[For junior high students] Choral songs you’ll want to sing at your middle school graduation ceremony. Songs that touch the heart.

Precious thingssakushi sakkyoku: Yamazaki Tomoko

[Chorus] Important Things (Mixed Three-Part)

The songs composed by Tomoko Yamazaki are often sung at graduation ceremonies and have become cherished memories for many students.

Published in 2006 by Kyoiku Geijutsu Sha, this piece is written with warm words that focus on the “important things” we often overlook in everyday life.

It features a simple yet moving melody, recalling memories like counting the stars shining in the sky at night, or singing through tears when you felt like giving up.

Gently expressing the significance of graduation and friendship, this song is perfect for junior high school students at a milestone in their lives.

It’s sure to become a piece that stays in your heart.

footprint(s)Little Glee Monster

[Mixed Chorus, Three Parts] Footprints / Little Glee Monster

This song, marked by its delicate and beautiful harmonies, is a ballad that affirms the path we’ve walked and gives us the courage to move forward into the future.

Released by Little Glee Monster in September 2020 as their 16th single, it was written specifically as the set piece for the Junior High School division of the 87th NHK All-Japan School Music Competition.

With lyrics penned by the members themselves, its message—that a day will come when even our worries and struggles will hold meaning—will surely resonate deeply with graduates who have overcome many hurdles.

Also broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” the song gently supports children as they face forward despite their anxieties.

It’s a perfect piece for the stage of a graduation ceremony, where friends join their voices and take a new first step.

Kaiju no Hanabuta (Monster’s Flower Song)Vaundy

[Mixed Chorus] Monster Flower Song / Vaundy *Part-specific audio available

Vaundy is a singer-songwriter who handles everything from songwriting to video production and enjoys overwhelming support, especially among young people.

This track, included on his first album “strobo” released in May 2020, was featured in a Maruha Nichiro commercial and drew huge attention when performed on the Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

Its driving band sound and catchy melody seize listeners’ hearts and don’t let go.

The lyrics, which nostalgically recall carefree days with friends while giving you a push to step into the future, perfectly match the bittersweet yet uplifting feelings of graduation season.

By 2025, it had become a universally known classic with a cumulative one billion streams, so if your whole class sings it together, it’s sure to become an unforgettable memory.

Graduation PhotoMatsutōya Yumi

“Graduation Photo” 2017.2.19 Japan’s 100 Selected Songs

When it comes to classic graduation songs, Yumi Matsutoya’s “Sotsugyo Shashin” (Graduation Photo) is indispensable.

It’s a track from her pre-marriage era as Yumi Arai, included on the 1975 album “COBALT HOUR.” The song expresses the contrast between how I’ve changed after graduation and how you’ve stayed the same, along with my feelings for you.

With its simple melody and relaxed tempo, it’s not particularly difficult, so why not try having the whole class perform it as a chorus for your final event before graduation?

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Thank youikimonogakari

Ikimonogakari 'Arigatou' Music Video

This is Ikimonogakari’s 18th single, written as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series Gegege no Nyobo.

Released in May 2010, it won an Excellence Award at the 52nd Japan Record Awards.

The lyrics, which tenderly portray the love nurtured in everyday life and gratitude toward those dear to us, resonate deeply.

The warmth conveyed by holding hands and the hope for a shared future are expressed through a gentle melody that warmly embraces listeners.

In the 2013 school year, it was included as a choral piece in high school music textbooks, and it has also become a popular staple for graduation ceremonies.

It may feel a bit embarrassing to put into words, but this song is perfect for conveying thanks to the teachers, friends, and family who have supported you.

Why not sing it to express your honest feelings along with your memories of junior high school life?

The meaning of goodbyeNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 16th 'The Meaning of Goodbye' Best Shot Version.

Let me introduce a song that teaches us that farewells aren’t sad endings, but steps toward the future.

Nogizaka46’s “Sayonara no Imi” features lyrics that hold a quiet strength to look forward even amid heartache, gently encouraging those who are setting off on a new path.

Released in November 2016, it was the group’s 16th single and their first to sell over a million copies.

It’s also known for being performed by Nanami Hashimoto as center at the 67th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, which was her final stage.

Its warm message—don’t fear parting, cherish the miracle of having met—will surely resonate deeply with middle schoolers approaching graduation.

When you feel the sadness of parting from friends, this is a song that will softly give you courage.

Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro

Promise of Sunflowers [from the 25th Owariasahi Children’s Choir Regular Concert]

Written as the theme song for the film “STAND BY ME Doraemon,” this piece became one of Motohiro Hata’s signature works.

Released as a single in August 2014, it is also included on the albums “Ao no Koukei” and “All Time Best Hata Motohiro.” Many listeners were undoubtedly moved by its lyrics, which portray the warmth of those who stay by our side and the unchanging bonds that endure even when we’re apart.

Widely loved as well for its use in NTT West’s commercials, the melody is so well-known that anyone can hum along.

This song, which reminds us that the ordinary moments spent with friends are priceless, is the perfect choice for a graduation ceremony to say “thank you” to teachers and peers who have supported you.