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

Sakuraayaka

Ayaka / “Sakura” (from the LIVE DVD & Blu-ray “Acoustic Live Tour 2017–2018 ~3-STAR RAW~”)

A heartwarming ballad by Ayaka that uses cherry blossoms as a motif to portray the bittersweetness of graduation and parting.

From the image of reaching out to the fluttering sakura petals, you can feel the lingering attachment and affection for times gone by.

The lyrics, which depict someone looking back on the past, may reflect Ayaka’s own experiences.

Released as a digital single in February 2018, this song resonated with many as a track suited to the graduation season.

It’s a piece I’d especially recommend to those embarking on a new chapter or those who have experienced a farewell with someone dear.

Letter ~Dear fifteen-year-old you~Anjura Aki

Angela Aki “Letter ~Dear You, Fifteen~” Official Music Video (HD)

There are many moving graduation songs, and Angela Aki’s “Tegami: Haikei Jugo no Kimi e (Letter: Dear You, Fifteen)” is one of the classics.

This song sends words of encouragement to oneself in junior high school, resonating deeply with listeners.

The lyrics speak poignantly yet powerfully to the mix of anxiety and hope everyone feels about the future, stirring emotions not only in graduates but across all generations.

Beloved as a choral piece, it’s also recommended as BGM for graduation ceremonies and for karaoke.

It’s a perfect choice to reminisce about school days gone by and to mark a new beginning.

PrideImai Miki

PRIDE – Miki Imai (Full)

Miki Imai’s smash hit song “PRIDE.” Released in 1996 as her 12th single, it is also one of her signature songs.

Many may remember it as the theme song for a drama starring Shingo Katori.

You can’t help but be captivated by Imai’s clear, translucent vocals, but what this song conveys is a state of mind: the strength you can gain by thinking of someone dear.

It is surely a love song, yet if you listen to it while thinking of a close friend or someone important in your life, you’ll find something that resonates in your heart.

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March 9Fujimaki Ryota

March 9

Music that gently wraps the days we spent together and our cherished memories is perfect for the start of graduation, isn’t it? This is the solo version by Ryota Fujimaki of the song Remioromen released in March 2004.

Set to a calm tempo, it portrays the radiance of a new beginning.

Through images of cherry blossoms that come to mind when you close your eyes and metaphors of light illuminating the future, it conveys not only the sorrow of parting but also the feelings of setting off on a journey filled with hope.

Originally written to celebrate a friend’s wedding, it became widely known as an insert song in the 2005 Fuji TV drama “1 Litre of Tears.” This version was released in 2017 as part of Ryota Fujimaki’s solo work.

If you pair it with a message of gratitude or a memory video with friends, it may make those irreplaceable moments even more moving.

Song of DepartureMr.Children

Mr.Children “Tabidachi no Uta” MUSIC VIDEO

Mr.Children, a nationally beloved band across generations, released this song “Tabidachi no Uta” as their 31st single in 2007.

It’s also known for being the theme song of the film “Koizora,” starring Yui Aragaki and Haruma Miura.

While not strictly a graduation song, its lyrics about meeting and parting with loved ones and taking a new step forward make it a perfect fit for graduation season.

It’s a track brimming with the poignant sentiment that Mr.Children excels at.

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Yui (Knot/Bond)miwa

miwa “Yui (Bond)” Music Video

Miwa, a singer-songwriter very popular among women of her generation, released the single “Yui (Knot)” in 2016.

It was featured on NHK’s Minna no Uta and was created as the required piece for the junior high division of that year’s NHK National School Music Competition.

As a graduation song that captures the troubled hearts of adolescents—junior high and high school students alike—many listeners who feel the same way may have found that this song resonated perfectly with them.

It’s a number that will surely strike a chord with anyone chasing their dreams.

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The Beginningayaka

So moving I could cry! Ayaka – The Beginning

This song, which was also used as the ending theme for the morning information program “Sukkiri!”, is included on the first album Ayaka released after resuming her music career following a hiatus.

Centered on the themes of partings and new encounters in life, it carries Ayaka’s heartfelt emotions.