[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.

KanadeSukima Suichi

Sukima Switch – “Kanade” Music Video : SUKIMASWITCH / KANADE Music Video

This song is a beautiful ballad that portrays parting with someone dear and the wish to stay connected at heart beyond that farewell.

Released by Sukima Switch in March 2004 as their second single, it features a sentimental sound centered on piano and guitar that truly resonates.

It was used as an insert song for the film “Rough,” the theme song for the drama “Sotsu Uta,” and in 2006 was selected as the ending theme for the final day of “Netto Koshien.” The protagonist’s earnest desire to reach someone through voice and song even when apart mirrors the feelings of junior high school students facing the milestone of graduation.

It’s a track that, while looking back on days with friends, makes you want to cherish those bonds going forward.

Sung as a chorus, it would surely fill the entire venue with warm tears.

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.

cheerMarushii

Marcy – Yell (Official Music Video)

A new cheering song that gently nudges on the backs of those giving their all every day has arrived from Marcy, a three-piece rock band from Fukuoka.

Released digitally in February 2024, the track was written specifically as the 55th anniversary campaign song for Shinken Zemi’s High School Course.

Vocalist/guitarist Ukyo Yoshida handled both lyrics and composition, infusing the song with messages that validate the daily efforts that can’t be measured by scores and offer comfort for moments when you feel utterly alone in the world.

The school-set music video portrays the struggles of boys and girls and the scenery of youth as an ensemble drama, deepening the immersion into the song’s world.

It’s a number we especially hope will reach those about to take a new step after graduation, and those who are living each day earnestly even when the results don’t yet show.

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.

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.

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.