[2026] Uplifting Songs for Graduation: J-POP Graduation Songs and Anthems
After graduation, many of you may find yourselves living apart from the friends you’ve spent so much time with and the family who has supported you, as you move on to higher education or start working.
Perhaps excitement about taking your first steps toward your dream coexists in your heart with the anxiety of wondering if things will go well.
At times like these, when you might be feeling a little discouraged, you want to listen to uplifting songs that cheer you on, don’t you?
We’ve gathered songs filled with warm encouragement to give a gentle push to you, who are setting off at graduation, and to your dear friends.
Tune in to these tracks that will give you courage as you take your next step forward!
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[2026] Cheer songs to hear at graduation. J-pop graduation songs and anthems (91–100)
tailwindSHE’S
SHE’S is a four-piece piano rock band garnering attention as “a band loved by melodies that will surely captivate you when you listen.” Their major 6th single, Tailwind, features an intro that transitions from synth sounds to piano, creating a sense of weightless drift within its beauty.
Its powerful message—that everything you’ve built up becomes your strength—can be a source of courage at life’s milestones like graduation.
With a refreshing melody and ensemble that soothe the heart, it’s an emotional number.
Song of DepartureMr.Children
Mr.Children’s “Tabidachi no Uta” (“Song of Departure”) is a track that inspires you to keep walking toward a wonderful life, even after the joyful days of youth have passed.
Released in 2007, it was used as the theme song for the film “Koizora.” No one faces the future starting tomorrow without feeling some anxiety.
When you’re uneasy, this song encourages you to remember the days spent with your best friends and the school you loved, and to keep moving forward.
It’s not an ending, but the first step of a beginning—take that step with this song!
Someday, these tearsLittle Glee Monster
It’s always sad to part ways with classmates and clubmates you met during school life.
“Itsuka Kono Namida ga” is a song that makes you want to treasure the time spent with those important to you.
It’s included on Little Glee Monster’s 2018 release “juice” and was chosen as the support song for the 96th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.
The sentimental melody and their vocals celebrate the days we’ve had until now.
This song can make you realize that graduates carry countless memories on their backs and that those days were joyful enough to bring you to tears.
Please give it a listen.
Shineyuzu
Yuzu’s song “Hikare” is a cheer anthem dedicated to young people stepping onto a new path.
At this important turning point where anxiety and anticipation intersect, it offers a warm message of support.
Released in 2014, the song is marked by the pleasant sound of acoustic guitar and the duo’s memorable harmonies.
Its message—that no effort ever goes to waste—conveys a sense of hope perfectly suited to graduation ceremonies.
Let “Hikare” gently accompany your anxious heart and give you the courage to take that first step.
spring sunlightKanapu × Kujira
A pleasant song that evokes the warm sunshine of spring.
KAF’s clear, transparent voice resonates with the season of graduations and farewells.
Born from a collaboration with Kujira, this work was released digitally in March 2022.
The lyrics weave together the many emotions that overflow at moments of parting, striking a deep chord with listeners.
As an encouraging anthem that gives you the courage to take a new step, it’s a song you’ll want to hear at graduation ceremonies and life’s turning points.
Savor this warm, heartfelt track that showcases KAF’s distinctive expressive power.
Departure GraffitiFLOW
A single released by FLOW in November 2010 is drawing attention as a song that resonates with students on the verge of graduation.
Carried on a gentle breeze, it sings of the courage to take a step toward the future, with themes of warm-hearted farewells and growth.
It speaks of paper airplanes launched outside the classroom window and memories of days spent together, renewing the resolve to move forward even while looking back on the past.
The lyrics also convey the importance of believing in oneself and living in the present, delicately portraying the loneliness and anxiety, as well as the hope and anticipation, that accompany a departure.
A special live performance was also held at Moro Hospital Nursing School in Saitama Prefecture, making this a song that lifts the spirits of graduating students.
GO!!!FLOW
It’s a classic song that you can get hyped and sing along to with friends.
The track conveys a resolve to chase dreams together with your crew, and it became famous as a theme song for the TV anime NARUTO.
With its rap parts and energetic vibe, it’s easy to sing even for people who aren’t confident singers.
It’s a work that epitomizes FLOW’s musical style, and its exhilarating melody and powerful lyrics have captured the hearts of many listeners, making it one of their most popular songs.