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

Best FriendKiroro

Kiroro ｢Best Friend｣ Official Music Video

The Heisei era saw many ups and downs, but in terms of popular music, it felt like a time when songs tied to events—like “sakura songs” and “Christmas songs”—suddenly blossomed all at once.

The song “Best Friend” is also one of the popular graduation songs.

As a smash hit themed around everlasting friendship, I’m sure many people actually sang it at their graduation ceremonies.

The straightforward lyrics—like “We fought sometimes, but you’re my number one friend”—surely touched many hearts.

It’s one of those graduation songs I hope will continue to be sung for years to come.

Unforgettable School DaysGurēto Chikin Pawāzu

[Unforgettable School Days] Great Chicken Powers (Gurechiki) Second Single

While performing as a comedy duo, Great Chicken Powers gained idol-like popularity thanks to their handsome looks.

Their second single, “Wasurenai School Days,” released in 1995, is a moving graduation song that stands in contrast to the comedic side they show in their sketches.

Written and composed by the members themselves, the song portrays in down-to-earth words the loneliness that follows the graduation ceremony and the anxiety of being separated from someone you like.

It was a hit at the time of release, and many people still remember it as a seasonal classic.

It’s a perfect ballad for that sentimental time when familiar scenery looks just a little different.

Let its melody, filled with the brilliance and bittersweetness of youth, lead you to look back on memories with your dear friends.

Tracks of HopeSazan Ōrusutāzu

Southern All Stars – Tracks of Hope [Live at ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL, 2018]

Just hearing the lively piano phrase in the intro may wrap many listeners in a thrilling sense of uplift.

The worldview depicting a road where one runs toward their dreams and the seaside scenery of one’s hometown gives you the courage to look forward while feeling nostalgic for the past.

Created by Southern All Stars as a song featured in the film Inamura Jane, released in September 1990, the piece has continued to be beloved over the years, later serving as the theme for Fuji TV’s 27-Hour Television and as an insert song for the drama My Only Madonna.

It’s also a staple at live shows that unites the entire venue.

In the graduation season, when anxiety and anticipation intertwine, this truly hopeful anthem gives a powerful push to those taking their first steps into something new.

SignalWANIMA

WANIMA “Signal” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

WANIMA is a three-piece rock band from Kumamoto Prefecture that captivates many fans with their energetic live performances and uplifting lyrics.

This song, written specifically for NHK’s large-scale youth music program “18 Fes,” was included on their major-label first full album, Everybody!!, released in January 2018.

It was also featured as the song for Lotte’s “SOU” commercial, drawing attention alongside footage starring Suzu Hirose.

While acknowledging everyday anxieties and doubts, its message encourages listeners to take a step forward—even if they’re not perfect—which is sure to gently support students on the verge of graduation.

With its exhilarating rock sound and call-and-response chorus that lifts the spirit, it’s a youthful anthem perfect for new beginnings.

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 seeking a song that gently accompanies graduation season.

Sanmyu~, who billed themselves as the “first pure-white idols of the 21st century,” released their fifth single’s title track in March 2014—a graduation song that delicately portrays the feelings of experiencing farewells with the arrival of spring, yet still finding the courage to look ahead and move forward.

At the time of release, the members themselves were graduating from junior high or high school, which made the emotions embedded in the song resonate even more authentically.

While rooted in classic ’80s idol pop, the vocals convey a subtle wistfulness, offering a different expression from their full-smile, upbeat tracks.

The song was also featured in a commercial for Karaoke BanBan and reached No.

4 on the Oricon daily CD single chart.

It’s a perfect choice for those looking for a song to perform at graduation ceremonies or farewell parties, or for anyone who wants a gentle push as they embark on a new chapter in spring.

Thanks, Sakuraaidoringu!!!

Idoling!!! / Sakura Thank You

This is the 19th single by Idoling!!!, released in February 2013, created as the group’s first graduation song.

Centered on acoustic guitar, its exhilarating band sound stands out, resulting in a refreshing youth pop tune perfect for the cherry blossom season.

The lyrics focus less on the sorrow of parting and more on expressing gratitude for the time spent together.

As the title’s “Thank You” suggests, it’s not about dwelling in sadness but stepping forward with a smile to the next stage, which is deeply moving.

It peaked at No.

3 on the Oricon chart, and a re-recorded version with a 25-member lineup was later included on their fifth album, GOLD EXPERIENCE.

The music video was filmed in Ryugasaki, Ibaraki Prefecture, and features a story set around a girls’ rugby team.

It’s a bright, encouraging number recommended not only for those facing graduation or farewells with friends, but for anyone about to take a step into a new chapter of life.

Snow in MarchMakihara Noriyuki

3gatsu No Yuki (2012 Remaster)

A song by Noriyuki Makihara that delicately captures the atmosphere of those few days just after the graduation ceremony.

It was included on the album “Kimi wa Dare to Shiawase na Akubi o Shimasu ka,” released in September 1991, the same record that features the smash hit “Donna Toki mo.” The title is striking, evoking the lingering traces of winter that suddenly drift down like snow in a season meant to be heading toward spring—mirroring the fleeting chill that visits a heart trying to move forward.

Its lyrics, where affection for the days spent with friends intersects with the resolve to step out on separate paths, carefully scoop up the emotions that waver at life’s turning points.

Everyday imagery—like the lanes of a bowling alley—helps summon each listener’s own memories.

It’s a perfect track not only for those about to graduate, but also for anyone who wants to look back on their youthful days.