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 to give to a dear friend. A graduation song that conveys gratitude (1–10)
I wish you lots of happinessnaniwa danshi
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?
globeYonezu Kenshi
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?
Philadelphia fleabaneYOASOBI
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?
A farewell song to give to a dear friend: a graduation song that conveys gratitude (11–20)
We againSG
As we embark on a new beginning, SG’s “Bokura Mata” gently sings of graduation goodbyes.
SG is a singer-songwriter who first drew attention with cover videos, and his warm, heartfelt voice captivates fans.
In particular, “Bokura Mata” stands out for its rhythmic R&B beat.
It’s an anthem cheering on friends as they move forward and carries a message promising a future reunion—something that has resonated widely on social media.
When you want to reaffirm bonds that remain unchanged despite distance, this one song is sure to give you courage.
Heralding springyama
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!
TokimekiVaundy
A multi-talented artist who handles everything from songwriting to video production, Vaundy’s track pairs a buoyant, danceable beat with a slightly wistful melody, vividly bringing back memories of brilliant moments spent with friends.
Released digitally in September 2021 and included on the album “replica,” the song was written specifically for Toyota’s Corolla Cross commercial.
It was also featured in NTT Docomo’s graduation short film “Youth Bingo,” resonating widely as a number that accompanies scenes of looking back on school days.
Packed with the sparkle of everyday life and those heart-thumping feelings, its sound is perfect for expressing gratitude to friends during the season of farewells.
An emotional pop tune that makes you believe in bonds that stay the same, even when you’re apart.
Friend ~Time of Departure~yuzu
This song, Yuzu’s “Tomo ~Tabidachi no Toki~,” which also aired on NHK’s Minna no Uta, has very simple lyrics and words, yet they carry a great weight—you can feel the deep, heavy emotions in it.
Released in 2013 as Yuzu’s 38th single, it was also chosen as the set piece for that year’s NHK All-Japan School Music Competition.
It’s a friendship song that resonates in the heart, packed with the feelings of graduating, parting from friends, and anxieties about the future—something many can relate to.
