Memories Come Flooding Back: Tearjerker Graduation Songs. Moving, Tear-Inducing Ballads [2026]

bookmarkkuriipuhaipe

CreepHyp - “Bookmark” (MUSIC VIDEO)

When we reach the milestone of graduation, there comes a moment when our hearts are stirred by a flood of emotions.

A song that gently embraces that fleeting instant is “Shiori” by CreepHyp.

Perfect as a backdrop to graduation ceremonies, this track captures the sorrow of parting with an exhilarating, fast-paced melody, and it also served as a campaign song by FM802 and TSUTAYA.

The lyrics penned by Seikaikan Ozaki affirm graduation as an ending and give us the courage to embark on a new beginning.

Having reached No.

4 on the Oricon album chart, its appeal is something you should experience for yourself.

In this season of poignant farewells, “Shiori” will stay close to your heart and warm it.

Gazing up, the sky is blueHata Motohiro

Motohiro Hata / Aogeba Aozora Music Video

A graduation song by Motohiro Hata, “Aogeba Aozora,” released digitally in 2019.

When it comes to graduation songs—and especially Motohiro Hata’s music—you can bet it’ll make you cry; it’s bound to be a moving song! His gentle, sweet voice and the lyrics that build in poignancy will make your chest tighten.

Many listeners will likely find the inner conflict—the anxiety and loneliness of graduating and parting from friends—so real that it brings them to tears.

It’s a refreshing track that still has plenty of tear-jerking moments.

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Sky-blue DaysSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “Sky-Blue Days”

SHISHAMO’s “Mizuiro no Hibi” is the kind of song that would absolutely make you cry if you listened to it on graduation day.

It focuses on the emotional turmoil and confusion of reaching graduation without really feeling like you’re graduating or that you’re about to be separated from your friends.

I think a lot of people can relate to this in real life.

It’s a song that pierces you with all those feelings you’re too shy to express face-to-face, the days that slipped by while you zoned out, and the youthful scenery captured in the title “Sky-Blue Days”—the everyday moments that cut right to the heart.

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cherry blossomKobukuro

Kobukuro “Sakura”

Kobukuro’s 12th single “Sakura,” released in 2005.

It’s one of those songs you feel like everyone has heard at least once, a long-running hit known for its moving lyrics—and when you listen while really reading the words, it makes perfect sense.

Cherry blossoms are stunningly beautiful and exhilaratingly festive, yet at the same time they’re fleeting and fall so quickly.

The song draws you in by likening the cherry tree—beautiful yet ephemeral, enduring through many seasons—to life itself, making it a track that grips the heart and can move you to tears.

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Homeward Road in MarchHirai Dai

Dai Hirai / The Way Home in March (Lyric Video)

A ballad perfect for graduation season has arrived from Dai Hirai.

The gentle sounds of piano and strings resonate deep in the heart.

Set on the way home in March, it beautifully portrays memories of youth and feelings toward a new departure.

Wrapped in a nostalgic atmosphere, it sings of the complex emotions where loneliness and anticipation intersect.

Released as a digital single in February 2022, the song is also included on the album “HOPE / WISH.” It’s ideal not only as BGM for graduation ceremonies, but also for those embarking on a new chapter or reminiscing about their youth.

Let this warm voice surround you as you look back on your cherished memories.

spring skySuzuki Suzuki

【Graduation】Spring Sky – Suzuki Suzuki【Official Music Video】

Suzuki Suzuki’s “Haruzora” is a song that beautifully captures the feelings in our hearts at graduation.

The harmonies of Tomu and Seina sink in deeply, bringing back memories of friendships forged at school and the ache of parting.

Words in the lyrics like “notebook,” “chime,” and “blazer” color the fragments of memories shared by all graduates.

Masahiro Nakai, who named the unit, would surely be proud.

It’s wonderful both to listen to through tears and to sing out powerfully with friends.

A truly recommended track to grace the milestone of graduation.

Kitearashi

ARASHI – Kite [Official Music Video]

A song that resonates as a graduation anthem full of dreams and hope.

Embraced as the NHK 2020 theme song, it drew major attention when first performed on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Created by Kenshi Yonezu, it is also known as a work released before Arashi’s hiatus.

As hope for the future intersects with gratitude for the past, its message powerfully supports graduates taking their next step.

The moving harmony of Arashi’s five members suits the milestone of graduation day and gives courage to embark on a new world.

Released in July 2020, the single topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and ranked third for the year.