[Great Lyrics!!] Recommended Tear-Jerking Graduation Songs with Heartfelt, Moving Words [2026]

I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu

Words I Can’t Say / Off Course

Partings from those dear to us, encounters with the ones we love, and emotions too deep for words.

This gem of a ballad, released by Off Course in February 1982, gently sings of such delicate moments in life.

Kazumasa Oda’s clear, pure voice and the beautiful melody seep deep into the heart.

The song is included on the album “over” and was released as a double A-side single with “Kimi ni Okuru Uta.” In 1999, it was chosen for a life insurance company’s commercial, once again moving the hearts of many.

It’s a song to play when your feelings for someone overflow or when you want to express gratitude to someone precious.

GraduationOzaki Yutaka

Yutaka Ozaki – Graduation (Official Music Video)

Yutaka Ozaki delivers a work that captures the clumsy emotions of youth in their entirety with his powerful singing voice.

Frankly portraying the feelings of young people—such as the sense of suffocation in school life and distrust toward adults—this piece carries a universal message about the thirst for freedom felt within the school days that everyone experiences.

Released in January 1985 and peaking at No.

20 on the Oricon charts, it was issued as the lead single from the album Kaikisen (Tropic of Cancer).

Later, in 2016, it was also featured as the commercial song for a web-exclusive short film by a casual clothing chain, continuing to resonate with many people across generations.

It’s a track you’ll want to listen to when you’re wavering between ideals and reality or questioning the norms of society.

Snow in MarchMakihara Noriyuki

Snow in March (Live)

This is a coming-of-age ballad capturing a spring scene twenty days after graduation.

With a gentle melody and tender vocals, it expresses young people’s anxieties and hopes about change, as well as the fleeting time spent with dear friends.

Amid an unseasonal snowfall, the image of walking shoulder to shoulder with friends is portrayed in a way that resonates deeply.

Included on Noriyuki Makihara’s album “Kimi wa Dare to Shiawase na Akubi o Shimasu ka.” released in September 1991, this piece is captivating for its calm, warm poetic worldview.

It is a classic you’ll want to listen to with the arrival of spring, a song that offers solace to those facing life’s turning points and harboring feelings about the changing days.

cherry blossomKALMA

KALMA – Sakura (Music Video)

A heartwarming graduation song that accompanies the season when cherry blossoms dance.

It opens with a refreshing guitar tone, then builds with a powerful rhythm that evokes the arrival of spring.

The lyrics deftly portray the mix of anticipation and anxiety about a new beginning, as well as the loneliness of parting from loved ones.

Its uplifting message—that each “goodbye” makes us stronger—will gently nudge listeners forward.

Released in February 2021 to celebrate the first anniversary of KALMA’s major-label debut, this track offers comfort to those approaching graduation, school entrance, or a new chapter in life.

Give it a listen when you need the courage to take a new step.

SolaninASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION 'Soranin'

Released in March 2010, this song by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION was written as the main theme for the film Solanin, based on Inio Asano’s manga.

Its lyrics reflect the world of the movie, and its emotional melody has captured the hearts of many fans.

While conveying the pain of parting, it carries a positive message that seeks hope beyond it, making it a song that resonates with those facing the anxieties and conflicts of youth.

It’s a perfect track to listen to in spring, especially for anyone on the verge of a new beginning.

Dear Sir or Madam, on this day when cherry blossoms fluttermafumafu

[MV] Dear Sir/Madam, On This Day When Cherry Blossoms Flutter Down / Mafumafu [Shonen Janmaga Gakuen]

It’s a bittersweet yet powerful song by Mafumafu that delicately portrays farewells and new encounters arriving with the breath of spring.

Memories and regrets from school days, along with hopes for the future, are spun through a clear, transparent voice, seeping into the heart alongside scenes of falling cherry blossoms.

Included on the album “Kagurairo Artifact,” the track was released in October 2019 and was also used as the theme song for the website “Shonen Janmaga Gakuen.” Its emotional melody and driving rhythm leave a strong impression, gently encouraging those taking a new step in spring.

It resonates even more deeply when listened to at the start of a new chapter or during graduation season.

People and PeopleYugeda Kensuke

"Hito to Hito" (Lyrics: Tomohiro Iwai, Music: Kensuke Yugeda, Performance: Toin Gakuen Elementary School) — a choral piece for a music concert

This is a warm piece that sings about the importance of encounters through music.

The fresh melodies woven by Kensuke Yugedate carry a gentle calm while conveying a moving message.

In clear, resonant words, it speaks of the joy born from human connections and the inevitable meaning hidden within chance meetings.

Delivered by the pure voices of the Toin Gakuen Elementary School Choir, the work is also slated to appear in elementary school music textbooks starting in 2024.

Its kind, uplifting message is perfect for children who are about to meet new people in a new environment.

As they take their next step in school life, this wonderful song will give them courage and hope—please give it a listen.