[Moving] Heartfelt Japanese Songs Recommended for Graduation Season [2026]

When I turn around…Janne Da Arc

Janne Da Arc – If I Turn Around…

When it comes to graduation songs by visual kei rock bands, this has to be the one.

Released in February 2006 as Janne Da Arc’s 25th single, it’s a ballad that also served as the theme song for the film HIRAKATA, in which the band members appeared.

It’s a fan favorite, and its lyrics—depicting the bittersweet pain of parting and the hope for the future—deeply move listeners.

Yasu’s emotional vocals are deeply affecting, and the song is beloved by many as a grand rock number.

It’s a track I especially recommend to those setting off from a place they’ve grown attached to, or to anyone vowing to reunite with dear friends.

A timeless spring classic that never fades with time.

Unchanging Thingssakushi: yamazaki tomoko / sakkyoku: yamazaki tomoko

The Unchanging Things [Chorus] / With Lyrics / Singing Practice / Graduation Song #Chorus #ClassChorus #GraduationSong #ChorusContest

The bonds nurtured during our days at school will never fade, even when we are apart.

This work is a choral piece that carefully weaves together those unchanging feelings.

The lyrics and music are by Tomoko Yamazaki, who has created many beloved songs such as “Taisetsu na Mono” and “Te no Hira o Kazashite.” It was newly written for the collection “Tomoko Yamazaki ~Original Songs~ (Mixed Voices),” published by Ongaku no Tomo Sha in July 2010.

While holding the sorrow of parting, it portrays the resolve to look ahead and take a step forward, set to a sincere and beautiful melody.

Both mixed choir and equal-voice choir versions are available, making it easy to choose according to the size and composition of your school.

Sung at graduations, farewell ceremonies, and other moments of parting from those dear to you, it will etch gratitude for the time spent together—and the bonds that will remain unchanged—into your hearts.

18imase

【imase】18（MV）

A pop tune celebrating the start of adulthood, crafted by singer-songwriter imase, who made his major-label debut in 2021.

Released in April 2023, it was written as the theme song for Suntory’s web video “Otonajan: Koko kara dane 04.” Aimed at a generation whose school life events were restricted during the pandemic, it blends scenes unique to mask-wearing life and delivers an uplifting message: “The real fun awaits in the life ahead.” With a light four-on-the-floor beat and refreshing melody, it gently embraces a wavering heart.

The track is also included on the album Bonsai, released in May 2024.

It’s a song we especially want you to hear at that moment after graduation, when anticipation and anxiety mix as you enter a new life—when you’d rather look forward to the future than lament lost time.

cherry blossomMoriyama Naotaro

Sakura

It’s one of the quintessential “sakura songs” you want to listen to when spring arrives.

Virtually synonymous with Naotaro Moriyama, this track was released as a single in March 2003 and sold over a million copies.

Its lyrics superimpose farewells to dear friends and moments of new beginnings onto the image of cherry blossoms that bloom beautifully and fall all too quickly, resonating deeply in the heart.

Beyond the sadness of parting, the song also conveys a warm, resilient strength, pledging to reunite in the future while holding onto unchanging feelings.

It was also beloved as the ending theme for the MBS/TBS program “Sekai Ururun Taizai-ki.” It’s a classic you’ll want to play on the day of graduation, reminiscing about the days spent with your friends.

spring sunlightKanapu × Kujira

[Suite] KAFU × Kujira #97 “Spring Sunlight” [Original MV]

This song skillfully captures the pleasant warmth of spring sunshine and the bittersweetness of parting.

Kaf’s clear, transparent voice conveys the emotion of the graduation season to the fullest.

Released in March 2022, the track drew attention as a collaboration between Kaf and Kujira.

It beautifully expresses the contrasting feelings of spring’s brightness and the loneliness of farewell through both its sound and lyrics.

It’s perfect not only for students about to graduate, but also for anyone taking a new step in life.

Its heartfelt lyrics and beautiful melody will resonate with listeners, offering comfort and the courage to look forward.

Until graduationBoku ga mitakatta aozora

The Blue Sky I Wanted to See / “Until Graduation” Music Video

This song portrays the bittersweet feelings of a high school student on the verge of graduation.

The protagonist’s wavering emotions, unable to confess their feelings, resonate deeply with listeners.

It was released in January 2024 as the second single by Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora.

The music video, set against a melancholic fishing port, has also drawn attention.

The group introduced its first-ever selection system, with the 12-member Aozora-gumi handling the vocals.

It’s recommended for anyone holding onto feelings for someone special in the limited time before graduation.

I think it’s also a song that offers comfort to those struggling with a relationship that’s more than friends but not quite lovers.

true feelingsGENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE

true feelings

This song is filled with messages cheering on those who keep moving forward despite uncertainty and regret.

It’s a track by the dance and vocal group GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE, released in March 2026.

It served as a tie-in song with the radio show SCHOOL OF LOCK!, which the members appeared on for six years, and the show’s live project MY GENERATION 2026.

The sentimental strings are sure to bring tears.

The lyrics, written in down-to-earth language, are deeply relatable, word by word.

With a graduation-themed worldview, it’s a masterpiece that stands by everyone carrying a sense of heartache.

Give it a listen when you want to shake off your sadness.