[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] Uplifting songs to hear at graduation. J-pop graduation songs and cheer anthems (141–150)
The First Steprakkuraifu
The light rhythm and pop sound evoke a countdown to a bright future.
“Hajimari no Ippo” (The First Step) is an up-tempo number that sends off everyone embarking on a new chapter with warmth.
Released by Luck Life in 2016, it was used as the theme song for the anime Cheer Boys!!.
Graduation often brings a sense of poignancy and the sadness of parting, doesn’t it? Listening to this song gives you courage and hope for the new places you’re heading.
If you want to face graduation with a bright heart, be sure to give it a listen!
Until graduationBoku ga mitakatta aozora
The second single by Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora is a song that portrays the feelings of a student on the verge of graduation.
Yasushi Akimoto’s lyrics delicately capture the pain of unrequited love and the fleeting nature of youth.
The protagonist’s complex emotions, unable to confess their feelings, resonate deeply with listeners.
Released in January 2024, the song also drew attention for its music video set in a melancholy fishing port.
It’s a recommended track for students approaching graduation and for anyone who recalls a love that never came true.
Listening to this piece will surely prompt anyone to look back on their own youth.
On the Day of DepartureGasshou Kyoku
When it comes to choral songs about graduation, “Tabidachi no Hi ni” is indispensable.
Composed in 1991 by junior high school teachers in Saitama Prefecture, it became known nationwide after being used in a 2007 NTT East Japan commercial.
In a 2008 Oricon survey of “graduation songs people have sung,” it took first place among junior and senior high school students.
For those who actually sang it at their graduation ceremony, it’s a masterpiece that brings tears to your eyes.
It’s a song you’ll want to sing with your irreplaceable friends and the teachers who supported you!
pupilŌhara Sakurako
Sakurako Ohara is a singer whose cute voice captivates fans, and she’s also active as an actor and radio personality.
Her second single, “Hitomi,” chosen as the support song for the 93rd All Japan High School Soccer Tournament, features a rock ensemble with sweeping strings that feels wonderfully satisfying.
The lyrics, which make you feel that each step you’ve taken connects to the future, seem like a message that will stir the heart at graduation—the culmination of one’s school days.
It’s a transparent, uplifting cheer song that gives you the courage to move on to the next stage.
WINDING ROADAyaka × Kobukuro
This track features a collaboration between Kobukuro and Ayaka, two of Japan’s finest vocalists.
With its powerful harmonies, it has been chosen as a graduation song and has been loved for many years.
It’s no wonder—whether it’s the reassuring lyrics or the moving progression of the melody, every aspect makes it a flawless number.
JourneyFuji Kaze
Let me introduce a song that accompanies those setting out on a new journey in life—graduation.
Released by Fujii Kaze in March 2021, this track was chosen as the theme song for the TV Asahi drama “Nijiiro Karte.” It features a soulful arrangement where nostalgic breakbeats intertwine with the gentle tones of a Wurlitzer.
The lyrics, centered on life’s journey, growth, and change, gently convey that even painful experiences can become fond memories with time.
A message from Fujii Kaze to everyone taking a new step forward—why not entrust your heart to his warm yet powerful voice?
voiceikimonogakari
Ikimonogakari, a duo whose diverse catalog—from upbeat tunes to ballad numbers—has earned cross-generational support.
“Koe,” a track released in advance from their major 10th album ‘Maru,’ was chosen as the cheer song for ANYTEAM’s project “#CheeringIsASportThatConveysFeelings.” With lyrics that acknowledge effort and hard work, it’s a song that could fill graduation ceremonies—marking a new beginning—with a positive atmosphere.
Featuring a string-forward ensemble and a propulsive beat that lifts your spirits, it’s a refreshing pop tune.