[2026] Songs for Graduation Season: Exquisite Japanese Unrequited Love and Breakup Tracks
When graduation season approaches, don’t you ever find yourself wanting to listen to bittersweet love songs? Unspoken feelings, the ache in your chest as a farewell draws near.
It’s precisely in this season that classic Japanese songs that embrace those emotions resonate deeply in the heart.
Songs about the sorrow of parting ways while still in unrequited love, or saying goodbye to someone precious, take on a special resonance as they overlap with each listener’s own memories.
In this article, we’ve gathered a wide range of exquisite love songs perfect for graduation season—from the Showa era to Heisei and the latest Reiwa hits.
Whether you want to relive the feelings of that time or are right now burning with emotion, take your time and immerse yourself to your heart’s content!
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[2026] Songs for Graduation Season: Exquisite Japanese Unrequited Love and Breakup Tracks (71–80)
Graduation PhotoArai Yumi
A masterpiece woven from a gentle singing voice that stays close to the heart and lyrics that gracefully portray nostalgia for days gone by.
Featured on the album “COBALT HOUR,” released by Yumi Arai in June 1975, this song delicately expresses life and change after graduation.
It lyrically spins memories of a cherished person who lives on forever within the warmth of reminiscence.
It was also selected as the theme song for Fuji TV’s drama “Sotsu Uta” and the film “Watch with Me.” A heartwarming encouragement song to listen to in times of sorrow or at life’s crossroads.
I wish you were hereLEGO BIG MORL
LEGO BIG MORL is known for their soft, gentle vocals.
“Anata ga Ireba Ii no ni” (“I Wish You Were Here”) is one of their signature songs.
While it features many familiar pop phrases, it’s unique in that the chorus ends on a deliberately low-key note.
The lyrics are easy to follow, so be sure to listen slowly and take them in.
OrangeSMAP
A hidden gem by SMAP—or maybe not so hidden—this deeply moving song, “Orange.” Though it was included as the B-side to SMAP’s 2002 smash hit “Lion Heart,” it’s a fan favorite that hardly feels like a B-side.
Its lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia that many can relate to, and those experiencing unrequited love will surely feel their emotions resonate.
It might be a good idea to have a good cry with this sad love song and reset your feelings.
[2026] Songs for Graduation Season: Exquisite Japanese Unrequited Love and Breakup Tracks (81–90)
Heroineback number
Back Number’s “Heroine” is a beautiful love song that ties feelings for an unrequited love to wintry scenes.
Shimizu Iyori’s calm, gently delivered vocals sink deeply into the heart.
The band’s performance supports the vocals without overpowering them, and the strings that enter at just the right moments to match the song’s progression are another highlight.
It’s easy to sing, so it’s a top recommendation as a song to convey your feelings at karaoke with someone you like!
Message Songsumika
It’s a perfect song for the season when you feel like expressing your bittersweet feelings.
Released by sumika in May 2016, this track stands out for its lyrics that weave together deep affection for someone and a hint of parting.
Because the protagonist knows the other person so well, they can sense the change—and their complex emotions really come through.
School life is full of memories with a secret crush.
As graduation approaches, some decide to confess, while others feel it’s best to leave things as they are.
This song embraces both sentiments.
If you’re nursing a one-sided love, be sure to give it a listen.
Doodlemosao.
Despite being a male singer-songwriter, Mosao has gained popularity with love songs told from a woman’s perspective.
Rare among his tracks, Ragugaki uses the first-person pronoun “boku,” and it’s a perfect song for expressing gratitude to someone special during graduation season.
The way it captures individual memories through vivid scenes is especially moving.
Also, in the music video, two men sit facing each other on a sandy beach, which makes it interesting to interpret the song as a message of thanks from one man to another.
cherry blossomKetsumeishi
Among the many cherry blossom songs, Ketsumeishi’s “Sakura” is always cited as one of the masterpieces.
Not only is the music video featuring Masato Hagiwara and Emi Suzuki noteworthy, but the beautiful lyrics that bring joyful memories back to life are also a major highlight.
For those experiencing unrequited love, it’s a bittersweet track that’s sure to tug at your heart.