[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 (91–100)
Because you’re my hero.LiSA
LiSA’s 12th single, released in August 2017, is a rock anthem of encouragement written as the ending theme for season 2 of the TV anime My Hero Academia.
It sings of “heroes” not as titles bestowed on distant others, but as words for everyone who, despite their doubts, tries to face forward.
The song is filled with gratitude toward those who have supported and guided her, and the feeling that she became stronger thanks to them.
In the music video, TOTALFAT—whom LiSA had long admired—appears alongside her, and the setup of “playing together with respected seniors” gives the song’s message an added dimension.
It’s a recommended track for anyone who wants to tell a teacher or mentor, “I am who I am today because of you.”
rainbowFukuyama Masaharu
It’s a rock tune that portrays the passion of youth and the pursuit of dreams.
Included on Masaharu Fukuyama’s single “Niji/Himawari/Sore ga Subete sa,” released in August 2003, it fired up living rooms across Japan as the theme song for the drama WATER BOYS.
It enjoyed five consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the Oricon charts and has long been loved as a summer-defining hit.
Carrying the message of spreading out a map and moving toward the future, it’s a perfect fit for graduation season.
[For Graduates] Graduation Songs and Cheer Anthems to Express Gratitude and Support (101–110)
Don’t give up on your dreamsOkamura Takako
Released in 1987 as Takako Okamura’s fifth single, it has since become a beloved standard.
Although it was written as a heartbreak song, its lyrics feel like an anthem for life, making it a perfect song to dedicate to graduates.
On the day of departure…Kawashima Ai
It’s a classic graduation song and one of Ai Kawashima’s signature tracks.
The lyrics, which evoke memories of student life and scenes from school, are so moving that they can bring you to tears just by listening.
Along with gratitude to the friends you’ve spent so much time with and hope for the future, the message in the lyrics—“Even if we’re apart, we’ll meet again”—is sure to touch your heart.
Be sure to send this song to the friends who are precious to you.
Best FriendKiroro
One of the signature songs by the female duo Kiroro, it’s also a popular graduation song because the lyrics express gratitude to a friend who always offers support.
It’s said that this song was written by member Chiharu Tamashiro for Ayano Kinjo.
Because it portrays the feelings of these two, who have been friends since high school, it feels very real and resonates with listeners.
How about gifting this song to a dear friend at graduation?
The wind is blowing.ikimonogakari
As the seasons change and the times evolve, we all want to live true to ourselves, don’t we? For those setting out for new places upon graduation, “Kaze ga Fuiteiru” is a song by Ikimonogakari released in 2012 that was chosen as the NHK London Olympics and Paralympics broadcast theme.
Vocalist Yoshioka’s clear, resonant voice is beautiful, and the refreshing yet powerful lyrics give you the courage to move forward.
For graduates whose hearts are swelling with both anxiety and anticipation, it just might convey the importance of walking forward together with the times.
the world of dreamssakushi: furō akiko / sakkyoku: hashimoto shōji
Memories of treading on fallen leaves, an avenue bathed in the glow of the setting sun, the chirping of small birds, and the clear scene of a babbling brook.
Interweaving these tangible touches of nature, this song calls on friends to share their dreams together.
Born from an NHK music program in the 1970s and later arranged as a choral piece, it was composed by Yoshimichi Hashimoto, who, while deeply involved in creating educational materials at Kyoiku Geijutsu Sha, left behind many works that balance singability with evocative imagery.
Its gentle, swaying 6/8 rhythm naturally supports a sense of walking and the flow of scenery, and the structure—expanding from unison in the first half to full chorus in the latter—is a highlight.
It is a song that quietly encourages children to take a new step on the special day of graduation, as they look back on memories with their friends.