[For Graduates] Graduation Songs and Cheer Anthems to Convey Gratitude and Support
As graduation season approaches, many people may find themselves struggling to choose the perfect song to give.
Gratitude for friends who are setting off, excitement for the new life ahead, and a touch of sadness—those complex feelings are ones you want to convey through music.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of songs to dedicate to graduates and uplifting tracks perfect for graduation ceremonies.
From gentle tunes that give a reassuring push forward to moving pieces that bring tears to your eyes, we’ve gathered graduation songs from various perspectives.
You’re sure to find a heartfelt track that will beautifully mark this important new beginning.
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[For Graduates] Graduation Songs and Fight Songs to Express Gratitude and Support (61–70)
On the Day of Departure
Composed in 1991 by a junior high school teacher in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, this choral piece gradually became a standard song for graduation ceremonies.
Told from a teacher’s perspective, it recalls memories with the students and delivers a message urging them to soar into the wider world—powerfully supporting those about to graduate.
I wish you lots of happinessnaniwa danshi
A heartwarming cheer song written and composed by Yujin Kitagawa of Yuzu, which drew attention as a newly penned piece.
Its positive message—encouraging us to find happiness in the little moments of everyday life—is like a prayer of “good fortune to you” for friends graduating and stepping into new environments.
Carried by Naniwa Danshi’s bright, refreshing vocals, this song reassures you that even when you’re apart, your hearts remain close, turning the sadness of parting into hope.
Included on the single “The Answer / Sachiare,” released in April 2022, it also served as the theme song for Fuji TV’s “Mezamashi TV,” delivering a burst of energy every morning.
Why not gift it to cherished friends who feel a bit anxious about their new beginnings, as a way to gently nudge them forward with your familiar smile?
Futabaaimyon
This is Aimyon’s warm, encouraging song, woven from and embracing the real emotions of 18-year-olds.
Created based on message videos submitted by 1,000 young people from across Japan, it delicately depicts the unique anxieties and hopes of the transition into adulthood.
Written as the theme song for NHK’s project “Aimyon 18 Festival,” it was released digitally in March 2022.
Later, it was included as the opening track on the album “Hitomi e Ochiruyo Record,” marking it as an important number.
It’s a perfect song for those about to leap into the unknown, or for graduates who, while carrying a touch of loneliness, are determined to look forward.
Be sure to listen to this piece on your special day of new beginnings—you’ll find the courage to break out of your shell and move ahead.
Song of Springsupittsu
The sense of emotional wavering unique to the period when winter gives way to spring, along with a liberating feeling that gently embraces the urge to move forward, resonates in the heart with a refreshing sound.
This work is the 30th single, released in April 2005, and it also served as the opening track of the album “Souvenir.” Many will remember it as the song used in the “Aquarius” commercial.
It carries a gentle warmth that softly nudges listeners onward, making it perfect for the season of farewells and new beginnings, such as graduations or starting a new life.
flameLiSA
A song produced as the theme for the film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train, based on the hugely popular manga.
The lyrics, which follow the movie’s story, became a hot topic for being incredibly moving.
They express feelings for Kyojuro Rengoku, who leaves his comrades after the battle with the enemy, and they’re also perfect for seeing off graduating students who have supported you.
The gratitude woven into the lyrics and the message of “I’ll keep doing my best even after you’re gone” make it an ideal song for bidding farewell to upperclassmen in your club.
I should be able to fly (in the sky).supittsu
One of Spitz’s signature songs, released in 1994.
It’s become a truly national J-pop classic that everyone knows! While it isn’t specifically themed around graduation, as the title suggests, it carries a message that’s perfect for sending off graduates at the start of a new chapter.
In particular, the chorus, which celebrates the joy of meeting someone, is sure to resonate with both the graduates and those seeing them off.
And the message in “Sora mo toberu hazu” (“We should be able to fly”), evoking a sense of limitless possibility, makes it an ideal blessing to send graduates on their way.
Starting Oversumika
The song that gives you a gentle push as you approach graduation is a track released by sumika in 2023.
Written as the opening theme for the anime “MIX MEISEI STORY: The Second Summer, Beyond the Sky,” it sings about the courage to take your first steps toward your dreams, even while feeling uncertain and anxious about a new season.
It’s okay to cry, there’s no need to rush—but don’t ever let go of what you love.
The warm message woven into the lyrics truly resonates.
It’s a song I hope those who are unsure about their path after graduation, or those about to take a step into a new environment, will listen to.