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

To you, my best friend in the worldHakoniiwa Ririi

To You, My Best Friend in the World / Haconiiwa Lily [Music Video]

Sung by Hakoniwa Lily, this track captures a resolve to finally voice feelings that have gone unspoken, right before the milestone of graduation.

It’s heartbreaking that she can more or less predict the reply… Reflecting on moments with someone precious, the words she couldn’t say back then now resound through song.

That blend of loneliness and sweetness in the melody is sure to linger in the memories of many graduates.

And if you, too, are harboring a secret crush, why not listen to this song and find the courage to take a step forward?

Cherry Blossom MoonSakurazaka46

Sakurazaka46 'Sakuzuki'

Sakurazaka46’s song portrays the bittersweet feelings of love before graduation.

The protagonist’s emotions as they see their lover off to Tokyo are likened to falling cherry blossoms, capturing a beautiful yet fleeting page of youth.

Released in February 2023, the song debuted at No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

It resonates with high school students entering graduation season and with anyone who has experienced parting from someone dear.

Before taking your next step forward, why not look back on your precious memories with this song?

HarukaYOASOBI

YOASOBI 'Haruka' Official Music Video

Some romances begin just before graduation, while others end because of it.

If you’ve gone through a heartbreak like that, I recommend YOASOBI’s “Haruka.” Released in 2020 as their sixth digital-only single, it reached No.

5 on Billboard’s download chart.

The lyrics, which bring back the happy memories and feelings you shared with the partner you met during your school days, really hit home.

Partings are painful, but listen to “Haruka,” turn it into a good memory, and face graduation with a positive outlook!

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Hamada Takuya

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At the sound of the chimeayaho

By the Sound of the Chime / ayaho [Music Video]

This is a song by ayaho that poignantly sings of a faint, bittersweet crush.

With the sound of chimes, the feelings grow stronger and stronger.

You can sense the desire to be liked and acknowledged by the other person.

Released in February 2021, the track resonated with many people, garnering over 900,000 views on YouTube.

It’s a perfect song for anyone experiencing that kind of painful love you can’t give up on, even when you know it won’t come true.

Listening to it might just bring back the feelings you had back then.

What I want to tell you before graduationerica

erica – “What I Want to Tell You Before Graduation” PV (Full)

Erica’s “What I Want to Tell You Before Graduation” is a song that gives a gentle push to anyone thinking about confessing their feelings before they graduate.

That overflowing love for someone special can feel like your entire student life itself, can’t it? Many people have nurtured feelings that grew little by little—through conversations, emails, and all the small moments.

This song portrays the decision to confess those feelings and say, “I want to stay together from now on, too!” It’s a track that will stand by the courage you muster.

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SAKI

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Sakura Lovemosao.

Sakuran / Mosawo [Music Video]

I’m sure there are people who couldn’t confess their feelings before graduation.

There are many reasons—maybe the person you like already likes someone else, or you just didn’t have the courage—but those unresolved feelings are probably still swirling in your heart.

For emotions like that, the perfect song is Mosaō’s “Sakura Koi.” The setting of cherry blossom season, unspoken feelings, and the realization that you may never meet again fits perfectly, doesn’t it? I think many people will end up in tears when they listen to it—but crying is important, too.

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utatane

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The day you and I metFunatsu Mahiro

Mashou Funatsu “#The Day You and I Met” Official Music Video

If you’re looking for a love song that captures the real, life-sized romance of teens, I recommend “#The Day You and I Met,” sung by TikTok-popular singer-songwriter Masato Funatsu.

When it was posted on TikTok in October 2020, it drew attention and racked up over 5 million views even before its official release.

Funatsu was 19 when “#The Day You and I Met” came out, so its lyrics are sure to resonate with middle and high school students approaching graduation.

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Hamada Takuya

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