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

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.

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.

TOMORROWMayo Okamoto

TOMORROW

With its uplifting lyrics and buoyant piano melody, this is a pep song that gives courage to listeners.

Singer-songwriter Mayo Okamoto’s debut single “TOMORROW,” released in May 1995, was chosen as the theme song for the TV drama “Second Chance” and became a massive hit, achieving Double Platinum status.

Its message—that strength lies beyond the tears—will surely give a powerful push to graduates embarking on a new world.

Beloved enough to be selected as the entrance march for the National High School Baseball Tournament in March 1996, this song is widely cherished.

Sing it with friends at a reunion, and your memories of youth are sure to come vividly rushing back.

Song of ThanksV6

V6 / Thank You Song (YouTube Ver.)

Putting gratitude into words can feel embarrassing, and this heartwarming mid-tempo number from V6 speaks for those feelings.

With lyrics that deliver thanks through everyday scenes, it’s sure to gently loosen the listener’s heart.

The structure—each member handing off solo parts so their distinct vocal colors layer the emotion—is especially memorable.

Released in March 2004, the song became familiar as the theme for TBS’s “Gakkō e Ikō!” and as the commercial song for Kawaijuku’s University Prep Course.

It resonated with the youthful spirit of the show and likely became an unforgettable memory for students of the time.

It’s a perfect track for moments of transition—like graduation or entrance exams—when you want to express gratitude to those who’ve supported you.

A moving song that helps you be honest with your feelings as you face farewells with someone important.

When the fleabanes bloomNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 'When the Harujion Blooms' Short Ver.

When the season is filled with the scent of spring, a complex mix of the sadness of parting and the resolve to set out begins to grow, doesn’t it? This number by Nogizaka46 is a masterpiece that gently embraces those emotions we feel during graduation season.

Released in March 2016 as their 14th single, it features Mai Fukagawa as the center, serving as a grand send-off toward her graduation.

It was also used in a commercial for “sizebook,” so many of you have likely heard it.

The video, with its hakama outfits that evoke the Taisho era’s romantic aesthetic, is striking—just watching it may bring a lump to your throat.

When you’re anxious yet determined to step into a new world, this song will quietly give you courage and become something truly precious.

Loved oneFOMARE

FOMARE “The One I Love” Official Music Video

This song by FOMARE, a rock band from Takasaki, Gunma, channels their overflowing feelings for the places and people they love in a straightforward way.

With a driving band sound, it powerfully sings of the preciousness of everyday life we once took for granted and of bonds that remain unchanged even when we’re apart.

Released in June 2021 and later placed as the opening track on the album “midori,” the song also drew attention as the CM song for Universal Studios Japan’s “Uniharu 2022.” It’s a perfect track for graduates who want to express gratitude to friends, teammates, and the places that supported them.

As listeners leave their familiar days behind and step into a new world, the song offers a warm cheer to gently push them forward.

Thank youikimonogakari

Ikimonogakari 'Arigatou' Music Video

Feelings of gratitude that are too embarrassing to express on ordinary days might be easier to convey honestly at graduation.

This song, which portrays the warmth of holding someone’s hand, the happiness of everyday life, and the resolve to walk toward the future, is truly a classic befitting a new beginning.

Ikimono-gakari’s single “Arigatou,” released in May 2010, was widely loved as the theme song for the NHK morning drama Gegege no Nyōbō.

Thanks to its universal appeal, it was also selected as the entrance march for the 2011 National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament.

The words woven by Yoshiki Mizuno and the vocals of Kiyoe Yoshioka gently resonate with listeners’ hearts.

Why not listen to this perfect piece for expressing gratitude to parents and teachers at graduation and find the courage to take your next step?