A farewell song for a dear friend—an uplifting graduation song that conveys heartfelt gratitude.

Gazing up, the sky is blueHata Motohiro

Motohiro Hata / Aogeba Aozora Music Video

This heartwarming medium-tempo ballad sung by Motohiro Hata reminds us that parting isn’t an end, but the beginning of new days.

The gentle tones of the acoustic guitar and his clear, “voice of steel and glass” tenderly soothe hearts weighed down by anxiety or loneliness.

One of the song’s greatest charms is how it portrays a strong bond that remains even when people are apart—without ever using the word “goodbye.” It drew attention when it aired from March 2019 as the theme song for SoftBank’s “Graduation” TV commercial, and it was later included on the album Copernicus.

It’s the perfect song to give to a dear friend you’ve spent so much time with, conveying gratitude for the past and a heartfelt “let’s keep walking together” for the future.

Futabaaimyon

Aimyon – Futaba [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

This piece was written for the NHK special program “AIMYON 18 Matsuri” and released for streaming in March 2022.

It’s a moving mid-tempo number that Aimyon created after watching videos of worries and hopes sent in by 1,000 18-year-olds from across the country.

It also opens the album “Hitomi e Ochiruyo Record,” gently singing about reaching toward the sky even while holding onto anxiety.

It’s perfect for telling friends who are graduating and going their separate ways both your gratitude and the feeling that “we’ll be okay even if we’re apart.” Its message—gather strength underground during uncertain times and one day let your own unique flower bloom—gives a quiet push to those setting off on a new journey.

globeYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Spinning Globe

This is the song chosen as the theme for Hayao Miyazaki’s film “The Boy and the Heron.” It’s a moving ballad that conveys a determination to keep walking forward on one’s own feet, even while experiencing missed connections and farewells along life’s journey.

Released as a single in July 2023, it was created by Kenshi Yonezu over the course of about four years as an expression of gratitude to the director he deeply admires.

Also included on the album “LOST CORNER,” the song reflects feelings for friends who are taking a different path—feelings that will not fade even if you’re far apart.

Its vocals, like a prayer for someone dear who has gone far away, will gently encourage a new departure.

Along with all the gratitude you’ve felt up to now, why not send this song to a cherished friend?

I wish you lots of happinessnaniwa danshi

Naniwa Danshi – Sachi Are [Official Music Video] YouTube ver.

A heartwarming cheer song written and composed by Yujin Kitagawa of Yuzu, which drew attention as a newly penned piece.

Its positive message—encouraging us to find happiness in the little moments of everyday life—is like a prayer of “good fortune to you” for friends graduating and stepping into new environments.

Carried by Naniwa Danshi’s bright, refreshing vocals, this song reassures you that even when you’re apart, your hearts remain close, turning the sadness of parting into hope.

Included on the single “The Answer / Sachiare,” released in April 2022, it also served as the theme song for Fuji TV’s “Mezamashi TV,” delivering a burst of energy every morning.

Why not gift it to cherished friends who feel a bit anxious about their new beginnings, as a way to gently nudge them forward with your familiar smile?

Philadelphia fleabaneYOASOBI

YOASOBI “Halzion” Official Music Video

A song released in May 2020 by YOASOBI, a duo that turns novels into music.

Based on Shunki Hashizume’s novel “Soredemo, Happy End,” it portrays the feelings of a protagonist who faces forward after overcoming the sorrow of heartbreak.

While looking back on the past, they find time for a new self—an image that resonates with the moment of graduating and setting off on separate paths.

Created as part of a collaboration with the beverage brand ZONe, the song was also used as the theme for the theater troupe No Meets’ stage production “Mukou no Kuni.” Ikura’s translucent vocals and the lively beat gently nudge anxious hearts forward.

Why not send it as a cheer to friends working hard in different places?

Heralding springyama

yama – Harbinger of Spring (Official Video)

This song gently stays by your side when you suddenly feel anxious or lonely about starting a new life.

Sung by yama, Haru wo Tsugeru has a crisp beat and an urban vibe that feels pleasant, conjuring scenes of late-night introspection alone.

Released digitally in April 2020, it resonated widely online and has continued to be loved, surpassing 300 million streams by June 2022.

The lyrics, which portray ideals and inner conflicts far removed from reality, have a raw resonance that sets them apart from straightforwardly cheerful anthems.

If you gift it to a friend moving to Tokyo after graduation to start living alone, it’ll be a reassuring charm that gently wraps them up on sleepless nights!

1000 daysnozomi

Noashi (noa) – 1000 Days [Official Music Video]

High school life is said to last about 1,000 days, and this song is a fast-paced, exhilarating number that races through those limited days of youth.

Sung by Noashi, a singer-songwriter popular especially among Gen Z, the track was released as a single in April 2025 and was written specifically for the web commercial of the vitamin soda drink MATCH.

It carries a message that celebrates the preciousness of moments that will never return and the unchanging bonds of friendship even after graduation—perfect for the season of partings that warms the heart.

This piece evokes memories of casual exchanges with friends and secrets you shared, filling you with gratitude.

Why not gift it to friends you’ll be parting ways with, as a token of thanks and a cheer for what lies ahead?