From classic choral pieces to popular J-pop! Moving songs you’ll want to sing at graduation ceremonies
Graduation ceremonies are special events where we take flight from the schools we’ve spent our days in.
Many schools sing songs related to graduation during the ceremony.
Still, you might find yourself thinking, “What kind of songs should we sing?” and struggle to come up with ideas.
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of recommended songs for choral performance, chosen from classic and popular graduation songs.
We’ll feature not only the standard pieces but also recommendations from J-pop that work well for choir—feel free to use them as a reference!
- [For Middle Schoolers] Recommended Classic Songs to Sing at Graduation Ceremonies
- [Graduation Songs] Choral pieces perfect for singing at elementary school graduation ceremonies: A collection of moving classics
- [Gratitude, Encouragement, Memories] Tear-Jerking Graduation Songs You Can’t Listen to Without Crying [2026]
- [For junior high students] Choral songs you’ll want to sing at your middle school graduation ceremony. Songs that touch the heart.
- [For Graduates] Graduation Songs and Cheer Anthems to Convey Gratitude and Support
- [Recommended for High School Students] New Graduation Songs & Classic Tearjerkers Collection
- [Great Lyrics!!] Recommended Tear-Jerking Graduation Songs with Heartfelt, Moving Words [2026]
- Choral Songs Sung at Elementary School Graduation Ceremonies: A Collection of Moving Song Ideas
- [2026] Graduate with a Smile! Recommended Uplifting Graduation Songs
- [Farewell] A selection of moving, tear-jerking Japanese songs recommended for graduation ceremonies
- Songs we want to sing at the graduation ceremony! A special feature on moving, heart-touching preschool graduation songs
- They’ll give your new beginning a boost! Enrollment songs released in the Heisei era
- [Moving] Heartfelt Japanese Songs Recommended for Graduation Season [2026]
From classic choral pieces to popular J-POP! Moving songs you’ll want to sing at graduation ceremonies (71–80)
Born on this planetsakushi sakkyoku sugimoto ryuuichi
It’s not a song whose theme is graduation itself, but its lyrics encourage you to keep moving forward, believing that your dreams will come true.
The message is perfect for graduates who are about to take their first step onto a new path, and it really resonates.
I think it’s also a perfect song to be given from current students to graduates.
If I turn around…Janne Da Arc
“TOMORROW” by Mayo Okamoto is highly popular both as an uplifting, motivational song and as a life-affirming anthem.
Released in 1995 as Okamoto’s debut single, it became a massive and long-running hit.
Although many years have passed since its release, plenty of younger listeners have probably heard it somewhere.
Its gentle yet powerful positivity and lyrics that give you strength make it easy to understand why people have continued to sing it for so long.
Please give me wingsakai tori
This song, “Tsubasa wo Kudasai” (Please Give Me Wings), is well known as a choral piece.
Many of you have probably sung it or heard it somewhere.
The song was recorded as the B-side to the folk group Akai Tori’s 1971 single “Takeda no Komoriuta.” It’s a widely recognized number that has been covered across many scenes, from famous artists to rock bands.
Singing this classic choral piece at a graduation ceremony will surely remain a vivid memory for everyone.
Nostalgic FutureKamishiraishi Mone
‘Natsukashii Mirai’ (A Nostalgic Future) was released in 2022 by Mone Kamishiraishi, a singer who is also active as an actress and model.
Naotaro Moriyama wrote and composed the song.
Set to gentle, airy piano tones, it sings of hope for the future.
Arranging it with lead vocals, harmonies, and chorus will give the sound greater breadth.
The key to singing it is to aim for a smooth, flowing, supple delivery.
It’s filled with messages that draw on what you’ve learned in school and encourage you to take steps onto a new path.
Try singing it together with friends and classmates who shared the same school life.
Unchanging ThingsYamazaki Tomoko
Omoi de ga Ippai, which was used as the theme song for the anime Miyuki depicting youthful romance, was released by the music duo H2O in 1983, a group that gained attention for their twin-vocal sound.
The song portrays a young woman embarking on a new chapter, and its lyrics—evoking scenes set in schools like classrooms and hallways—resonate deeply.
Set to a melody line that conveys both beauty and bittersweetness, it’s a piece that sings of youth.
Dividing parts into lead vocal, harmony, and chorus delivers an even richer sound.
Be sure to try singing this graduation song that lets you keep precious memories in your heart.
GraduationKobukuro
A graduation song sung by Kobukuro, released in 2020.
Among their songs, “Sakura,” long loved as a graduation song, boasts high popularity, but this track is crafted to focus even more directly on graduation.
There’s also a choral-version music video uploaded, which should make it easier to picture how it would work as a chorus piece.
The lyrics look back on past memories and portray the bittersweet feeling of taking a step toward the future, something any graduate can relate to.
It’s surely a wonderful song that will move you.
Sakura (2019)Moriyama Naotaro
Released in 2003, this signature song by Naotaro Moriyama is beloved as a classic farewell and graduation song.
In 2019, an arranged version was also released as the theme song for the drama “Sakura’s Synchronized Colleagues” (同期のサクラ).
Of course, the song is also very popular as a choral piece, and many schools likely sing it at their graduation ceremonies every year.
The lyrics, which bid farewell while vowing to meet again and look toward a bright future, are perfect for graduation scenes and make it a moving piece that fills the venue with emotion.