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

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.

It’s fine.Urufuruzu

Ulfuls – Ee nen

A simple, straightforward song that distills all of Ulfuls’ appeal, and it’s also popular as a graduation tune.

When someone tells you “Een-en” (“It’s all good”) this many times, you can’t help but feel that way.

Each word seems convincing, probably because the experience of an artist who’s been on the front lines for so long seeps through in the voice.

Even when something unpleasant happens, say this and move on to the next step!

paprikaYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Paprika

As a song to cheer you on and help you take a strong first step into a new season of beginnings, Kenshi Yonezu’s “Paprika” is a perfect fit.

While Foorin’s version is beloved, Yonezu’s own rendition carries a slightly more mature feel with a danceable EDM beat.

It also gained popularity as NHK’s 2020 support song, and its warm melody and catchy refrain give people courage and hope, leaving unforgettable memories.

The heartwarming lyrics are loved across generations, making it an ideal song for graduations and new departures.

Spring Comes to UsUNISON SQUARE GARDEN

UNISON SQUARE GARDEN “Spring Has Come, We” Short ver.

As graduation season approaches, it’s wonderful to have songs by your side that send you off toward a new future.

UNISON SQUARE GARDEN’s 2018 release “Haru ga Kite Bokura” offers a refreshing melody and a lively rhythm that gives you the courage to take your first steps! Its lyrics, which make you realize how precious and irreplaceable the everyday moments with friends you met at school are, make it perfect for graduation ceremonies.

With its pop sound and vocalist Kosuke Saito’s soaring high tones, this track will cheer on your new beginning with bright energy!

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Song of the ChickHalf time Old

Half time Old 'Hina no Uta' Music Video

A four-piece rock band based in Nagoya, Aichi, Half time Old released this track on their October 2020 mini-album CRISP YELLOW.

It’s a youthful punk number that races forward on an 8-beat drive, filled with a warmth that gives you a gentle push during the season of farewells.

The lyrics are memorable for their message that reassures you—“You’re not wrong”—even as you carry anxiety and loneliness about setting off on a new journey.

The music video is composed of cherished photos submitted by fans, designed to overlap with each listener’s own memories.

It’s a song that naturally sparks singalongs at shows, and if you raise your voices together at a graduation concert or a farewell party, it’s bound to become an unforgettable moment.

More than just a tearjerker, it’s a pep song that gives you the strength to step forward with a smile.

Precious thingsroodo obu mejyaa

Lord of Major / Precious Things

Lord of Major’s signature song “Taisetsu na Mono” was released in September 2002.

It’s a graduation song about parting ways with friends.

Though the experience was sad enough to bring tears, its message is to remember those gentle tears and keep supporting each other as we move forward in life.

It’s a song that tenderly embraces you, saying that even if we’re apart, we’re still connected under the same sky.

Thank you!!HOME MADE kazoku

HOME MADE Kazoku 'Thank You!!'

HOME MADE Kazoku’s “Thank You!!” is a single released in January 2005 and one of the group’s signature songs.

As the title suggests, it’s a song that expresses gratitude to the important people who always support you.

With its hip-hop vibe and upbeat, fun-to-sing rhythm, it might be a good choice to sing to someone you feel too shy to thank directly.