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

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.

CorrectRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – The Answer [Official Music Video]

A song by RADWIMPS that resonates with students’ hearts.

It delivers a powerful yet warm message to young people standing at the crossroads of graduation.

Originally created for the 18 Fes, an event for 18-year-olds in 2018, it was released digitally in January 2024.

Its lyrics delicately portray the journey of searching for the right answers in life and the shifting nature of friendship, sure to deeply touch students on the brink of graduation.

It’s a perfect track for the spring graduation season—why not give it a listen?

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.

Futabaaimyon

Aimyon – Futaba [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A message song by Aimyon born from NHK’s music project “18-sai-sai” (18 Fes).

Listening closely to the voices of 1,000 18-year-olds from across Japan, it distills their joys, anxieties, and hopes for the future into a single track.

Centered on acoustic guitar, the gentle layering of piano and strings creates a warm, conversational feel.

The lyrics portray a small sprout pushing up from the dark soil toward the blue sky, mirroring young people stepping into a new world.

Released in March 2022, the song is also included on the August 2022 album “Falling into My Eyes Record” (Hitomi e Ochiruyo Record).

It’s a song we hope reaches junior high and high school students at graduation time, as well as the adults watching over them.

18imase

【imase】18（MV）

Here’s a song that gently stands by the generation whose youth was largely taken by the pandemic.

Released by imase in April 2023, this track was written for Suntory’s web video “Otonajan: From Here 04.” Aimed at the “04 generation,” those born between April 2004 and March 2005, it carries a message of support for taking the first steps into adulthood.

While it portrays memories from behind masks and the sadness of events that never happened, its structure impressively rises to sing of hope for the life ahead.

The light beat and catchy, singable melody fit perfectly with Gen Z sensibilities.

It’s also included on the album “Bonsai,” released in May 2024.

It’s recommended not only for those about to graduate but also for anyone anxious about a new chapter in life.

Rather than lamenting lost time, it turns your attention to the joys that lie ahead—an encouraging anthem that gives you a gentle push forward.

Letter ~To You at Fifteen~Anjura Aki

Angela Aki – Letter ~Dear You at Fifteen~ / THE FIRST TAKE

A moving song built on a unique concept: a 15-year-old self and a future self exchanging letters.

Based on Angela Aki’s own experiences, the lyrics gently embrace the anxieties and conflicts unique to adolescence, while conveying the warmth of an older self who offers a kind push forward.

The beautiful piano melody and her powerful vocals stir the listener’s heart.

Released in September 2008 as her eighth single, it peaked at No.

3 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

Written as the set piece for the NHK National School Music Competition’s junior high division, it was also chosen as the theme song for the film “Have a Song on Your Lips.” It’s a classic I’d recommend not only to junior high students approaching graduation, but to anyone standing at a turning point in life.

Sakura RabbitKawasaki Takaya

Takanori Kawasaki - Sakura Usagi [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Here’s a song for graduation season that captures the bittersweet feeling of not being able to honestly express your true feelings.

It’s a single released digitally in January 2021 by singer-songwriter Takaya Kawasaki, who shot to fame when his song “Mahou no Jutan” (Magic Carpet) went viral on TikTok.

The lyrics, comparing oneself—unable to confess even at the very end to someone they’ve loved for three years—to a timid rabbit, cut straight to the heart.

Set against the scene of cherry blossoms fluttering at a graduation ceremony, the delicate depiction of the frustration of wanting to speak but being unable to find the words is especially striking.

Layered over a simple, acoustic guitar–based sound, Kawasaki’s husky, emotionally rich vocals resonate deeply with listeners.

The track is also included on his June 2023 album Nukumori (Warmth).

It’s a must-listen for anyone nursing a one-sided love or holding unspoken feelings for someone special.