An emotional song sung by an idol—tear-jerking tracks filled with a range of feelings.
If you’re an idol fan, you probably have a few favorite songs that move you to tears whenever you hear them.
Beyond the lyrics themselves, there are many songs that move us because of the stories behind them—like the members’ feelings infused into the music and their live performances.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of touching songs by idols all at once.
Each track has its own story, so be sure to listen while reading the lyrics.
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A moving song sung by an idol. Tear-jerking tracks filled with a range of emotions (21–30)
Lost and Found at the Graduation CeremonySKE48
A graduation day, that special day, is something that slips by in the blink of an eye before you even notice.
This song, included as a coupling track to SKE48’s fifth single “Banzai Venus,” released in March 2011, delicately portrays the bittersweet emotions that well up at such turning points.
Set against scenes like a schoolyard with cherry blossoms dancing and the spring breeze, the lyrics touch the heart by using the metaphor of a “forgotten item” to express feelings that were close by yet went unnoticed.
With Jurina Matsui as center and the cross-team Shirogumi members singing, it becomes a universal piece that anyone can overlay with their own experiences.
It’s a song that those who know the hollow emptiness after a graduation ceremony will especially want to hear—one that accompanies your memories of spring.
Graduationsaitou yuki
Although it was released as her debut single in 1985, this classic by Yuki Saito is still loved as a staple of the graduation season.
Written by Takashi Matsumoto and composed by Kyohei Tsutsumi—the legendary duo—the song peaked at No.
6 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and sold about 264,000 copies.
It was also featured in a commercial for Myojo Foods, drawing significant attention at the time.
The lyrics portray a delicate inner conflict between the “expected tears of graduation” and the singer’s true feelings.
Rather than sweet ideals, it strikingly captures the real face of adolescence: moving on to the next season without fully sorting out one’s emotions.
The arrangement, weaving in melodica and saxophone, beautifully evokes the atmosphere of school.
It’s a perfect song for those who feel reluctant to show their tears, or who prefer to greet their departure quietly.
Even though it’s springKashiwabara Yoshie
A bittersweet yet beautiful song about feelings for someone you’ll no longer be able to see after graduation.
Released in January 1983 as Yoshie Kashiwabara’s 14th single, it is one of her signature tracks, written and composed by Miyuki Nakajima.
It peaked at No.
6 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and won the Gold Award at the 25th Japan Record Awards.
The song also led to her first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Its worldview—where the brightness of spring cruelly intersects with the pain of parting—strikes straight to the heart.
Rather than going for flashy drama, the piece is memorable for its steady progression, where the melody calmly unfolds and the emotional shadows gradually deepen.
Revisited every graduation season, it continues to be loved across generations.
It’s recommended for moments when, on the cusp of a new beginning, you want to pause and gather your thoughts.
GraduationHikaru GENJI
Let me introduce a classic by Hikaru GENJI, released in November 1987 as the B-side to the single “Garasu no Jūdai.” With lyrics by Ryo Asuka and music by CHAGE—a truly star-studded team—this work is a coming-of-age ballad that movingly captures the milestone of graduation.
The lyrics not only convey the sorrow of parting but also weave in the hope of taking a new step forward, leaving a deep impression on the heart.
On Music Station in September 1995, the group performed the song with a memorable staging in which the members removed their roller skates and placed them on the stage, bringing many fans to tears.
It’s a track that showcases the group’s delicate emotionality—another facet of their appeal beyond their dazzling performances.
A deeply moving song recommended not only for those facing graduation, but for anyone experiencing a farewell with cherished friends.
uniformMatsuda Seiko
Originally released in 1982 as the B-side to the eighth single “Akai Sweet Pea,” this song has long been cherished as one of Seiko Matsuda’s hidden masterpieces.
With lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto, music by Kureta Keiko (the pen name of Yumi Matsutoya), and arrangement by Masataka Matsutoya, it was created by a stellar team.
The lyrics portray the feelings of the protagonist walking beside the person they like amid a sea of umbrellas on graduation day, brimming with the bittersweet tension between the desire to confess and the urge to hold back.
It masterfully condenses the universal theme of the end of student days into just 3 minutes and 33 seconds.
Despite being a B-side, its quality is such that Seiko Matsuda herself said it was “as complete as an A-side.” In 1984, it was included on the compilation album Touch Me, Seiko, which collected coupling tracks and reached No.
1 on the Oricon weekly chart.
It’s a song I highly recommend to those setting out on a springtime journey or anyone nostalgic for their school days.
A Lonely Graduation CeremonyAsaka Yui
On the morning of graduation, feelings that end without ever being spoken—here’s a song that Yui Asaka renders with delicate nuance.
Included on the album “Star Lights,” released in February 1987, the record marked a major leap in her career, peaking at No.
8 on the Oricon charts.
This track is a gently paced ballad that carefully sketches scenes of school life—classroom seats, yearbook messages—while quietly tracing the emotions of someone who couldn’t confess their love.
Though not showy, its structure beautifully conveys the spring atmosphere and the subtle flutter in one’s chest.
It’s a number that gently stands beside anyone facing graduation, and anyone carrying feelings they couldn’t put into words.
Graduation -GRADUATION-Kikuchi Momoko
Released in February 1985, Momoko Kikuchi’s fourth single remains beloved as a classic that colors the graduation season.
With lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto and composition/arrangement by Tetsuji Hayashi, this work is a slowed-down ballad whose delicate sound evokes the hazy spring sunlight.
The lyrics sensitively depict universal emotions—not only graduation as a school event, but also parting, the passage of time, and the feeling that there is no going back.
In addition to being featured in a Shiseido “Acne” commercial, it also drew attention as the theme song for a television drama of the same name starring Momoko Kikuchi herself.
It reached No.
1 on the Oricon weekly chart and is included on the album “TROPIC of CAPRICORN.” It’s a song you’ll want to play when you wish to express gratitude to irreplaceable friends and mentors with whom you’ve shared precious days.