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

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.

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.

Philosophy[Alexandros]

[Alexandros] – Philosophy (MV)

Introducing a special song born from NHK’s program project “18-sai.” Released by [Alexandros] in January 2020, this track was created to perform together with 1,000 youths aged 17 to 19.

Based on videos submitted under the theme of “your own kind of cool,” Yohei Kawakami wrote and composed the piece, building an overwhelming sense of momentum across its approximately six-minute length.

The phrases are designed with choral parts and call-and-response in mind, clearly made for everyone to raise their voices together at a live show.

The original version was first included on the best-of album “Where’s My History?” released in March 2021, allowing listeners to enjoy a chorus arrangement that differs from the streaming version.

Perfect for a graduation live performance, this work conveys the importance of continually updating your personal values at a major life milestone.

Sing it together with the audience, and it’s sure to become an unforgettable stage.

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.

Orangeakai kouen

Red Park “Orange” Music Video

A send-off song by Akai Koen that simultaneously captures the poignancy and beauty of “moving forward without looking back.” Released in November 2020 as a double A-side single, it was used as the opening theme for the Fuji TV FOD original drama “A Band Crossing Time.” Written and composed by guitarist Yosuke Tsumo, the track centers on a band sound while its soaring melody leaves a lasting impression.

The lyrics weave in reflections on the end of a relationship, shifting promises, and a prayer-like gaze toward someone growing distant, delicately portraying the wavering of a person who, despite lingering attachments, wants to “at least look cool at the end” and take a step forward.

Its blend of freshness and bittersweetness makes it perfect for a graduation live! Highly recommended for those who want to face forward without getting overly sentimental as they part ways with their friends.