[Farewell] A selection of moving, tear-jerking Japanese songs recommended for graduation ceremonies

HIGH FIVETakahashi Yuu

Yu Takahashi "HIGH FIVE" Lyric Video

Takahashi Yu’s cheer song brings back the heat of the moment when you exchanged high-fives with your teammates.

It doesn’t just celebrate victory; it warmly affirms everything—including the grueling practices and days of inner struggle that led up to it.

Released in February 2022, this piece was written as the theme song for the NHK BS1 Special “Glory of the Samurai: Eight Months to Japan’s Baseball Gold.” It’s a renowned track also featured on the album ReLOVE & RePEACE.

Though the song was crafted to accompany Samurai Japan’s journey, its message is sure to resonate with all children devoted to their club activities.

It’s perfect for playing at a graduation ceremony, when teammates link arms and honor each other’s efforts to date.

It will give a powerful push to those heading toward their next stage.

Spring Dayaimyon

Aimyon – Harunohi [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

This song turns the days spent with irreplaceable friends and family into hope for the future.

Released by Aimyon in April 2019, it was created as the theme song for the film “Crayon Shin-chan: Honeymoon Hurricane ~The Lost Hiroshi~.” Deeply aligned with the story’s worldview and written from Hiroshi’s perspective, its message overflowing with family love strongly resonates with children at the milestone of graduating from their team.

Also included on the album “Heard There’s Delicious Pasta,” this classic is filled with gratitude for the past and wishes for happiness ahead.

Play it at a graduation ceremony as you send off teammates embarking on a new path, and the whole venue will surely be enveloped in warm emotion and tears.

If you laugh at the skywacci

wacci “If You Laugh at the Sky” Music Video

Wacci, a five-member band, is there to stand by hearts carrying the frustration that effort doesn’t always lead to results.

Featured on their November 2018 album “Gunjou Refrain,” this song is a cheer anthem that tells us the days we’ve built won’t disappear, even if our dreams don’t come true.

In 2019, it was chosen as a support song for a segment on the TV show “Mezamashi TV,” and it also resonated widely on social media, where it was used in slideshow videos of high school baseball players.

Its message—overcome frustration, lift your head, and smile—is perfect for the milestone of a graduation ceremony.

Listen to this track, which validates the sweat and tears spent with your teammates, and step proudly onto the next stage.

Something CertainOda Kazumasa

Something Certain

Kazumasa Oda, a singer-songwriter whose clear, transparent voice has remained unchanged since his Off Course days, continues to be loved across generations.

This work is a superb ballad, featuring a gentle, piano-centered sound and lyrics that ask universal questions about love, resonating deeply in the heart.

Released as a single in May 2005, it has long been cherished as the corporate commercial song for Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance.

Many people have likely felt their hearts stirred by the moving visuals that played alongside publicly submitted photographs.

Its warm message, wishing happiness for someone important, makes it perfect for a farewell party sending off friends embarking on a new path.

A bouquet for meAdo

[Ado] Bouquet for Me Official Audio

This is a pep song overflowing with positive energy by Ado, who enjoys immense popularity as a vocalist.

Released in March 2025, many people likely recognize it as the song from Japan Coca-Cola’s Georgia commercial.

With the pop sound characteristic of HoneyWorks, who produced the track, and a message that affirms who you are and gives you the courage to move forward, it really resonates.

Also included on the album “Ado’s Best Album,” this song is perfect for cheering on those taking a step toward the future.

Whether you want to gently nudge someone who’s feeling a bit anxious, or sing it with a smile at a farewell gathering, it’s sure to convey warmth.

We againSG

Us, Again – SG (Official Lyric Video)

SG’s “Bokura Mata” is a heartwarming song that captures the moment of parting.

It expresses gratitude to friends and quiet hopes for the future, making it perfect for send-off occasions like a team graduation ceremony.

SG’s gentle vocals really hit home, too.

It’s a track that connects the bonds of friends who shared many smiles and are now setting off on separate paths.

Listening to it at a graduation ceremony is sure to give you courage.

It’s a song I recommend to everyone taking a new step forward.

Laughing and falling downHanbaato Hanbaato

Humbert Humbert “Laughing and Falling Down” (Official Music Video) [Song Performed at the 76th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen]

A simple, warm folk song by Humbert Humbert that gently nudges those setting off on a new journey.

The unadorned vocals and acoustic sound quietly complement the bittersweet yet warm atmosphere of a farewell gathering.

This work has a charm that seems to affirm the daily routines that bring both tears and laughter, revealing a different expression each time you listen.

Produced as the theme song for the NHK morning drama “Bakebake,” airing from September 2025, it carries the air of Matsue, the setting of the show, and sinks softly into the heart.

Why not choose it as background music for sending off dear friends, while feeling bonds that remain unchanged even across distance?