[2026] Songs for Graduation Season: Exquisite Japanese Unrequited Love and Breakup Tracks

sparklingmosao.

Kira Kira / Mosawo. [Music Video]

This is a love song that leaves a strong impression with Mosawo’s sweet vocals and lyrics that delicately express the feelings of being in love.

Released digitally in September 2020, the track gained major support among younger listeners, especially on social media.

The song expresses feelings for a crush as “sparkling,” portraying the beloved as someone who shines like a jewel—an image many listeners relate to.

It beautifully captures both the ache of not being able to honestly convey your feelings and the joy of being in love, making it a perfect song for high school students experiencing unrequited love.

Why not listen to it while thinking of the person you like?

It’s goodbye, but it’s not goodbye.yamadakatsutenai Wink

It's goodbye, but it's not goodbye.

Yamada Katsutenai Wink wraps this classic spring song—one you want to hear around graduation season—in warm, gentle vocals.

Its melody, which sings of the sorrow of parting and the hope of reunion, nestles close to the heart and gives you courage to face a new future.

Released in February 1991, the song was used as an insert track on Fuji TV’s “Hō-chan no Yamada Katsutenai Terebi” and became a major hit, reaching No.

2 on the Oricon weekly chart.

With lyrics by Kuniko Yamada and music by KAN in beautiful harmony, it’s a gem of a message song that teaches us that parting is not an end but a beginning.

Listened to in the season of departures, it’s a wonderful, heartwarming cheer song that continues to be loved by many.

Goodbye Busyuzu

Goodbye Bus / Yuzu (Cover)

A gem of a love song that gently wraps farewells and reunions in an acoustic sound.

It’s a heartwarming track you’ll want to listen to as spring arrives.

The protagonist’s hidden feelings and regrets are portrayed over a tender, bittersweet melody.

Yuzu’s refreshing vocals continue to resonate with those experiencing springtime goodbyes.

Released in March 1999 and included on the album “Yuzuen,” it was also featured as an insert song in the NHK morning drama series “Yanchakure,” capturing fans’ hearts.

It’s a song we hope those parting from someone dear, just before starting a new chapter in life, will listen to.

As a spring anthem that gives you the courage to take a step toward the future, it comes highly recommended.

When cherry-blossom hues danceNakajima Mika

Mika Nakashima “Sakurairo Mau Koro” MUSIC VIDEO Shorts ver.

When it comes to graduation season, cherry blossoms naturally come to mind.

Sakura-iro Mau Koro is a song that evocatively portrays the petals drifting through the air.

Released by Mika Nakashima in 2005, its beautiful lyrics and melody have been beloved by many and are still used in various commercials and TV programs today.

The song conveys the message that even if you part ways or grow distant after graduation, the memories you made in school will never change.

If you’re feeling anxious about graduating, be sure to give it a listen.

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Homeward Road in MarchHirai Dai

Dai Hirai / The Way Home in March (Lyric Video)

This is a memorable ballad that warmly depicts the scenery of graduation season.

With his gentle voice, Dai Hirai delicately sings about the subtle emotional sway that mixes joy and loneliness at the moment of departure.

Expressing the complex feelings that come with life’s milestones like advancing to a new stage or graduating, alongside the calm scenery of spring, the piece is also notable for its elegant arrangement of piano and strings.

Released digitally in February 2022, it is also included on the album “LOVE＋PEACE.” It is a song that resonates with the arrival of spring, offering comfort to those setting off into new environments and to those parting from cherished friends.

Only the graduation photo knowsHinatazaka46

The Only One Who Knows Is the Graduation Photo by Hinatazaka46

A song by Hinatazaka46 themed around graduation.

It gently sings of the bittersweet feelings of the cherry blossom season and the love that went unspoken.

Memories and regrets sealed in graduation photos resonate deeply, intertwined with clear, transparent vocals.

Set for release on January 29, 2025, the track features Nao Kosaka as center and will be available in five editions: limited first-press versions and a regular edition.

It was premiered at their Tokyo Dome concert on December 26, 2024.

It’s a recommended listen not only for students entering graduation season, but also for anyone who wants to reflect on past loves.

Gazing up, the sky is blueHata Motohiro

Motohiro Hata / Aogeba Aozora Music Video

This work beautifully portrays graduation as a milestone in life.

Motohiro Hata’s clear, translucent voice captures both the sadness of parting and the hope of a new beginning in full.

Released in March 2019, it garnered attention as the theme song for a SoftBank TV commercial.

While cherishing past memories, this piece gives you the courage to take a step toward the future.

It’s a song I hope those embarking on a new chapter will listen to as spring arrives.

Its heartfelt melody and lyrics will surely give you a gentle push forward.