[Touching] Entrance/Exit Songs for Graduation Ceremonies: Classics & the Latest BGM

road; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)EXILE

EXILE / Road

Michi (Road) is the 23rd single released by EXILE in 2007.

Also recommended by the National Karaoke Operators Association as a graduation-season song, it’s a graduation anthem that resonates with anyone who’s experienced graduating, turning past memories into something deeply moving.

You don’t want to graduate, you want to stay with your friends forever, yet time keeps moving on… It’s a feeling everyone can relate to.

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utatane

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my manMACK JACK

MACK JACK – My Men [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A powerful, heart-hitting track from the four-member reggae group MACK JACK.

The lyrics feel true to life, like you’re talking to the friend right in front of you, and they really warm your heart.

During our school years, when there’s so much to worry about, friends are probably the biggest presence in our lives.

It’s usually a little embarrassing, but graduation is exactly the moment when you want to express your gratitude.

It’s the kind of graduation song that makes you want to throw your arms around your beloved friends—those who were with you through tough times and fun times alike—and sing together, just like in the lyrics!

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hiyori

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Run and RunKANA-BOON

KANA-BOON “Run and Run” Music Video

A song worthy of etching the fleeting moment of parting that colors our youth—that’s KANA-BOON’s “Run and Run.” Listening to it at a graduation ceremony amplifies the mix of hope and anxiety that comes with a new beginning.

Chosen as a theme for the Shinken Zemi Plus commercial, the track won broad support from students and reached No.

9 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

Its exhilarating, fast-paced melody awakens the energy of youth, while Maguro Taniguchi’s nuanced vocals resonate deeply with listeners.

Standing at the starting line called graduation, “Run and Run” becomes the perfect cheer for students—and a memory that lasts a lifetime.

oneselfTani Yuuki

My True Self – Tani Yuuki [MV]

A moving graduation song that beautifully crowns student life.

Tani Yuuki’s pure vocals and warm melody gently embrace the feelings of graduates.

Released in March 2022, the track was also featured in a web-exclusive commercial for UQ mobile.

With its piano lines and powerful vocals, it’s a song that gives you the courage to take a new step forward.

It’s an uplifting anthem not only for graduates setting out toward their dreams, but for anyone embarking on a new stage in life.

Futabaaimyon

Aimyon – Futaba [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

The song that Aimyon wrote for the 18-year-old generation is a warm, encouraging anthem that portrays growth and hope for the future.

Created as the theme song for NHK’s special program “Aimyon 18 Festival,” it was first unveiled in March 2022 in a remote collaboration with 1,000 18-year-olds from across Japan.

The lyrics gently encourage young people, offering courage to face farewells, new encounters, and life’s trials.

It’s a perfect fit for graduation ceremonies.

For those feeling anxious about a new environment or about to take a step toward the future, this song gives a gentle push forward.

The Day of Beginningsiri

iri – The Day of Beginning (Music Video)

Graduation is also the beginning of a new future, isn’t it? Shining a light on graduates taking flight toward that future is iri’s 2021 track “Hajimari no Hi” (“The Day It Begins”).

With its gentle melody, it preserves the solemn mood of the ceremony while casting a ray of light on this fresh departure.

The lyrics, which make you feel like, although you don’t really want to part from this place or your friends, you’ll tuck away all those memories in your heart and start walking toward your own future tomorrow, are a perfect fit for graduation.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for a quiet, calm piece for the procession or recessional.

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SAKI

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On the Day of Departure

[Chorus Song] On the Day of Departure / With Lyrics / Singing Practice / Graduation Song #chorus #classchorus #graduationsong #choruscontest

A graduation song created in 1991 by teachers at Kagemori Junior High School in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture.

The principal and a music teacher, determined to turn a troubled school of the time into “a school that resonates with singing,” produced the song as a culmination for the graduating students.

When they presented it to them, the students continued to sing it and pass it down, and it eventually spread across the country.

With such a moving backstory, the song is appealing for its simple, beautiful lyrics and melody, and its expansive choral parts.

It’s a piece you’ll want to sing with friends, feeling refreshed and uplifted.

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hiyori

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