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

Graduation Song ~Let Me Say Thank You Over and Over~GReeeeN

Sotsugyounouta Arigatouha Nanndomo Iwasete

I wish I could stay like this forever, but I have to set off…

This is a message song that sings of the bittersweet feelings and gratitude right before graduation.

Created by GReeeeN, it’s the coupling track to the single “Aisubeki Ashita, Isshun to Isshō o,” released in March 2014, and it’s also included on the best-of album “C, D desu to!?”.

It was featured in an AOKI commercial, cheering on the first steps into a new chapter of life.

Carried by a refreshing, warm melody, the straightforward lyrics make you want to say “thank you” over and over again, striking straight to the heart.

The harmony woven by the four voices is moving, making it a perfect song for a slideshow of memories with friends or an Instagram story to express your gratitude.

YELLikimonogakari

Ikimono-gakari “YELL” Music Video

This song, YELL, was released in 2009.

Many people associate Ikimonogakari with energetic, pop tunes, but they also have many gentle, moving songs—both sides are part of their appeal.

The track won various awards the year it came out and was also selected as a set piece for NHK’s National School Music Competition.

It’s a song whose lyrics feel weighty, like a dialogue with one’s own heart.

It’s perfect as a graduation song, and it’s also a piece that can continue to support you even after you graduate.

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utatane

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Bye, see you again sometime!Yonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Goodbye, See You Again Sometime!

This song skillfully portrays the passage of time and the changes in life.

Kenshi Yonezu’s distinctive sensibility shines through in the lyrics, weaving a story of parting, reunion, and growth.

Its message, casting thoughts toward a future 100 years from now, is sure to resonate deeply with listeners.

The track was written as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Tora ni Tsubasa,” which airs from April 2024.

It perfectly complements the drama’s theme—a passionate tale of the legal profession.

It’s a must-listen for those about to take a new step or standing at a crossroads in life.

Its powerful yet gentle vocals will surely give you a supportive push forward.

globeYonezu Kenshi

Globe – Kenshi Yonezu [Mixed Choir Arrangement]

Released in July 2023 as the theme song for Hayao Miyazaki’s film The Boy and the Heron, this single is also included on the album LOST CORNER.

Kenshi Yonezu created the track as an expression of his long-held admiration for the director.

Framing life as a long journey, the lyrics portray the strength to keep moving forward on one’s own feet, even through farewells and hardships—offering gentle support to children facing the significant milestone of graduation.

Beginning with a quiet piano and gradually building into a powerful, expansive sound, it delivers a moving experience well-suited to a graduation ceremony, where hope and uncertainty meet as new doors open.

It’s a song filled with a warm message that inspires the courage to take a step toward the future.

Promise ~promises~EXILE

EXILE / Yakusoku ~promises~ (Recording Movie)

A heartwarming ballad by EXILE themed around a promise to meet again.

Created as the final work featuring ATSUSHI and TAKAHIRO as the duo on vocals, who have long led the group, the song’s lyrics were written by ATSUSHI.

It is filled with unwavering bonds that remain strong even when apart and a firm hope for the future.

Played at important milestones like graduation ceremonies or farewell gatherings to express gratitude, it will surely envelop the entire venue in a warm, moving atmosphere.

oneselfTani Yuuki

My True Self – Tani Yuuki [MV]

A song that cheers on the days you’ve spent in school life—moving forward even while worrying or stopping in your tracks—is “Jibun Jishin.” Released in 2022 by singer-songwriter Tani Yuuki, who rose to prominence through TikTok and YouTube, it features an emotional vocal performance over a melody enriched with piano and strings.

The lyrics, which evoke days spent pouring your heart into romance, studying, club activities, and more, are sure to stir your emotions.

It’s a track that teaches you that everything you experienced in school can become a clue for living tomorrow.

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mutō

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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!