[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!

Playlist

[2026] Songs for Graduation Season: Exquisite Japanese Unrequited Love and Breakup Tracks
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	The season of farewellSHISHAMO		A classic song that sings of the bittersweet unrequited love of a graduation ceremony
2	evening primroseNovelbright		A love ballad that portrays the ache of a heartbreaking romance
3	Even though it’s springKashiwabara Yoshie		A masterpiece that portrays the bittersweetness of spring farewells, with lyrics that stir the heart.
4	Winter and Springback number		A masterpiece by back number that sings of a heartrending love
5	To my dear youInoue Sonoko		A youth song by Sonoko Inoue that conveys her feelings
6	Graduationsaitou yuki		Yuki Saito’s classic song that sings of the subtleties of youth
7	Because I like you.Yuika		Yuika’s famous song that portrays mutual unrequited love in youth
8	I hope I can be your lover.Kaneyori Masaru		A coming-of-age song that portrays the bittersweet feelings of unrequited love
9	Graduation -GRADUATION-Kikuchi Momoko		A classic by Momoko Kikuchi that colors graduation
10	GraduationMy Hair is Bad		The heart-touching songs of the rock band My Hair is Bad
11	First loveMurashita Kōzō		A classic song that sings of the bittersweet feelings of youth
12	forget-me-notAwesome City Club		Beautiful memories of love like flowers, and moving forward
13	Snow WhiteFlower		A bittersweet love ballad with a fairy-tale motif
14	When I turn around…Janne Da Arc		A ballad that portrays the radiance of youth, vowing farewell and reunion
15	Shout BabyRyokushokushakai		Ryokuoushoku Shakai’s graduation song gives your heart a push
16	wishMarushii		Marcy’s love song, comforting the heart
17	Thinking of youKEISUKE		A heartfelt song that captures the bittersweet love of youth.
18	Cherry Blossom MoonSakurazaka46		Farewell and resolve of youth layered upon cherry blossoms
19	navel orangeNogizaka 46		A poignant song depicting memories of youth and unrequited love
20	merry-go-roundYuuri		Gently singing of the regrets and bittersweet feelings after a heartbreak
21	somedaySaucy Dog		A poignant song depicting the feelings of unrequited love, “Someday”
22	loveback number		A classic back number song brimming with unrequited-love vibes
23	Senpai.HoneyWorks meets TrySail		A bright unrequited love song that portrays feelings for a senior (senpai)
24	Time capsuleRinu		An empathetic song imbued with hopes for the future
25	By your side.riria.		A coming-of-age song that portrays faint first love and courage
26	Sakura, You, and Ituki.		A song depicting spring farewells and a bittersweet love
27	pupilŌhara Sakurako		Sakurako Ohara’s youth anthem “Hitomi,” the theme song supporting high school soccer
28	I miss youAdo		A poignant love song depicting a youthful farewell
29	Sakura (Solo)Moriyama Naotaro		Sakura, the graduation song by Naotaro Moriyama
30	What I want to tell you before graduationerica		A song that expresses the farewell of graduation through music
31	budKobukuro		Kobukuro “Tsubomi,” an emotional masterpiece
32	Time-Limited Unrequited LoveNogizaka 46		A Nogizaka song that sings about the bittersweet unrequited love of youth
33	HarukaLACCO TOWER		15th Anniversary LACCO TOWER Inspirational Song
34	PrologueUru		A song with a charmingly languid, ennui-tinged singing voice
35	Blue BenchSasuke		A lingering feeling resonates deep and quietly.
36	KanadeSukima Suichi		A classic song that sings of feelings for a loved one
37	A Little Love SongMONGOL800		Melodic punk anthem “A Little Love Song”
38	GarnetOku Hanako		A classic song that poignantly sings of unrequited love in a school romance
39	periodIshizaki Hyuui		The bittersweet feeling of being unable to forget a love that has ended.
40	Anemone nikoensis (Ichirin-sō)Yamamoto Aya		The Appeal of Sayaka Yamamoto’s Solo Song “Ichirinso”
41	Sakura Lovemosao.		Unspoken feelings and the bittersweetness of graduation
42	Sakura RabbitKawasaki Takaya		A heartwarming song that overlays bittersweet feelings of love with cherry blossoms
43	Cherry blossom seasonEXILE ATSUSHI		ATSUSHI’s masterpiece depicting graduation and parting
44	Word(s) / Words of language / Utterance (kotonoha)EVE		A heartfelt ballad that captures the emotions of youth
45	A bouquet of flowers with loveSuperfly		'A Bouquet with Love' is a song by Shiho Ochi.
46	Don’t bloom.WHITE JAM		Moved by the graduation song “Don’t Bloom”
47	First loveaiko		Aiko’s “First Love,” a song that captures the bittersweetness of unrequited love
48	Unrequited lovemiwa		A masterpiece that sings of unrequited love, stirring a storm of empathy
49	Last sceneikimonogakari		Season of farewells, the bittersweet feelings of unrequited love
50	A Clockwork DreamKeyakizaka46		A song depicting youthful farewells and a sense of loss
51	I’ll confess my feelings on graduation day.eijun feat. miyuhan		A confession at graduation, a bittersweet love song
52	meteor showerUwasano Petaruzu		Feelings and longings I couldn't put into words
53	The Story You Don’t Knowsupercell		A bittersweet love song that brightly sings of feelings of love I couldn’t bring myself to confess.
54	palettesaidāgāru		Cider Girl, a refreshing, catchy song that sticks in your ears
55	March of MarchDoramasure		A coming-of-age anthem by a rock band from Osaka
56	Until graduationBoku ga mitakatta aozora		A single that portrays unrequited love before graduation and the bittersweetness of youth.
57	CorrectRADWIMPS		RADWIMPS Graduation Support Song
58	Beyond nostalgiaNogizaka 46		An emotional song dedicated to Yuki Yoda’s graduation from Nogizaka46
59	SAKURAikimonogakari		Sakura and spring songs, Ikimono-gakari classics
60	March of the PetalsAimer		Unspoken love in the spring of graduation
61	graduating from loveCHIHIRO		A cheer song about graduation and unrequited love
62	Unrequited loveGENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE		A poignant song about unrequited love from my student days
63	365 daysMr.Children		Mr.Children's moving love song
64	graduation ceremonySARD UNDERGROUND		ZARD successor band covers classic hits
65	We againSG		An inspiring masterpiece perfect for listening to during cherry blossom season
66	Hey,SHISHAMO		A song that encourages the courage to confess unrequited love
67	Melancholy Cherry Blossomsatarayo		A moving song for graduation ceremonies: Atarayo, “Urei Sakura” (Wistful Cherry Blossoms)
68	The happiest treasuresutopuri		An inspiring graduation season anthem
69	Say goodbye to the love I clung to.matsuri		The feelings of a woman trying to move forward and break free from the pain of heartbreak
70	Dear Sir or Madam, on this day when cherry blossoms fluttermafumafu		Mafumafu’s Spring Youth Story
71	sparklingmosao.		A song about Ms. Mosao’s aching love
72	It’s goodbye, but it’s not goodbye.yamadakatsutenai Wink		A classic spring song, a moving tune that accompanies the graduation season
73	Goodbye Busyuzu		Yuzu’s gemlike love song portraying a springtime farewell
74	When cherry-blossom hues danceNakajima Mika		A classic song that sings of graduation memories when cherry blossom hues dance in the air.
75	Homeward Road in MarchHirai Dai		A heartfelt song depicting the season of graduation
76	Only the graduation photo knowsHinatazaka46		Singing of the bittersweet feeling of graduation and of love in the season of cherry blossoms
77	Gazing up, the sky is blueHata Motohiro		An inspiring song by Motohiro Hata that captures the milestone of graduation
78	Graduation PhotoArai Yumi		A classic of youth and memories, painted with a gentle singing voice
79	I wish you were hereLEGO BIG MORL		Introducing representative songs of LEGO BIG MORL
80	OrangeSMAP		SMAP's 'Orange,' a tear-jerking love song that resonates with the heart
81	Heroineback number		A beautiful love song that sings of winter scenes of unrequited love.
82	Message Songsumika		A poignant love song filled with aching feelings
83	Doodlemosao.		Mosawo-san’s moving graduation song
84	cherry blossomKetsumeishi		Ketsumeishi’s “Sakura” is a masterpiece.
85	To you, my best friend in the worldHakoniiwa Ririi		A coming-of-age ballad that sings of the space between friendship and budding love
86	When I realized it, I was in unrequited love.Nogizaka 46		Nogizaka46’s heart-touching love song
87	Your SongYasuda Rei		The ending theme song of the anime Natsume’s Book of Friends
88	Peach-Colored Unrequited LoveMatsuura Aya		A hopeful song about plotting ways to make a one-sided love come true.
89	Unrequited loveHamada Shogo		A sad tale of regret and a bittersweet love
90	I want to be your lover.Abe Mao		A heartrending love song that sings of the pain of unrequited love
91	I like you.YOASOBI		A story of the courage to confess and the bittersweet feelings of love
92	lensIkuta Rira		Lila Ikuta's poignant unrequited love song “Lens”