[2026] A Collection of Youthful Songs to Play at Graduation Ceremonies [J-POP]

Flower of youthKobushi Fakutorī

Kobushi Factory 'Seishun no Hana' (Magnolia Factory [The Flower of Youth]) (Promotion Edit)

Let me introduce the final single released by Kobushi Factory in March 2020.

Featured on the double A-side single “Seishun no Hana / Start Line,” this song portrays the beauty of youth that shines precisely because time is limited—like flowers that bloom and then fall.

Written and composed by Sho Hoshibe, the string-forward arrangement conveys both poignancy and warmth.

It’s a track that fully showcases the group’s acclaimed vocal ability within Hello! Project, with expressive choral work and harmonies.

It peaked at No.

5 on the Oricon Weekly Ranking.

It’s a number you’ll want to listen to on graduation day as you look back on the days you walked together with your friends.

A youth anthem that makes you want to gently hold onto the time you spent with someone dear.

Spring comes, and we become a little more grown-up again.sanmyu~

[Sunst. myu~] 5th single “Spring Comes and We Become a Little More Grown-Up Again” [FULL] [MV]

For those looking for a song that resonates in the heart as spring brings the milestone of graduation, I highly recommend the title track of Sunmyu’s fifth single.

Released in March 2014, this graduation song delicately portrays the sorrow of parting and the hope of new encounters.

At the time, the members themselves were graduating from junior high and high school, and the overlap between the lyrics’ theme and their real lives gave rise to a convincingly heartfelt vocal delivery.

While inheriting the classic 1980s idol sound, it stands out from their previously cheerful tracks with a subtly bittersweet tone.

It reached No.

4 on the Oricon Daily CD Singles Ranking, marking the group’s first-ever entry into the daily Top 10.

Also featured in a Karaoke BanBan commercial, it carries the perfect seasonal feel for graduation time.

It’s a coming-of-age number that supports everyone who wants to look ahead and take their first steps forward before parting with friends.

graduationKato Miria

Miliyah Kato 'Graduation'

Miliyah Kato’s fifth single, released in February 2006, is an unconventional graduation song told from the perspective only she could offer as a then–current high school student.

Instead of focusing on graduation as a ceremony, it centers on a “graduation of the heart,” freeing oneself from suffocating daily life and peer pressure, vividly capturing the sense of stagnation teens feel and their yearning for independence.

Set to beats infused with R&B and hip-hop, the lyrics layer defiance and vulnerability in a structure that clearly sets it apart from traditional, ballad-style graduation songs.

It was used as the opening theme for TV Tokyo’s music program “Ryuha-R” and was included on the album “Diamond Princess.” This is a track that resonates especially with those who feel the loneliness of not fitting in yet still want to carve out their own path.

Goodbye, Secret Baseshiritsu ebisu chūgaku

Goodbye, Secret Base

Under the concept of “eternally junior high students,” the idol group Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku continues their activities.

Featured on their seventh album, “Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku,” released in March 2022, this song is a number themed around parting with a “secret base,” a symbol of childhood.

While holding tight to irreplaceable memories with dear friends, the bittersweet need to keep moving forward resonates in the heart.

Written, composed, and arranged entirely by Kent Aroha, its cohesive worldview comes through in both the melody and the lyrics.

Performed live and known for uniting the audience, this track is perfect for anyone facing the milestone of graduation.

It lets you feel both the tenderness for days you can’t return to and the courage to step into a new place—an ideal song to close out your youth.

Gray and Blue (feat. Masaki Suda)Yonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)

With its beautiful and ephemeral sound, “Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)” is a song that matches the sentimental feelings of those graduating.

Released by Kenshi Yonezu in 2017, it features Masaki Suda—an actor and singer who excels in both—as a guest vocalist.

Their voices are gentle yet tinged with loneliness, and the lyrics delicately depict small everyday scenes.

Even when the days of shared laughter become part of the past, we want to carry them as good memories at graduation.

This song reminds us that, someday when we look back, it can be a source of strength.

Be sure to listen to it for your graduation ceremony.

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Time-Limited Unrequited LoveNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 'Time-Limited Unrequited Love'

The first original song for Nogizaka46’s 6th generation, included on Type-B of the 38th single “Navel Orange.” The music video, released in March 2025, leaves a striking impression with dance scenes set against Hokkaido’s snowy landscapes and atop a frozen lake.

Set in a school classroom, the song portrays the anxious feelings of unspoken emotions as deadlines like graduation and class changes approach.

Many will relate to the usually reserved protagonist who realizes time is running out and tries to take a step forward.

The fresh vocals and driving melody give a powerful push to anyone hesitating.

It’s recommended not only for women experiencing unrequited love, but also for those who need courage to dive into a new environment.

Song of the ChickHalf time Old

Half time Old 'Hina no Uta' Music Video

A four-piece rock band based in Nagoya, Aichi, Half time Old released this track on their October 2020 mini-album CRISP YELLOW.

It’s a youthful punk number that races forward on an 8-beat drive, filled with a warmth that gives you a gentle push during the season of farewells.

The lyrics are memorable for their message that reassures you—“You’re not wrong”—even as you carry anxiety and loneliness about setting off on a new journey.

The music video is composed of cherished photos submitted by fans, designed to overlap with each listener’s own memories.

It’s a song that naturally sparks singalongs at shows, and if you raise your voices together at a graduation concert or a farewell party, it’s bound to become an unforgettable moment.

More than just a tearjerker, it’s a pep song that gives you the strength to step forward with a smile.