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

Until the day we meet againyuzu

Mataaeruhimade

Songs that convey both the sadness of parting and the hope for the future are perfect for graduation ceremonies and thank-you gatherings, aren’t they? Yuzu’s 14th single, released in October 2002, is a song truly fitting for such moments.

Chosen as the ending theme for the TV Asahi anime Doraemon, it has been loved by people of all ages.

The song has the background of Yujin Kitagawa crafting the lyrics together with children he met while camping, and its simple, straightforward words are deeply moving.

Built around acoustic guitar with a bright sound, it’s enhanced by handclaps and call-and-response, creating a sing-along atmosphere.

Rather than saying “goodbye,” it carries a message of promising to meet again, making it a great choice when you want to express gratitude to teachers and friends.

HappinessShenelu

Che’Nelle – Happiness ft. Nao Matsushita

A graduation ceremony is a place where the joy of new beginnings mingles with the bittersweet ache of parting.

In moments like these, Che’Nelle’s “Happiness” gently stays by your side.

Released in 2014 as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Thursday drama Dear Sister, the piece is a warm, piano-centered ballad.

Its lyrics—wishing for someone’s happiness while carrying both joy and frustration, and finding your own salvation in the process—perfectly align with the moment of setting out on a new journey.

Che’Nelle’s voice blends transparency with inner strength, and as the melody swells in the chorus, you can’t help but sit up a little straighter.

It’s an excellent choice for scenes sending off graduates, or as a recessional that leaves a quiet afterglow.

With gratitude for someone dear and hope for the future in your heart, why not take your next step forward with this song?

365 Days’ Paper AirplaneAKB48

[MV full] 365 Nichi no Kamihikōki / AKB48 [Official]

An AKB48 number included as the coupling track to their 42nd single “Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby,” released in December 2015, which also served as the theme song for the NHK morning drama Asadora “Asa ga Kita.” It’s an impressive piece characterized by a warm, acoustic guitar–based sound and a gentle, easy-to-hum melody.

The lyrics, using a paper airplane as a metaphor, carry the message that “life can be different for everyone” and “it’s okay to move at your own pace.” Even when things don’t go well, the song gently encourages you to try again tomorrow—making it perfect for children graduating from kindergarten.

A mixed three-part choral arrangement was performed at the NHK National School Music Contest, helping it become a staple at school events and graduation ceremonies.

Highly recommended as a motivational song that gives children the courage to face forward as they take flight into a new world.

Last teenYuika

Last Teen / “Yuika” [MV]

Yuika’s January 2025 number marks the milestone of the end of her teenage years, written in down-to-earth words.

With her 20th birthday just around the corner, she wrote and composed the song herself, candidly singing about the anxieties and hopes of becoming an adult, and the wavering feelings of not quite being one yet.

From small everyday realizations—like a messy room and high electricity bills—to tender thoughts about her changing self and the world around her, the lyrics are packed with a raw sensibility that resonates deeply.

Positioned as a counterpart to her earlier release “17-sai no Uta.”, this track serves as the final chapter in a series reflecting on her teen years.

It’s perfect for those standing at the threshold of graduation, looking back on who they’ve been while taking a new step forward.

The image of moving ahead despite fearing change mirrors the emotions of graduates.

Thank youikimonogakari

Ikimonogakari 'Arigatou' Music Video

This is Ikimonogakari’s 18th single, written as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series Gegege no Nyobo.

Released in May 2010, it won an Excellence Award at the 52nd Japan Record Awards.

The lyrics, which tenderly portray the love nurtured in everyday life and gratitude toward those dear to us, resonate deeply.

The warmth conveyed by holding hands and the hope for a shared future are expressed through a gentle melody that warmly embraces listeners.

In the 2013 school year, it was included as a choral piece in high school music textbooks, and it has also become a popular staple for graduation ceremonies.

It may feel a bit embarrassing to put into words, but this song is perfect for conveying thanks to the teachers, friends, and family who have supported you.

Why not sing it to express your honest feelings along with your memories of junior high school life?

Pavane for a Dead PrincessMaurice Ravel

Ravel – Pavane for a Dead Princess, Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic, 1985

A signature work by Maurice Ravel in which quiet elegance melds with distant nostalgia.

Composed in 1899 as a solo piano piece and premiered in Paris in April 1902, it is said to have been inspired by the image of a young princess dancing at the Spanish court.

Though suffused with sadness, it never becomes heavy; its restrained beauty is part of its appeal.

Ravel later arranged the piece for orchestra himself, adding the horn’s gentle melody and the harp’s delicate hues, which gave the work a more expansive sonority.

Featured in numerous films, including Porco Rosso and Birdman, it has long provided a quiet backdrop for scenes of parting and remembrance.

It is an ideal choice for solemn yet warm occasions, such as processions of graduates or diploma presentations.

Aida ‘Triumphal March’Giuseppe Verdi

Aida: Triumphal March

A grand march that, with brilliant fanfare, colors moments of victory and glory.

Composed by Giuseppe Verdi, one of the foremost opera composers of 19th-century Italy, this piece is performed in the triumphal scene of Act II of his opera Aida and has long been cherished beyond the realm of opera.

Premiered in Cairo in December 1871, the work continues to be staged at opera houses around the world as a symbol of the magnificent spectacle set in ancient Egypt.

Played as graduates enter, it fills the venue with a dignified atmosphere, creating an appropriately elevated mood to celebrate a new beginning.