[Graduation Songs] Tear-Jerking, Heartwarming Ballads | A Showcase of Classics and the Newest Hits!

This is me ~Poem of Promise~RIKU

This is me ~Poem of Promise~

RIKU from THE RAMPAGE wrote “This is me ~Yakusoku no Uta~” for his solo tour.

Released as a single in November 2025, it was created to express his true, authentic self.

It embodies a resolve to accept his weaknesses and past, and to live as he is.

The song is filled with a universal message of self-affirmation that encourages listeners to be proud of themselves.

For graduates about to embark on a new world, it will surely resonate as if it were their own story.

spring melancholyMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Spring Melancholy

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s “Shunshū” is a heartwarming ballad.

It’s a song that stays close to students as they look back on their memories and face a season of farewells and new beginnings.

It’s also perfect for singing with feeling at karaoke during graduation season.

The lyrics, written by vocalist Motoki Ohmori soon after he graduated from high school, capture complex emotions where true feelings and social facades intersect, resonating with many listeners.

While evoking the end of youth, the song also cheers on a fresh start.

far; distant; by farGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Haruka

GReeeeN’s songs are popular across generations, and many of them are heartfelt anthems of youth.

“Haruka” is one of those enduring classics.

Released as a single in 2009, it was also chosen as the theme song for the blockbuster film “ROOKIES: Graduation.” The song portrays leaving town after graduation and setting out from one’s parents’ home, making it a tearjerker for anyone heading far away for college, work, or other paths after high school.

Yet in the end, it wipes away the tears and gives you the courage to take a bold first step forward.

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Last SongOfisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – Last Song [Studio Live Session]

This song was specially written as an insert track for the drama “Ato 3-kai, Kimi ni Aeru” starring Mizuki Yamamoto.

Alongside the drama’s major success, it became a hot topic on social media, earning strong support from viewers with comments like, “The perspective of the characters and the song’s world perfectly match,” and “I burst into tears every time this song plays in the drama.” Expressing both the pain of parting and the hope of new beginnings, this piece invites you to sing gently and softly as you savor its emotionally rich lyrics.

About meMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – About Me

A ballad by Mrs.

GREEN APPLE imbued with a moving, unforgettable melody and a powerful message.

Released in January 2019 as the support song for the High School Soccer Championship, it surpassed 100 million streams by January 2021.

While questioning the differences between oneself and others, it portrays an attitude of facing the joys, sorrows, and anxieties of everyday life.

In November 2022, an orchestral arrangement was featured in an Otsuka Pharmaceutical commercial, bringing the song back into the spotlight.

It’s a track that stands by those who feel anxious or lonely, offering the courage to accept themselves.

Kitearashi

ARASHI – Kite [Official Music Video]

A grand ballad by Arashi that sings of hope for the future and the courage to take on challenges.

Kenshi Yonezu wrote and composed the song, with orchestral arrangements by Yuta Bandoh.

Its powerful melody and warm lyrics resonate deeply with listeners.

Released in July 2020, it achieved the remarkable feat of selling 911,000 copies in its first week.

It was also chosen as the NHK 2020 Song and is loved by people of all ages.

It’s a perfect listen for graduation ceremonies, life’s milestones, or whenever you need the courage to take a new step forward.

Song of a FriendBUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN “Friend’s Song”

The song I want to listen to while reflecting on a friend I’m parting ways with is BUMP OF CHICKEN’s “Tomodachi no Uta” (“Song of Friends”).

The lyrics, written by Motoo Fujiwara as he thought of characters from works he loved since childhood, convey a clumsy yet warm sense of friendship, and the grand sound incorporating trumpet is sure to resonate deeply with men as well.

Released in February 2011 as their 19th single, this track moved many as the theme song for the film “Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops—Angel Wings.” It’s a song that wraps up the anxieties of a new departure and gently nudges you forward.

Even if you end up walking separate paths, it makes you believe the time you shared won’t disappear—a masterpiece filled with kindness.