[2026] Uplifting Songs for Graduation: J-POP Graduation Songs and Anthems

The meaning of goodbyeNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 'The Meaning of Goodbye'

This is the song you’ll want to listen to when you want to carry not only the sadness of parting but also gratitude for having met.

Released in November 2016 as Nogizaka46’s 16th single, it is also known as Nanami Hashimoto’s final single as center.

It became the group’s first million-certified release and was performed at the 67th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen that year.

It’s a track especially suited for those facing graduation and feeling anxious about being separated from dear friends.

Its warm message sinks in, teaching us that “goodbye” isn’t merely an ending but a stepping stone to becoming stronger.

As a cherished anthem that gives you the courage to take a new step, why not send it to a friend who’s setting out on a new journey?

Our JourneyNakamura Masatoshi

Our Journey

This single was released in October 1975 as the theme song for the TV drama “Our Journey,” starring Masatoshi Nakamura, who enjoyed immense popularity from the very start of his acting career.

The lyrics and music were written by Kei Ogura, who likens the long life ahead to a journey, vividly portraying both the hopes of young people pursuing their dreams and the moments of sudden loneliness and melancholy.

Capturing the hearts of the youth of its time, it became a long-running hit, staying on the Oricon charts for 45 weeks.

Nakamura’s warm, enveloping voice seems to gently nudge you forward, even when you’re filled with uncertainty.

It’s an unfading classic that we hope those taking a new step at graduation—and those who wish to reminisce about their youthful days—will listen to.

proofflumpool

flumpool “Proof” Music Video (Full Chorus ver.)

A number by flumpool produced in 2011 as the set piece for the NHK All-Japan School Music Competition (Junior High School Division) and also broadcast on “Minna no Uta.” The bond with friends is something invisible to the eye, but the time spent together and the days of crying and laughing side by side surely remain in our hearts.

This work sings about that unseen yet undeniable certainty that we are companions.

It peaked at No.

4 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and was also included on the album “experience.” Not only the fun times, but even the clashes—everything was necessary to deepen the bond.

It’s a song that gently gives a push to friends facing life’s milestones, such as graduation or moving on to the next stage.

GloriousBE:FIRST

BE:FIRST / Glorious -Special Movie-

A ballad with a gently stirring melody and a warm message that affirms even the effort itself—the very “footsteps” you leave behind.

Released for streaming in November 2023, it was written as the support song for the 102nd All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.

Also included on the album “2:BE,” it has become beloved not only by fans but by many listeners.

The lyrics honor both winners and those who fall short, carrying a quiet strength that gives listeners a gentle push forward.

It’s a song especially worth hearing for anyone who has been running full-tilt—through club activities, exam prep, and more.

Starting Oversumika

sumika / Starting Over [Music Video] - TV Anime “MIX MEISEI STORY: The Second Summer, Beyond the Sky” Opening Theme

The song that gives you a gentle push as you approach graduation is a track released by sumika in 2023.

Written as the opening theme for the anime “MIX MEISEI STORY: The Second Summer, Beyond the Sky,” it sings about the courage to take your first steps toward your dreams, even while feeling uncertain and anxious about a new season.

It’s okay to cry, there’s no need to rush—but don’t ever let go of what you love.

The warm message woven into the lyrics truly resonates.

It’s a song I hope those who are unsure about their path after graduation, or those about to take a step into a new environment, will listen to.

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?

GarnetOku Hanako

Hanako Oku / Garnet (Solo Performance) [Music Video]

A moving ballad that brings to mind scene after scene from student days—the sprinting figures on the field, casual after-school conversations, lines of handwriting in a notebook.

Released in 2006 as Hanako Oku’s fourth single, it reached a wide audience as the theme song for director Mamoru Hosoda’s animated film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

It’s a celebrated classic that also won the Heisei Anime Song Award for Best Film Theme.

In simple words, it conveys both the ache of time slipping away and gratitude for the encounters that made one stronger.

Even if we are separated, those days will never fade.

That message resonates deeply, making it a perfect song for the milestone of a graduation ceremony.

It’s a piece we especially hope junior high school students will sing as they engrave memories with friends in their hearts and take their first steps forward.