[2026] Recommended love songs for graduation season: Love songs you’ll want to hear at the graduation ceremony

Graduation -GRADUATION-Kikuchi Momoko

Graduation -GRADUATION-

This is Momoko Kikuchi’s fourth single, released in February 1985.

It became a classic, serving as the song for Shiseido’s “Acne” commercial and as the theme song for a drama in which she starred.

It is also included on the album “TROPIC of CAPRICORN.” Set against scenes like an empty classroom after graduation and a familiar tree-lined path, the lyrics express a poignant reflection on unspoken feelings of love and youthful days.

Tetsuji Hayashi’s gentle, beautiful melody and Kikuchi’s translucent vocals resonate deeply.

Many listeners find that, when they revisit the song as adults, bittersweet memories from that time come vividly back to life.

With warmth and wistfulness coexisting like spring sunlight, this piece quietly accompanies the season of new beginnings.

The season of farewellSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “Season of Goodbyes”

“The Season of Goodbye” by SHISHAMO is a song about a crush on an upperclassman who will graduate before you.

It’s included on the album SHISHAMO 2.

You know you’ll never be in the same class as that senior and you don’t see them often, but catching glimpses of them around school always makes you happy.

Unfortunately, you won’t be graduating at the same time.

On graduation day, as they leave school ahead of you, you can’t say anything—just watch from afar like always.

Even if your feelings don’t come true, you just hope they won’t forget you.

It’s a song that captures that bittersweet, chest-tightening kind of love.

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SAKI

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On nights when cherry blossoms fallaimyon

Aimyon – On the Night the Cherry Blossoms Fall [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Aimyon’s “On Nights When Cherry Blossoms Fall” is a deeply emotive song that suits the milestone of graduation.

While delicately portraying encounters and farewells, it also carries a charm that instills the hope of spring.

Within the lyrics Aimyon weaves, anxiety and anticipation for the future coexist, adding splendor to graduation ceremonies and offering warmth to listeners’ hearts.

Listening to this song may help you ready your heart for a new departure.

Only the graduation photo knowsHinatazaka46

The Only One Who Knows Is the Graduation Photo by Hinatazaka46

It’s a bittersweet love song that colors the cherry blossom season.

Hinatazaka46 will release it in January 2025 as their 13th single.

Nao Kosaka serves as center, and the music video is produced with the theme of a “parade that heralds spring.” The lyrics depict looking back at graduation photos and reminiscing about someone you once liked, resulting in something highly relatable.

It may particularly resonate with those who have just graduated from high school.

The happiest treasuresutopuri

[MV] The Most Wonderful Treasure / Strawberry Prince

As a heartwarming song that adds color to the graduation season, Sutopuri’s vocals resound.

Vividly depicting the March scenery of dancing cherry blossoms, it gently sings of memories with friends and hopes for the future.

Released in March 2023, the song was unveiled as a surprise during the group’s nationwide arena tour at Yokohama Arena.

Born from a collaboration with HoneyWorks, the fresh melody will gently encourage not only those graduating, but everyone taking a new step forward.

If you’re experiencing farewells with loved ones or embracing new encounters, please give this song a listen—it’s a sincere cheer from the heart.

Graduation PhotoArai Yumi

Graduation Photograph / Sotsugyou Shashin (2022 Ｍix)

When you’re feeling sad, you open an album and gaze at the photos, or you spot someone in town but can’t bring yourself to call out… It’s a classic by Yumi Arai filled with the bittersweetness of youth that everyone has felt at least once.

Released in February 1975 as a song provided to Hi-Fi Set, it was later included in Yumi Arai’s own album “COBALT HOUR” in June of the same year.

Since then, it has been used as the theme song for the film “Watch with Me” and in the drama “Sotsu Uta,” resonating across generations.

It’s a heartwarming song that gently stays by your side when you want to bask in nostalgia or when you’ve gone through a farewell with someone dear.

fragileEvery Little Thing

Every Little Thing / fragile

“Fragile,” the smash hit by Every Little Thing released in 2001.

It’s also known as the theme song for the hugely popular dating reality show “Ainori” at the time, and it’s a beloved love ballad for people of that generation.

Even couples who are very close and mutually in love can feel anxious and sad when they graduate and have to go their separate ways.

But this song’s lyrics focus less on those anxieties and more on the two of them and their future, offering a reassuring sense of strength.

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utatane

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