Heisei-era graduation songs roundup: iconic youth anthems from the ’90s to the 2010s

The meaning of goodbyeNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 'The Meaning of Goodbye'

This song, released by Nogizaka46 in November 2016, is also widely loved as a graduation song.

Though parting is sad, the message that we must overcome it for the sake of the future and to become stronger is truly moving.

The song starts with a slightly serious tone characteristic of their music, but the chorus opens up into a bright, uplifting mood, making it fun to listen to while you nod along.

It was performed at the 2016 Kohaku Uta Gassen, touching the hearts of many.

It’s an encouraging, positive track that gives you the courage to overcome sorrow and move toward a new future!

My friendZARD

My Friend (What a beautiful memory 2008)

A signature number by ZARD, famously known as the ending theme of the TV anime SLAM DUNK.

The lyrics woven by Izumi Sakai carry both the warmth of watching over “you” who keeps running straight ahead and the poignancy of a relationship that might one day change—each listen is enough to make your heart swell.

Released in January 1996 as their 17th single and opening the album TODAY IS ANOTHER DAY, this song became a million seller and is etched in the hearts of many fans.

It’s a perfect cheer song for those pivotal moments of youth—like retiring from a club activity or at a graduation ceremony.

Why not sing it at karaoke with friends you haven’t seen in a while, reminiscing about those days? Its unfading melody will surely bring those feelings from back then vividly back to life.

MiracleGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Kiseki

When it comes to youth anthems, you just can’t leave this one out! Released in May 2008 as the theme song for the drama “ROOKIES,” GReeeeN’s signature track “Kiseki” is a pure love song that celebrates the joy of meeting the person you love and the resolve to walk into the future together.

True to its title, the lyrics call the couple’s meeting a “miracle” (kiseki) and describe the path they’ve walked as a “trace” or “trajectory” (also kiseki)—a wordplay that stirs the heart every time you listen.

In 2009, it was also chosen as the entrance march for the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, making it beloved across generations.

It’s a moving song you’ll want to play at graduations, thank-you parties, and those final moments with dear friends or a loved one, to express your gratitude.

graduationKato Miria

Miliyah Kato 'Graduation'

Released in February 2006, Miliyah Kato’s fifth single is a song written from the unique perspective of a then-active high school girl.

Rather than portraying graduation as a formal ceremony, it focuses on a “graduation of the heart,” breaking free from stifling daily life and the pressure to conform.

Over a beat infused with R&B and hip-hop elements, lyrics etched with a blend of defiance and vulnerability unfold.

The track was also used as the opening theme for TV Tokyo’s music program “Ryuha-R,” gaining wide recognition in the late-night music scene.

It was later included on the album Diamond Princess and is positioned as a song that symbolizes the struggles of the teenage years.

An authentic graduation anthem that resonates with anyone seeking freedom amid a sense of entrapment.

Words of FarewellGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Words of Gift

A song filled with passionate resolve to overcome the sadness of parting and vow to meet again.

GReeeeN’s “Okuru Kotoba” powerfully pushes forward those who carry the bonds of friendship into the future.

It’s not a cover of the classic song with the same title, but an original single released in October 2018.

Written as the theme song for the film “Run! T High School Basketball Club,” it serves as a cheer anthem that ties in with the story’s themes of setbacks and comebacks.

It’s the kind of anthem that makes you want to link arms and sing with the friends you shared your club and school days with.

It’s sure to give courage and hope to men setting off into a new world.

Highly recommended as moving background music for graduations and farewell parties.

Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro

Motohiro Hata – “Himawari no Yakusoku” Music Video

A singer-songwriter with a voice of “steel and glass” that resonates in the heart, Motohiro Hata delivers a moving ballad.

Its lyrics, which depict the warmth of those who stay by your side and the unchanging bonds that endure even when you’re apart, gently accompany the season of farewells.

Released as a single in August 2014, this song was created as the theme for the film STAND BY ME Doraemon.

Its messages, which overlap with the film’s story, struck a chord with many people, and by 2015 it had become such a massive hit that it dominated the karaoke charts.

No matter if the paths we walk diverge in the future, our hearts will always remain connected—this is a song that inspires that kind of hope.

Sing it arm-in-arm with friends at graduations or farewell parties as they set off on new journeys, and it will surely become a memory that lasts a lifetime!

If I Could Become a StarMr.Children

If I Could Become a Star by Mr.Children

Let me introduce a classic song that perfectly fits graduation season, beautifully capturing both the resolve to set off for a new place in pursuit of dreams and the bittersweetness of parting.

This early representative work by Mr.Children is included on the album “Kind of Love,” released in December 1992.

It’s also known as an insert song in the 1994 drama “Wakamono no Subete,” and although it wasn’t released as a single, it remains a fan favorite.

Composed in collaboration with Yohito Teraoka, the hopeful lyrics penned by Kazutoshi Sakurai and the catchy melody strike straight to the heart.

It gently encourages those who want to change their present situation and reach greater heights.

Be sure to give it a listen as a motivational anthem for your new life starting this spring!