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 feelings of gratitude (21–30)
best friendNEW!SG
A song by SG that I want to give to a dear friend.
As the title suggests, it’s a warm message song themed around the bond with a friend deeply connected at heart.
Life brings many partings—graduations, turning points—but this song straightforwardly sings about an unchanging friendship despite distance, and the hope of meeting again.
Released as a single in March 2022, it resonated with many people, ranking high in LINE MUSIC’s real-time music video charts.
Known for “Bokura Mata,” SG penned this track in his own words, offering not only the sorrow of parting but also the courage to look ahead.
It’s perfect as BGM for graduation season, as well as for times when you want to express gratitude that’s hard to say, or when you’re thinking of a friend far away.
A bouquet for meAdo
This is a pep song overflowing with positive energy by Ado, who enjoys immense popularity as a vocalist.
Released in March 2025, many people likely recognize it as the song from Japan Coca-Cola’s Georgia commercial.
With the pop sound characteristic of HoneyWorks, who produced the track, and a message that affirms who you are and gives you the courage to move forward, it really resonates.
Also included on the album “Ado’s Best Album,” this song is perfect for cheering on those taking a step toward the future.
Whether you want to gently nudge someone who’s feeling a bit anxious, or sing it with a smile at a farewell gathering, it’s sure to convey warmth.
Time ParadoxVaundy
With a musical style that freely crosses a wide range of genres, Vaundy has gained immense support, especially among young people.
Among his songs, this one carries a warm quality that gently resonates with the feelings of graduation season.
Despite its deliberately pared-down, simple arrangement, the melody—somehow nostalgic yet full of hope for the future—truly strikes a chord.
Released in February 2024 as his first CD single, it was written as the theme song for the film Doraemon: Nobita’s Earth Symphony.
The music video, directed by Vaundy himself and featuring Shota Sometani, also drew major attention.
Its message, which seems to connect the past and the future, makes it perfect for the season of new beginnings.
It’s a heartwarming track you’ll want to listen to while reflecting on the days spent with friends.
Kitearashi
A grand message song by Arashi that you’ll want to give to friends setting off on a new chapter.
Like a kite catching the wind and soaring high, it portrays the resolve to move forward despite uncertainty.
There’s a warmth in this song that gently watches over that figure and gives a soft push from behind.
The single “Kite,” released in 2020, was written and composed by Kenshi Yonezu as the “NHK 2020 Song.” It was also aired on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” making it beloved across generations.
Parting with friends is lonely, but the sentiment embedded in this work—“we’re connected no matter where we are”—will surely reach their hearts.
If everyone sings it together at a farewell party, it becomes the perfect cheer, powerfully supporting the future of the one setting out.
C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h.ONE OK ROCK
This song by ONE OK ROCK, “C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h.,” is also very popular as a friendship anthem.
It’s said that Taka, the vocalist, wrote it as a song dedicated to his friends, and that the title comes from the initials of their names.
It has that signature ONE OK ROCK punch that really hits you in the heart, with lyrics that weave together English and Japanese.
It’s a perfect track for the moment when everyone sets off on different paths, and it can help turn the anxiety and sadness of parting into something a little more positive.
Words of FarewellGReeeeN
A song filled with passionate resolve to overcome the sadness of parting and vow to meet again.
GReeeeN’s “Okuru Kotoba” powerfully pushes forward those who carry the bonds of friendship into the future.
It’s not a cover of the classic song with the same title, but an original single released in October 2018.
Written as the theme song for the film “Run! T High School Basketball Club,” it serves as a cheer anthem that ties in with the story’s themes of setbacks and comebacks.
It’s the kind of anthem that makes you want to link arms and sing with the friends you shared your club and school days with.
It’s sure to give courage and hope to men setting off into a new world.
Highly recommended as moving background music for graduations and farewell parties.
My friend — now and forever…Ketsumeishi
A memorable Ketsumeishi track featuring an MV with the comedy trio Dachou Club, who are bound by a friendship as strong as that of best friends.
It was chosen as the theme song for the film Crayon Shin-chan: The Dreaming World’s Grand Assault.
Even if precious friends bound by a strong bond graduate and go their separate ways, the fact that they’re friends doesn’t change.
Along with expressing gratitude for everything up to now, the song carries a warm feeling of “We’ll always, always be friends from here on, too!” Dachou Club’s comedy is surely something only those three can create.
In the same way, let this song carry the feeling of “Let’s always stay friends precisely because it’s you,” and send it from you to your friend.
