perfect gift for friends setting off on new paths.

Its gentle tempo and warm harmonies evoke memories of irreplaceable days.

PasswordAina ji Endo

Aina the End – Aikotoba [Official Music Video] (TV Anime “The Apothecary Diaries” Ending Theme)

A song whose vocals, blending transience and resolve, seep deep into the heart.

This medium-tempo ballad by Aina the End—who has continued to shine in many fields after her time with BiSH, including starring in the film “Kyrie no Uta”—was released digitally in October 2023 and used as the ending theme for the anime “The Apothecary Diaries.” Written by singer-songwriter Huey Ishizaki, its expansive melody and prayer-like lyrics are profoundly moving.

The track was later included on the album “RUBY POP,” released in November the following year, and has become a signature song that holds an important place in her live shows.

It’s perfect for anyone looking back on days spent with friends while preparing to take a new step forward.

In those moments when you set off carrying feelings you can’t quite put into words, this song will gently stay by your side.

true feelingsNEW!GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE

true feelings

This song is filled with messages cheering on those who keep moving forward despite uncertainty and regret.

It’s a track by the dance and vocal group GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE, released in March 2026.

It served as a tie-in song with the radio show SCHOOL OF LOCK!, which the members appeared on for six years, and the show’s live project MY GENERATION 2026.

The sentimental strings are sure to bring tears.

The lyrics, written in down-to-earth language, are deeply relatable, word by word.

With a graduation-themed worldview, it’s a masterpiece that stands by everyone carrying a sense of heartache.

Give it a listen when you want to shake off your sadness.

If I had been living aloneSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER "If I Had Lived Alone" MV

I am who I am today because I’ve walked alongside someone else.

This song delivers that simple yet easily forgotten truth straight to the heart.

It’s included on the four-piece rock band SUPER BEAVER’s 12th single, released in June 2020, and was chosen as the theme song for the film “Water’s Edge Flight.” The frustrations and joys you could never have experienced alone, and the encounters with those who became precious to you—these feelings that only arise through connections with others surge to the fore alongside a powerful rock sound.

The structure is superb too, building gradually from a quiet opening into growing heat, and by the time it ends your heart will naturally feel warm.

It’s the perfect number for those who, at the milestone of graduation, want to savor their gratitude for the friends they spent time with and the people who supported them.

ChessboardOfisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – Chessboard [Official Video]

Official HIGE DANDism is a four-piece piano pop band that has taken the J-pop scene by storm, thanks to their overwhelming performance prowess and exceptional pop sensibility.

Their sixth single, released as a double A-side with “Nichijo,” was written as the set piece for the middle school division of the 90th NHK National School Music Competition.

The lyrics liken life to a two-colored grid, portraying people searching for the roles they’re given as they move forward—words that are sure to resonate deeply with students stepping into an uncertain future.

In December 2023, the song was also performed on the 74th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, reaching far beyond the realm of choral music to touch a wide audience.

It’s a must-listen for anyone facing the milestone of graduation, grappling with farewells to friends and anxieties about new surroundings.

Rather than winning or losing, it gently reminds us that what truly matters is the accumulation of encounters and choices—offering a soft push forward.