Farewell Song: A goodbye song. A tearful parting song.
In life, farewells come at many turning points—graduation, starting a job, moving to Tokyo to pursue a dream, or even heartbreak.
Even when it’s necessary to move forward on a new path, leaving your current environment can bring feelings of loneliness and pain.
Conversely, seeing someone off on their new journey can be just as hard.
In this article, we’ll introduce songs themed around various farewell situations in life.
We’ve carefully selected masterpieces that help you overcome the pain of parting and give you the courage to take a step forward.
Please read on to the end!
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- Songs to Play at My Own Funeral: Timeless Gems to Make Farewells Uniquely My Own
- [A moving friendship song] For dear friends and best friends. Songs of friendship that make you feel the bond.
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- Only masterpieces that color the season of meetings and farewells! Spring songs recommended for Gen Z.
Farewell Etude: Songs of Goodbye. Tearful Parting Songs (41–50)
A Bouquet for YouUtada Hikaru
This beautiful song by Hikaru Utada, with its calm atmosphere, was used as the theme song for NHK’s morning drama series “Toto Nee-chan.” The lyrics, filled with deep gratitude, are striking, and it’s said that the song was written with Utada’s mother, Keiko Fuji, in mind.
There aren’t many songs that portray the pain of parting—especially the most difficult kind, bereavement—with such beauty, are there? After a farewell, it’s a song that overflows with renewed feelings of gratitude.
THANXWANIMA
The song “THANX,” included on the 2015 album Are You Coming?, is one you hear in all sorts of settings and has become a staple graduation song.
While it’s about parting ways and saying goodbye, it’s brimming with WANIMA’s signature style—a farewell song that still feels exhilarating and fast-paced.
It’s a track about carrying plenty of happy memories and moving on to the next step, and it’s one I’d love for anyone taking on something new to hear.
Don’t bloom.WHITE JAM
This song, “Sakanaide” (“Don’t Bloom”), has become a staple graduation song.
The title reflects the feeling of wanting things to stay the same—because once the cherry blossoms bloom, the season of farewells arrives.
The track is the fourth single released in 2016 by the three-member music unit WHITE JAM.
It conveys the feelings you have for your precious friends, and it’s especially moving for those about to graduate and part ways—likely a tear-jerker that really hits home.
Until we meet againOzaki Kiyohiko
Released in 1971 and winner of that year’s Japan Record Award, this song became a massive hit, topping the Oricon charts for nine consecutive weeks.
It not only stands as Kiyohiko Ozaki’s signature piece, but has also become a timeless standard among songs about parting.
With lyrics by Yū Aku and composition by Kyōhei Tsutsumi—the golden duo—the combination of their craftsmanship and Ozaki’s soulful vocals has made this number an enduring classic that never fades.
SunshadeYuka
A heartrending farewell song woven by Yu-ka.
This work delicately portrays the feeling of being unable to accept a parting with someone.
The lyrics also contain anxieties and confusion about the future, resonating deeply with listeners.
Released in June 2024 and selected as the theme song for the TBS Friday drama “Warau Matryoshka,” this piece blends Yu-ka’s clear vocals with emotionally rich lyrics to create a worldview that will comfort those who have experienced a breakup or are facing a farewell with someone important.
some skiesShibasaki Kou
When your heart feels unsettled as you think of someone you can no longer see, “Ikutsuka no Sora” stays by your side.
Released in 2004 by singer and actor Kou Shibasaki, it was chosen as the theme song for the film One Missed Call.
Its majestic, string-filled sound and gentle tempo soothe the listener.
The lyrics, overflowing with longing for someone you can’t meet, are also a highlight.
Though she has a radiant voice, there’s a certain sentimental allure to her singing.
It’s a ballad that helps you get through farewells with someone precious—be it a lover, a family member, or another dear one.
The meaning of goodbyeNogizaka 46
Nogizaka46 is an idol group with many songs that continue to resonate in the heart—beauty, transience, euphoria.
“Sayonara no Imi” is a 2016 single composed by Katsuhiko Sugiyama, who has created numerous masterpieces, and it is a celebrated classic among fans as well.
At the time, Nanami Hashimoto served as the center, and the peace-sign scene during her graduation performance at the 5th YEAR BIRTHDAY LIVE surely brought everyone to tears.
Partings are incredibly painful, but perhaps the world that awaits after overcoming them is even broader than the one we know now.
It’s a farewell song that embraces many emotions and empowers you to believe strongly in the future beyond.
A moving masterpiece that supports so many people’s “goodbyes.”
