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

Run Through the MemoriesMy Hair is Bad

My Hair is Bad – Dash Through the Memories

A ballad by My Hair is Bad filled with a warm message of gratitude to friends who shared irreplaceable time together, and of turning even painful experiences into strength for the future.

The sincere words penned by vocalist Tomohito Shiiki affirm the days that have passed in their entirety and give you the courage to take a new step forward.

Released in June 2024, the song also drew attention for being written as the theme for the film Crayon Shin-chan: Our Dinosaur Diary.

It’s an important track that closes out the album ghosts, featuring a grand band sound worthy of a story’s end credits.

It’s a song that gently supports graduates as they etch their memories into their hearts and move on toward tomorrow—why not listen to it together with your cherished friends?

Bye, my friendbokula.

bokula. – By My Friend - [Official Music Video]

This is a gem of a song from bokula., a rock band based in Hiroshima, filled with the sparkle and bittersweetness of youth.

The lyrics, which remind us that the time and memories spent with friends—things we took for granted—are never wasted, resonate deeply alongside Ei’s straightforward vocals.

Included on the mini-album “Seikatsu ni, Yorisoi.” released in May 2022, the track has won fervent support especially among junior and senior high school students, and has become beloved by many listeners, surpassing a total of 8.5 million streams.

It’s the perfect song for those moments when you’re facing the sadness of going your separate ways but want to reaffirm an unchanging bond.

Why not send this track to your cherished friends as a token of gratitude at the milestone of graduation?

Sakura rollFunatsu Mahiro

Masato Funatsu “Sakura Roll” Official Lyric Video

With the arrival of spring, the song that makes me want to listen is Masho Funatsu’s “Sakura Roll,” released in March 2021.

The title is a coined word that blends “sakura” (cherry blossoms) with a smartphone’s “camera roll,” a clever touch that layers the fleeting season with the enduring nature of memories.

This piece, graced by the soothing sound of acoustic guitar, features high school singer Ren on chorus; the overlap of their voices creates a beautiful harmony where warmth and wistfulness coexist.

The lyrics capture a contemporary feeling—the desire to etch fleeting moments into the heart like photographs—and gently resonate with those facing graduation or a new chapter in life.

It’s a highly recommended song to send with gratitude, while reflecting on days spent with friends or a loved one.

See you again.kawanishi natsuki

See you again.

This warm and slightly nostalgic ballad by Natsuki Kawanishi, a singer-songwriter from Nara Prefecture, was released in August 2025.

It was selected as the opening theme for BS-TBS’s “Nara Fushigi Tabi Zukan.” Co-written with Sho Yamamoto, the song blends a gently enveloping melody with Kawanishi’s resolute vocals to quietly awaken listeners’ “hometowns of the heart.” The lyrics convey not only the parting that comes with setting off on a journey, but also a forward-looking promise to meet again, evoking a sense of certain hope amid loneliness.

It’s a perfect song for those leaving their hometown for school or work.

Sakura (2019)Moriyama Naotaro

Naotaro Moriyama – “Sakura (2019)” Music Video

As a cherry blossom song and a must-have graduation song, Naotaro Moriyama’s “Sakura” stands out.

Released in 2003 as Moriyama’s second single, it became his signature track and a beloved hit across the nation.

In 2019, it attracted attention again as the theme song for the drama “同期のサクラ” (Synchronicity of Sakura).

Covered by numerous artists and cherished by listeners of all ages as a moving classic, this song resonates even more deeply with those approaching graduation—its lyrics feel all the more real and hit you right in the heart, making it a tearjerker.

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proofflumpool

flumpool “Proof” Music Video (Full Chorus ver.)

Akashi, flumpool’s seventh single, released in 2011.

The song was written as the set piece for that year’s NHK National School Music Competition, and it’s likely to resonate deeply with junior and senior high school students and anyone living a student life.

Evoking human connections and friendships, it’s perfect both as a graduation song and a friendship anthem.

As memories of everyday moments with friends come flooding back and the reality of graduation sinks in, this is a song that’s sure to loosen your tear ducts.

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Friend ~Time to Depart~yuzu

Yuzu “Friend ~The Time of Departure~”

Released in 2013, Yuzu’s “Tomodachi ~Tabidachi no Toki~” was also chosen as the set piece for that year’s NHK National School Music Competition.

The lyrics are very simple, yet the song wells up in your chest and brings tears to your eyes.

That’s because Yuzu created it with their feelings for the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Known as both a choral piece and a graduation song, it slips gently into anyone’s heart and resonates—regardless of age, it’s a moving song that makes you think of someone and brings you to tears.

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