[For Middle Schoolers] Recommended Classic Songs to Sing at Graduation Ceremonies
Have you already decided on the song to sing at the junior high school graduation ceremony?
When you graduate from junior high, it’s common for classmates to go their separate ways.
While reaching this milestone brings joy, many students also feel the sadness of parting from friends they spent every day with, as well as anxiety about entering a new environment.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of graduation songs that resonate with those pre-graduation feelings, including timeless staples and popular tracks.
Use it as a reference to help choose music that will brighten your graduation ceremony!
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[For Middle Schoolers] Recommended Classic Songs to Sing at Graduation (81–90)
Goodbye, my friend.Sakata Hiroo, Kurosawa Yoshinori
It’s a song released in 1979.
It’s mainly sung as a chorus at elementary and junior high school graduation ceremonies, and its lyrics movingly express the feelings one has during the ceremony itself.
The song beautifully conveys the bittersweet emotions of the moment when you part ways with close friends.
Light of Fireflies
This is a grand yet warm song often heard in various settings, such as at graduation ceremonies, year-end chorus performances, and as background music at closing time.
Based on the Scottish folk tune “Auld Lang Syne,” it has Japanese lyrics that reflect on the passage of time.
Because its message is strong, it lends itself to many approaches—singing with piano accompaniment, layering only voices, and more.
It’s a piece you may want to express with the feeling of carefully tracing the time and memories you’ve shared with your friends.
Just the way you areSakkyoku: Matsui Takao
The alto part may feel a bit difficult, but when the two parts fit together perfectly, the beauty of the melody is truly characteristic of Takao Matsui.
Also, there are sections in unison, so I think it’s easy to sing.
The accompaniment is simple as well, so it might be nice to have students handle both conducting and accompaniment.
Tomoë GakuenFukuyama Masaharu
This song, which became the theme for the drama “Totto-chan!,” weaves into its lyrics memories from Tomoe Gakuen, the school that Tetsuko Kuroyanagi once attended.
The rest of the lyrics also look back on school life, making it a very popular graduation song.
Lingering Snowiruka
Singer-songwriter Iruka made her debut in 1970 as a member of the Shrieks and continues to be active today as a solo artist.
Her third single, “Nagori Yuki,” became a massive hit and a song everyone knows, but did you know it’s actually a cover of a track by Kaguya-hime, the legendary folk band? The lyrics paint scenes of the transition from winter to spring, making it a perfect fit for graduation season.
Even now, countless artists continue to cover it, and it stands as a representative number of spring in Japan.
Words of FarewellKaientai
Okuru Kotoba, the classic hit sung by Kaientai led by Tetsuya Takeda, is a staple that continues to be performed during graduation season.
It’s also well-known for the many cover versions by various musicians, such as a jazzy take by singer-songwriter Ohashi Trio and a rock version by FLOW.
Find the version you love—the one that perfectly matches how you feel right now.
[For Middle Schoolers] Recommended Classic Songs to Sing at Graduation (91–100)
We Look Up to You with Respect
When it comes to Japanese graduation ceremonies, Aogeba Tōtoshi is famous, isn’t it? It’s a song that has been passed down from our parents’ generation and even older, one that you can share moving feelings over with your parents.
Ending with a trendy song is nice too, but a farewell with a dignified, standard song like this is also wonderful.