A farewell song for a dear friend—an uplifting graduation song that conveys heartfelt gratitude.
Graduation season is exciting as you set off for a new environment, but it also leaves you feeling a bit sentimental about parting with friends.
Even though you know in your head that graduation doesn’t mean saying goodbye forever, it’s natural to feel lonely or anxious.
In this article, we introduce songs that capture the many feelings you have for the friends you’ve always shared fun times with.
We’ve gathered plenty of heartfelt graduation friendship songs that are perfect for telling your friends, “We’ll always be friends even if we’re apart,” and for expressing your gratitude for everything up to now.
Be sure to find your favorite track and send it to your friends.
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A farewell song for a dear friend. A graduation song that conveys our gratitude (91–100)
Goodbyekariyushi 58
A bittersweet classic perfect for the season of farewells.
It stirs deep gratitude for days gone by and aching feelings for someone precious you’ll never meet again.
Released as a single by Kariyushi58 in February 2009, it was selected as the theme song for NTV’s Saturday drama “Zeni Geba,” earning the band their first Top 10 entry on the Oricon weekly chart.
Vocalist Shingo Maekawa’s warm voice and the distinctly Okinawan rhythm leave a strong impression.
This is a song that gently supports those who have experienced parting or lost someone dear.
Try listening while looking up at the sky—surely, your feelings will reach that special someone.
GIVE ME FIVE!AKB48
If you want to make graduation more than just tears, choose this song! It’s a hit by the popular idol group AKB48, released in 2012 as their 25th single.
Many people have probably heard it, since it was used in docomo commercials and more.
Its appeal lies in the exhilarating sound that blends band instrumentation with brass.
It has the power to blow away the haze that’s been lingering in your heart.
The message that “graduation isn’t an end, but a beginning” really hits home, too.
A farewell song for a dear friend: a graduation song that conveys gratitude (101–110)
Ode to YouthMomoiro Kurōbā Zetto
A song by the idol group Momoiro Clover Z, affectionately known as Momoclo, which was chosen as the theme song for the film “Maku ga Agaru” (The Curtain Rises).
With genuine feelings for friends and memories from youth in their hearts, it conveys a message about stepping into a new world—and it’s a number where Momoclo, usually bursting with energy, deliver a gently sung, heartfelt performance.
Only the graduation photo knowsHinatazaka46
A song by Hinatazaka46 themed around graduation.
It gently sings of the bittersweet feelings of the cherry blossom season and the love that went unspoken.
Memories and regrets sealed in graduation photos resonate deeply, intertwined with clear, transparent vocals.
Set for release on January 29, 2025, the track features Nao Kosaka as center and will be available in five editions: limited first-press versions and a regular edition.
It was premiered at their Tokyo Dome concert on December 26, 2024.
It’s a recommended listen not only for students entering graduation season, but also for anyone who wants to reflect on past loves.
I won’t forget the days with you.Te ga kuriimu pan
Written by Tega Cream Pan on the train on graduation day, this piece is a moving song filled with friendship, parting, and hope for the future.
Through everyday scenes like catching a train at the last minute and overflowing photos, it portrays bonds with friends that deeply resonate with listeners.
Released in March 2022, it was also selected as the opening theme for TBS’s Drama Stream series “Papa to Musume no Nanokakan” (Seven Days of a Dad and His Daughter).
It’s a perfect song to listen to at graduations, farewell parties, and other moments of parting with loved ones—and it’s also recommended when you want to look back on memories with friends or a significant other.
telepathyORANGE RANGE
This is a song with a universal message that our hearts remain connected even when we’re apart.
Centered on the bonds that transcend physical distance, it portrays heart-to-heart connections alongside a warm, uplifting melody.
Released in December 2004 as a track on the album “musiQ,” it was also featured in a commercial for au by KDDI, capturing the hearts of many.
The song was used as an insert track in the film “Check It Out, Yo!” and led to a collaboration with MONGOL800.
It’s a work where ORANGE RANGE’s diverse musicality blends beautifully with a technopop sound.
This is a song you’ll want to listen to when parting from dear friends or thinking of companions far away.
Always Youmilet
A heartwarming song that celebrates intimate bonds and deep friendship.
Released by milet in August 2022 as the theme song for the film “TANG,” the track debuted at No.
9 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
Created around the film’s message of “a journey to find life’s treasures,” it portrays friendship deepening as we discover the hidden charms in others, expressed through sweeping melodies and powerful sound.
It’s a perfect BGM choice for compiling memories with someone special into a video.
Infused with a universal message that connects people—one that only milet, who spent her adolescence abroad, could convey—this song is highly recommended for commemorating life’s turning points, such as graduations and farewell gatherings.