[Recommended for High School Students] New Graduation Songs & Classic Tearjerkers Collection

We Look Up to You with Respect

We Look Up to You with Respect

A classic among graduation songs, also selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” Its gentle pace, sung in D major or E-flat major, brings many to tears.

The lyrics center on gratitude to teachers from whom we learned so much, bonds with close friends who supported one another, and appreciation for the familiar school.

It’s a song overflowing with thanks—one you can’t go wrong singing.

We againSG

We Again (Wind Ensemble ver.) – SG (Official Behind-the-Scenes Music Video)

This work by SG has gained support as an encouraging song that resonates deeply during graduations and farewells.

Its gentle melody, which accompanies young people as they overcome partings and take new steps forward, and its lyrics filled with hope for reunion are especially appealing.

Released in April 2021, it has become a popular track with a cumulative 150 million streams.

Starting in November 2024, it has also been featured in Calorie Mate’s exam-season support commercial, and a concert band version by the Hanazono Tokuei High School Wind Ensemble has been making waves.

It’s a heartwarming song for farewells, graduation ceremonies, and moments when you long to see someone special again.

It’s a recommended track for times when you want to cherish your memories while looking ahead and doing your best.

LullabyRADWIMPS

Lullaby - RADWIMPS

A song with RADWIMPS’s exhilarating rock sound that feels great to listen to.

It’s not a tearful, sorrowful farewell, but a message to say goodbye with a smile, as we do at the beginning of something new.

“Lullaby” means a song to soothe a child.

The lyrics, as if comforting a crying child, carry the meaning of moving forward on our own paths so that when we meet again, we can talk with a smile.

Recommended for anyone who wants to say a cool, cheerful goodbye with a smile!

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hiyori

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Sky-blue DaysSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “Light Blue Days” One-Man Tour 2018–2019 “Hey, even though you and that girl can only meet in dreams, why were you kissing at dawn?” Ver.

Sung with honest emotion about the feelings experienced in school life, “Mizuiro no Hibi” is a song that, upon graduation, turns the days up to now into happy memories.

Released by SHISHAMO in 2018, it features refreshing instrumentals and the captivating, emotional vocals of Asako Miyazaki.

Its candid lyrics make you realize that, even though student life wasn’t always fun, looking back, it’s something you don’t want to forget.

This song makes you want to cherish memories that never fade—why not give it a listen during graduation season?

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mutō

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By My SideOmoinotake

Omoinotake / By My Side

Here’s a youth-filled track by the stylish three-piece band Omoinotake, who made their major debut in 2021: “By My Side.” It’s the opening theme for the anime Blue Period, so Blue Period fans will know it well.

Above all, the song’s progression is soulful and cool, with a rich aroma of Black music spilling out of the melody.

The lyrics carry a “even when we’re far apart, my heart is always close to you” vibe—reassuring for high schoolers stepping into a new life this spring.

It also makes a lovely choice for graduation party BGM.

The Door to TomorrowKawashima Ai

Ai Kawashima “Door to Tomorrow” Aikawashima 15th Anniversary ~BIRTH~ [LIVE]

A beloved classic graduation song, I WiSH’s “Ashita e no Tobira” (“Door to Tomorrow”).

Released in 2003, it was used as the theme song for the romance reality show Ainori.

The song originated from vocalist Ai Kawashima’s solo track—also a graduation staple—“Tabidachi no Hi ni…”.

Although the song is framed around romance, its message can be reinterpreted as the bonds you’ve nurtured with friends and the ties that will never be broken, making it perfect for graduation ceremonies.

Its lyrics resonate with the delicate emotions of high schoolers on the verge of adulthood, beautifully coloring memories up to now and the start of the future ahead.

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SAKI

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100% CourageNYC

Yūki 100% (Courage 100%) – “Ninja Kids!!!” (2011) Ending Theme

Since this song is used in a popular anime, I think everyone has heard it.

Because it’s an anime song, you might think it sounds a bit childish, but if you look closely at the lyrics, it’s really uplifting.

Even after graduating, no matter what hardships you face, it makes you feel like you can be brave and keep going.