From classic choral pieces to popular J-pop! Moving songs you’ll want to sing at graduation ceremonies

The meaning of goodbyeNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 'The Meaning of Goodbye'

This song carries the feeling that, although parting is painful, we should face forward and keep moving on.

It’s a track by the popular idol group Nogizaka46, released in 2016 as their 16th single.

Its biggest appeal is definitely the lyrics—each word radiates energy.

Maybe that’s why, even though the melody and sound feel heartrending, by the time you finish listening you’ll feel ready to live strongly.

Graduation is also a kind of send-off ceremony for yourself.

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Araki Jakkan

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On the Day of DepartureGasshou Kyoku

[Chorus Song] On the Day of Departure / With Lyrics / Singing Practice / Graduation Song #chorus #classchorus #graduationsong #choruscontest

When it comes to choral songs about graduation, “Tabidachi no Hi ni” is indispensable.

Composed in 1991 by teachers at a junior high school 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 ranked first among middle and high school students.

If you’ve actually sung it at a graduation ceremony, it’s a masterpiece that will bring you to tears.

It’s a song you’ll definitely want to sing with your irreplaceable friends and the teachers who supported you!

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Hamada Takuya

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BelieveSugimoto Ryuichi

Everyone! Congratulations on your graduation! Tried singing BELIEVE covered by Gachapin [Graduation Song] [Chorus Piece]

Composed and written by Ryuichi Sugimoto, this song is beloved by many as a standard performed at graduation ceremonies and other occasions.

With lyrics themed around hope and conviction for the future, it offers comfort and courage to listeners.

Released in 1998 as the ending theme for the NHK program “Ikimono Chikyu Kikou” (A Journey of Life on Earth), it was performed by Angels Harmony.

The piece has been widely embraced—covered by various artists and even included in textbooks.

It’s a song we hope those taking a new step forward or facing difficulties will listen to.

Sakura MelodyMakihara Noriyuki

Noriyuki Makihara – Sakura Melody [Music Video]

Set to gentle piano tones, this song sings of the season of farewells and new encounters.

Noriyuki Makihara’s delicate vocals resonate closely with those facing graduation.

Included on the March 2022 album “Bespoke,” this piece is a self-cover of a song he originally provided to Miliyah Kato and Shota Shimizu.

In the season of fluttering cherry blossoms, it’s a track that gives you the courage to take a new step while holding dear your memories and gratitude.

Listen to it during graduation ceremonies or times of departure, and it will surely touch your heart.

JourneyFuji Kaze

Fujii Kaze – Tabiji (Official Video)

A flumpool number that lets you feel the proof of a solid bond with friends.

It was created as the set piece for the Junior High School Division of the NHK National School Music Competition and was also broadcast on NHK Minna no Uta.

The invisible “bond” between friends transforms into tangible “proof” through shared experiences of all kinds.

Not only the fun times but even the clashes all become proof of that bond, and that proof helps us find hope for the future.

This is a song filled with gratitude to the friends who gave us the light to live the life ahead.

Goodbye, my friend.Sakata Hiroo, Kurosawa Yoshinori

[Chorus] Farewell, my friends [Graduation Ceremony]

This piece is cherished as a heartwarming song for graduation season.

It gently sings of the sadness of parting and the hope of a new beginning.

The lyrics, filled with gratitude to the school, farewells to friends, and expectations for the future, resonate deeply with listeners.

Since its release in 1979, it has often been sung at elementary school graduation ceremonies and has been loved across generations.

Created by Hiroo Sakata and Yoshinori Kurosawa, this work stands by the hearts of graduates and gives them courage for their new departure.

It’s a recommended song to sing together at graduations and in moments of making memories.

Song of DepartureObara Akio

Song of Departure

This song was written and composed by Akio Obara, a researcher of children’s songs, and because of its lyrics, it is often sung at elementary school graduation ceremonies.

Many people have probably been moved to tears by lyrics that recall the six years of elementary school—coming with one’s mother to the entrance ceremony, the days spent in classrooms and on the schoolyard, and memories with teachers and friends.

It’s a song you’ll want to sing along with many cherished memories.