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 (91–100)
Time TravelerHashimoto Yoshiji
This song, “Toki no Tabibito” (Traveler of Time), is a staple at choral competitions in junior high and high schools.
Despite being a choral piece, its multiple key changes give it a distinctive character and make it particularly compelling to listen to.
Perhaps those modulations are why it sounds good no matter which part you focus on.
The lyrics are perfect for a graduation song, making it a great fit for choirs at graduation ceremonies and for celebrating new beginnings and departures.
It’s sure to become one of those moving graduation memories—a choral piece that stays with you.
Album of MemoriesSakushi Mashiko Toshi • Sakkyoku Honda Tetsumaro
It’s a wonderful song that stays in children’s hearts.
It gently sings about memories from each of the four seasons: playing in the spring garden, going barefoot in the summer, collecting acorns in the fall, and Christmas in the winter.
The lyrics overflow with the happy times spent throughout the year.
A single was released by Kumiko Kaori in 1980, and the following year a single by Dark Ducks was also released.
This piece is especially known as a staple song for kindergarten graduation ceremonies.
It’s a warm song that resonates not only with the children graduating, but also with the adults sending them off.
Sakuraayaka
Sakura, the graduation song that Ayaka performed on her Acoustic Live Tour 2017-2018 ~3-STAR RAW~ and which became a major talking point, includes descriptions that recall past graduation ceremonies.
It resonates not only with graduates but also with the teachers and parents sending them off.
Graduation ceremonies are something that makes everyone feel a pang of sadness when remembered, yet at the same time, thinking of those shining days makes your heart swell.
I believe it’s a graduation song that will be cherished across generations.
bondYamazaki Tomoko
Among choral pieces themed around graduation, “Kizuna” is a true classic.
As the title suggests, its lyrics look back on school-life memories—fun times and hard times shared with friends—and impress upon the heart how precious they are; the more you sing it, the more it sinks in.
Though the performance time is not very long and the structure is simple, it’s a highly recommended piece known for its beautiful harmonies.
The composer, Tomoko Yamazaki, has written other graduation songs as well, so if you’re interested, be sure to check them out.
Don’t give up on your dreamsOkamura Takako
Singer-songwriter Takako Okamura’s smash hit “Don’t Give Up on Your Dreams.” Released in 1987, it is one of Okamura’s signature songs.
The title conveys a sense of passion and momentum, yet the refreshing lyrics and Okamura’s gentle voice make it a soothing piece as well.
Although the lyrics were originally written as a heartbreak song, the track carries a message for those setting out on a new path, making it a perfect fit for the feelings that come with graduation.
It’s sure to leave a lasting impression as a choral piece, too.
Full of memoriesH₂O
A new day of setting out, leaving behind the school full of memories.
Crafted by Fujii Kaze as the theme song for the drama Nijiiro Karte, this piece is truly a song that gives graduates a gentle push forward.
Released in March 2022, it features the warm timbre of a Wurlitzer and a soulful arrangement.
Centered on life’s journey and personal growth, it delicately portrays both the sadness of parting and the anticipation of the unknown.
The music video—shot in Satoshō, Okayama, Kaze’s hometown, and at his alma mater—also drew attention.
It resonated with many, charting high on Billboard Japan.
It’s a perfect song to sing at a graduation ceremony.
Let’s search for Tomorrow
Let’s Search for Tomorrow, composed by Torunori Osawa, is a classic piece popular as a graduation chorus song.
It features a bright melody that sings of the hopes and dreams of young people moving toward the future, helping them strengthen their resolve to move forward as they sing.
Rhythmic changes that add contrast uplift listeners’ spirits and make the final moments at school even more special.
Offering courage and hope to students, this song is well-suited for celebrating graduation as the start of a new journey.