[Heartfelt] A Collection of Japanese Graduation Songs to Sing and Play on Guitar [2026]
Graduation is a special season, and there’s a warmth in singing a graduation song with just a guitar that seeps right into the heart.
Unlike karaoke, it’s the sound and voice spun from your own fingertips.
That resonance reaches the listener’s heart quietly, yet unmistakably.
Many of you may feel, “I want to express my gratitude through my own performance,” or “I want to create a special moment for a farewell with someone important.” In this article, we’ve gathered standout graduation songs by Japanese artists that you’ll want to perform with just a guitar and your voice.
From songs with relatively simple chords to those worth the challenge, we’ll introduce a wide range.
Find the one song that carries your feelings.
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[Heartfelt] A Collection of Japanese Graduation Songs to Sing and Play on Guitar [2026] (41–50)
LullabyRADWIMPS
A song by the rock band RADWIMPS, whose name comes from a coined phrase combining opposing words like “cool coward” and “splendid wimp.” It closes out their second album, RADWIMPS 2: Hatten Tojo (Under Construction), and the catchy phrases sprinkled throughout its punkish arrangement are so quintessentially RADWIMPS.
Its message—that some things don’t change even after graduation and going separate ways—is exactly what people who feel sad about graduating most want to hear.
While the original is a full band sound, it’s a song whose melody stands out even more when performed solo with just vocals and guitar, so please play it with all your heart.
SolaninASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION is a four-piece rock band with a muscular guitar sound that gets audiences fired up at live shows.
Their 14th single, “Soranin,” which serves as the main theme for the film Soranin, is also known as one of the band’s signature songs.
Aside from the Eadd9 chord, the progression is simple, but because that chord appears quite frequently, it’s important to be able to fret it cleanly to play the song through.
With a message that urges you not to look back but to move forward into the future, it’s a rock tune that hits home—perfect for sending off graduates.
Song of DepartureMr.Children
This is the 31st single by Mr.Children, a four-piece rock band so well-known in Japan—thanks to numerous music awards and TV tie-ins—that there are likely few who haven’t heard their name.
Chosen as the theme song for the film “Koizora,” it’s a catchy number whose relaxed tempo is complemented by the band’s trademark, distinctive vocal phrasing.
As the title suggests, the lyrics center on the theme of setting off on a new journey, and are sure to resonate with anyone approaching graduation.
The chords are complex and the vocals demanding, making it a high hurdle for beginner guitarists, but that’s exactly why it can convey so much feeling.
Give it a try and practice it as a heartfelt gift in a solo acoustic performance.
CorrectRADWIMPS
Seikai, a song you’ll want to sing gently and earnestly with acoustic instruments behind you, is RADWIMPS’ 2018 graduation song.
Its theme is friendship.
It’s sung for young people setting off into the future, reflecting on the casual moments of student life and the struggles and realizations of youth.
It’s a tender number that makes you want to sing softly to guitar or piano accompaniment.
The lyrics end with a single line that quietly yet powerfully gives you a push forward.
Give this song—a cheer for those about to leap into the unknown—a try yourself.
Farewell, YouthChatto Monchī
Chatmonchy is a rock duo that has had a major influence on many girl bands active in today’s J-pop scene.
Their song “Saraba Seishun,” used in Recruit Holdings’ “Sotsu-ome Project 2007” commercial, is the closing track on their major-label debut mini-album, “chatmonchy has come.” Since it only uses basic chords and has a relaxed tempo, it should be approachable even for beginner guitarists.
It’s a moving graduation song that conveys the specialness of ordinary days.
DepartureFUNKY MONKEY BABYS
A song brimming with the strong, message-driven style characteristic of FUNKY MONKEY BABYS.
Set to an up-tempo, catchy melody, it portrays young people who can’t hide their doubts and anxieties about the future.
Even so, it’s a song that encourages them, telling them that moving forward is not a mistake.
A graduation song, a song of friends.19
A song by the folk duo 19, who announced their breakup at the height of their popularity in 2002, citing respect for each other’s musical direction.
It was included as the B-side to their smash-hit second single “Ano Kami Hikōki Kumorizora Watte.” Its message—that the everyday moments we took for granted suddenly become special at the milestone of graduation—is something many people will relate to.
With its overall simple chord progression, it’s easy for beginner guitarists to try singing and playing.
A graduation song whose gentle, bittersweet melody and lyrics pierce the heart—highly recommended as a gift.