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

DreamerJO1

JO1 | ’Dreamer’ Official MV

It’s a ballad that gives you the courage to take one step at a time toward your dreams.

Written as the theme song for the drama “Short Program,” in which all the members starred, it was included on the album “KIZUNA,” released in May 2022.

Created as an anthem to support those pursuing their dreams, the song stays close to people who, despite their anxieties and doubts, try to look ahead.

Its melody, which blends gentleness with fragility, builds dramatically toward the end and truly moves the listener’s heart.

It’s a song you’ll want to hear on the day you set off on a new journey.

Joined handsMINAMI

[MV] MINAMI – The Hands We Held

A ballad that tugs at the heartstrings, “Tsunai da Te” (“Hands Held”), portrays the bond of two people walking hand in hand toward the future.

Conjuring youthful scenes like the after-school chime and a rainbow after the rain, this work is MINAMI’s major-label debut single, released in July 2023.

It’s a song you’ll want to send to a friend who feels the loneliness of parting during graduation season, when anxiety and hope mingle.

Its warm message—supporting one another’s existence—will surely resonate in the heart.

Embrace the presentsatō moka

Satomoka – Embrace the Now (Music Video)

A ballad by Moka Sato that makes you want to gently embrace the “now” we tend to lose sight of during busy days and the season of graduations and farewells.

Released as a single in November 2025, it’s a work that lays bare unadorned feelings.

What really hits home is how it portrays the will to move forward, even while carrying loneliness, through everyday details like familiar rooms and scenery.

It’s a song that sinks into the heart when you’re tucking away precious memories and heading toward a new place.

COSMOSMimas

Choral Piece: COSMOS / With Lyrics [High Quality]

This work captivates with lyrics that overlay the vast universe with one’s own existence, evoking a gentle, warming light.

It’s a single released by the music duo Aquamarine in April 1999, marking their major-label debut.

Also known as the theme song for “Star Week,” it is included on the album TALES OF STARS.

Written and composed by Mimasu, the song was later arranged by Yutaka Tomizawa into a choral piece and has since become a graduation staple beloved by schools across Japan.

Many people likely recall singing it in unison with friends as they set out from the classroom into the wider world.

It’s a classic that you’ll want to listen to in spring, at the start of new beginnings, while gazing up at the night sky.

Believe in your dreamsTokunaga Hideaki

Hidetoshi Tokunaga – Believe in Dreams

This is the ninth single by singer-songwriter Hideaki Tokunaga, who has created numerous classic ballads with his one-of-a-kind voice and, in recent years, captivated many listeners with his cover works.

The song was used as the ending theme for the TV anime Dragon Quest, and it’s a number distinguished by Tokunaga’s expansive, powerful vocals.

Its message—overcoming past tears and doubts to press forward toward the future you believe in—is sure to resonate especially with graduates whose hearts are filled with both hope and anxiety.

Released in January 1990, the single became a long-running hit, staying on the Oricon charts for 24 weeks.

It’s a song that gently nudges you toward realizing your dreams and warmly supports new beginnings.

footprint(s)Little Glee Monster

[Mixed Chorus, Three Parts] Footprints / Little Glee Monster

This song, notable for its delicate and beautiful harmonies, is a ballad that affirms the path we’ve walked and gives us the courage to move forward.

Released by Little Glee Monster as their 16th single in September 2020, it was written specifically as the compulsory piece for the junior high division of the 87th NHK National School Music Competition.

With lyrics penned by the members themselves, its message—that a day will come when even our worries and inner conflicts will have meaning—will surely resonate deeply with graduates who have overcome many obstacles.

Also broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” the piece gently supports children who, despite their anxieties, are trying to face forward.

It’s a perfect song for the stage of a graduation ceremony, where friends unite their voices and take a new first step.

The Last ChimeSakushi: Yamamoto Emiko / Sakkyoku: Wakamatsu Kan

The Last Chime (Two-Part Unison) / Lyrics: Emiko Yamamoto / Music: Kan Wakamatsu

This piece is a beloved choral song that’s indispensable for graduation season and has continued to be cherished at many elementary schools! The moment the piano prelude, which mimics chimes, begins to play, memories of school life vividly come back and your heart is sure to swell.

The joy of clearing the vaulting box for the first time, the schoolyard turned pure white with snow, the ordinary days filled with laughter with friends—Keiko Yamamoto’s lyrics depict memories just as elementary school children experienced them.

Composed by Kan Wakamatsu and introduced at the 2004 All-Japan Choral Education Conference, the song has since spread to schools nationwide.

Its range is set so that even boys whose voices are beginning to change can sing it comfortably, making it perfect for an entire grade to sing with feeling.

It’s a moving song that turns farewells with friends into a forward-looking send-off.