![[Graduation Song] A tear-jerking track sung by an idol! A moving piece depicting friendship and gratitude [2026]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/t5r0rNwjXQU/maxresdefault.webp)
[Graduation Song] A tear-jerking track sung by an idol! A moving piece depicting friendship and gratitude [2026]
Among idol songs, many of the ones themed around graduation are especially memorable.
Every year as the March graduation season approaches, idol graduation songs are released—tracks that capture the feelings of graduates about to set off on a new journey, or songs created for members leaving their groups—each one deeply moving and tear-jerking.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of recommended graduation songs from the many idol tracks out there.
From lyrics that depict gratitude and friendship to songs that look back on cherished memories, there’s a wide variety.
Find the one that perfectly matches your feelings right now!
[Graduation Songs] Tear-Jerking Tunes Sung by Idols! Heartwarming Pieces Portraying Friendship and Gratitude [2026] (1–10)
Search for Diamond Lily＝LOVE
Cherry blossoms, an old school building, a uniform button—packed with such scenes of spring, this =LOVE song is the group’s fifth single, released in April 2019.
With lyrics written by Rino Sashihara and a fresh melody crafted by multiple composers, it pairs a bright tempo with lyrics that gently ache with the passage of time.
It reached No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and earned a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
The track was also featured in Mr.
Fusion’s programming school “Prosta Kids” commercial.
In its story-driven music video, the turmoil of parting with friends is portrayed with care.
It’s recommended not only for those approaching graduation, but also for anyone who struggles to put their gratitude for friends into words.
Listen as spring arrives, and you’ll feel moved to cherish the time you have with the people who matter most.
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.
MemoriesNiziU
A NiziU song that resonates with the season of spring was released digitally in February 2024.
Chosen as the theme song for Universal Studios Japan’s spring campaign for students, “Uniharu 2024,” the track wraps the bittersweetness and hope of a season where meetings and farewells intersect in a bright, catchy sound.
Its charm lies in the way it captures how the ordinary days spent with friends become irreplaceable treasures at the milestone of graduation, expressed in friendly, conversational language.
The song is also set to be included on the mini-album “AWAKE,” scheduled for release in February 2025, and holds a special place as the group’s first spring-themed song.
It’s a perfect track not only for students approaching graduation, but for anyone taking a new step forward while holding dear their memories with close companions.
Dear,Snow Man
Snow Man is an idol group whose members shine across a wide range of platforms, including TV, dramas, and stage productions.
One of the new songs included on their best-of album THE BEST 2020‑2025, released in January 2025, is this track.
Marking the fifth anniversary of their debut, it’s a medium-tempo ballad themed around gratitude and the bond with the fans who have supported them.
The gentle harmonies of the nine voices layering over a warm, piano-and-strings ensemble leave a lasting impression.
The lyrics are filled with countless expressions of thanks for love, quietly resonating in the listener’s heart.
This piece is perfect for graduations and send-off moments, for those who wish to express their appreciation to friends and mentors.
It’s a warmly comforting number that softly encourages those embarking on a new journey.
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.
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.
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.