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

Shout BabyRyokushokushakai

Ryokuoushoku Shakai “Shout Baby” Music Video (TV Anime “My Hero Academia” Season 4 ‘School Festival Arc’ Ending Theme / MY HERO ACADEMIA ENDING)

A heart struggling to change the status quo cries out in a powerful yet earnest voice…

It’s a song that stays close to the mixed feelings of anxiety and hope during graduation season, a time of change.

Released in February 2020 by the four-piece band Ryokuoushoku Shakai (Green Yellow Society), this single was written as the ending theme for Season 4’s Cultural Festival arc of the anime My Hero Academia.

Carried by a sparkling sound where synthesizers and guitars intertwine, its down-to-earth message of wishing to change is sure to give a push to those stepping into a new world.

Later included on the album SINGALONG, this track has continued to be loved by many fans as one of the band’s signature numbers.

On a spring day when you’re holding unspoken feelings yet still trying to look forward, be sure to give it a listen!

wishMarushii

Marcy – Wish (Official Music Video)

A song by Marcy that sings of the bittersweet feelings for someone you’re secretly in love with.

It’s been making waves as the ending theme for the anime “I’m Going to Fall in Love Anyway.” The lyrics, imbued with feelings so strong you’d offer a prayer to God, are sure to resonate with many.

Ukyo Yoshida’s delicate vocals and the warm sound leave a lasting impression, offering comfort to anyone struggling with love.

Released to coincide with the anime’s broadcast starting in January 2025, this track is recommended not only for those with unrequited love but for anyone who holds someone dear.

Give it a listen when you need the courage to take a step forward.

Thinking of youKEISUKE

KEISUKE – Thinking of You (Music Video)

This is a poignant song by KEISUKE that captures the delicate feelings of youthful love.

“I want to tell you how I feel before we graduate and can’t see each other anymore,” “What if I had done this back then”—many people with unrequited feelings may relate to such regrets.

You’re sure to empathize with the protagonist, who cares so much about the other person that they can’t bring themselves to confess their feelings.

Released in November 2019, the song has touched many hearts, garnering over 5 million views on YouTube.

If you’re struggling to find the courage before graduation, why not listen to this track and lift your spirits?

Cherry Blossom MoonSakurazaka46

Sakurazaka46 'Sakuzuki'

A single released by Sakurazaka46 in February 2023, themed around youthful farewells and new encounters, with a poignant love depicted through the imagery of cherry blossoms that tugs at the heart.

The delicate feeling of “being unable to tell you how I feel” is entrusted to the falling blossoms, while the protagonist’s resolve to live as beautifully as a full-bloom sakura is expressed through a fleeting yet powerful melody.

In their fifth single, second-generation member Rena Moriya serves as center for the first time, and the members’ expressively nuanced performance is a major draw.

It’s a song you’ll want to hear in the spring season of partings—one that encourages young people heading into new lives, such as through transferring schools or moving on to higher education.

navel orangeNogizaka 46

navel orange

This is a bittersweet unrequited-love song that overlays the sweet-and-sour memories of youth with imagery of fruit.

Released on March 26, 2025, it features fifth-generation members Kazu Inoue and Aruno Nakanishi as double centers.

The song carefully weaves the feelings of a protagonist who heads to an unfamiliar town while holding memories of a cherished person close to their heart.

Its melody gently envelopes scenes where nostalgia and lingering attachment intersect, sending shivers through you.

It especially resonates when you want to reminisce about your school days.

merry-go-roundYuuri

Yuuri “Merry-Go-Round” Official Music Video

It’s a breakup song written as the theme for the film Lonely Castle in the Mirror, sung by singer-songwriter Yuuri.

The lyrics portray the painful feelings of someone who can no longer meet the person they love, weighed down by the regret of not having expressed their true feelings—tightening your chest as you listen.

The catchy melody and phrases, along with Yuuri’s heartbreak-laden vocals, also leave a strong impression.

Released in December 2022, the piece gently sings of feelings for a loved one from whom you’ve been separated.

Listening to this song—so vividly conveying the pain of parting without confessing your feelings—might spark a desire not to have regrets in love.

somedaySaucy Dog

Saucy Dog "Someday" MUSIC VIDEO

Saucy Dog’s signature song “Itsuka” by the three-piece rock band.

The track is included on their first EP “Ashiato,” released in 2016.

With its heartrending lyrics that make both men and women tear up, it’s a number that will surely grip your heart even if you’re not currently in unrequited love.

It’s likely to resonate with those about to graduate while still harboring unreturned feelings, too.

The lyrics, which feel like looking back on the past, are what bring the tears.

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