[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 listen to at graduation. J-POP graduation songs and fight songs (131–140)
Because we’re friends.Ochiai Wataru
When it comes to songs that resonate at the milestone of graduation, Wataru Ochiai’s “Tomodachi Yakarane” comes to mind.
Its universally relatable lyrics and melody make it perfect when you’re looking for a song about friendship.
Portraying everyday student life and bonds between friends, this ballad movingly captures the fleeting moments of youth.
With friendly Osaka-dialect lyrics, it gently embraces memories with friends and the anxieties about what lies ahead.
Even the loneliness of parting feels less daunting with “Tomodachi Yakarane.” As you take a step into a new future, this song reminds you that you’ll always stay connected with your friends in your heart.
spring skySuzuki Suzuki
A ballad themed around graduation, it expresses a swirl of youthful emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
The lyrics carry gratitude for friendship and the past, as well as hope for the future, stirring deep empathy in listeners.
Released in February 2022, the song carefully traces the protagonist’s feelings as they step into a new life.
It’s a perfect track for the season when farewells and encounters, and the tension of new beginnings, all coexist.
Its message that friends can reunite soon after graduation, along with a warm sentiment of cherishing the days gone by as precious treasures, gently resonates in the heart.
Highly recommended for anyone embarking on a new start under the spring sunshine.
Kadode no Ippo (feat. CHICO CARLITO)ASOBOiSM
A heartwarming cheer song that gives you the courage to take a step beyond the familiar has been born! This collaboration between ASOBOiSM and CHICO CARLITO is packed with encouragement for those facing graduation or a fresh start.
It captures the mix of excitement and anxiety that comes with taking your first steps toward a dream, expressed through laid-back rap and a powerful melody.
Released in March 2024, the track is a tour de force self-produced by ASOBOiSM.
It’s a wonderful song that’s sure to give you a push—not only at graduation ceremonies, but whenever you reach a turning point in life.
Myself ROCKONE OK ROCK
It’s a song that gives you a chance to reflect on yourself.
ONE OK ROCK’s aggressive musical style and Taka’s powerful vocals are striking.
It was released in April 2010 and included on the album “Niche Syndrome,” which came out in June of the same year.
The song carries a message about valuing your individuality and moving forward with your head held high, without giving in to the challenges you encounter in life.
Listening to it during moments of anxiety—like at graduation or when stepping into a new environment—might give you courage.
It’s a track that makes you feel the strength to believe in your own path and keep walking.
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.
Good Bye,Good LuckTOTALFAT
This is a song by TOTALFAT that expresses parting and a new beginning.
It features a fast-paced sound and lyrics that resonate deeply, gently giving graduates a push forward.
Released in January 2012, it was also used as the opening theme for a TV anime.
While capturing the anxiety and loneliness of leaping into a new environment, it’s a work that gives you the courage to face forward and step ahead, drawing strength from past experiences.
It’s a perfect listen for graduation ceremonies and the season of departures.
spin; weave; compose (e.g., a story)tota
A song by young singer-songwriter Tota that weaves delicate emotional expression with images of nature.
She entrusts her feelings to everyday scenes—sky, wind, clouds, and rainbows—singing of sorrow for lost love and the hope to look forward.
It’s a track that stays close to the listener’s heart and delivers fresh emotion.
Included on Tota’s first album, “oidaki,” released in February 2023, it has also drawn attention for surpassing 400 million total plays on social media.
Highly recommended as a song that offers courage and hope to graduates taking their next steps.