[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 (91–100)
Sakuraayaka
It’s a bittersweet ballad that looks back on one’s school days from the perspective of adulthood.
The song is by Ayaka, a singer-songwriter widely known for works like “Mikazuki,” and it’s included on her fifth album, “30 y/o,” released in 2018.
After graduation, the faces of friends who’ve gone their separate ways sometimes suddenly come to mind.
Thinking about the graduation ceremony can feel a little sad, but those memories will surely become beautiful ones.
If junior high school students sing it, it will likely make them want to hold on to this very moment in their hearts forever.
Graduation PhotoArai Yumi
Known by the nickname Yuming, singer-songwriter Yumi Arai has topped the album sales charts for six consecutive decades since her debut in the 1970s.
“Sotsugyō Shashin” (“Graduation Photo”), originally written for the group Hi-Fi Set, was later self-covered and included on her third album, COBALT HOUR.
Its relaxed melody makes it easy to sing as a choral piece at junior high school graduation ceremonies.
Since the lyrics depict scenes some time after graduation, it’s a classic graduation song you’ll want to revisit again after the ceremony.
Youth PhotographLittle Glee Monster
If you want to graduate with a smile, this is the song you should definitely sing.
It’s a track by the girl vocal group Little Glee Monster, released in 2015 as their second single, “Seishun Photograph / Girls be Free!”.
It’s a piece about the day you part ways with friends—not being sad, but saying, “Let’s take photos together with smiles!” A graduation ceremony isn’t only about tears.
It’s also a positive event—a “departure,” after all.
Sing this song and create the best, once-in-a-lifetime memory!
COSMOS
A memorable piece featuring a beautiful melody and lyrics that evoke a vast universe.
Released by Aquamarine in 1999, the song was later arranged as a choral work by Hiroshi Tomizawa and has since become beloved at many schools.
Its gentle melody in E-flat major brings hope and deep emotion for the new departure that graduation represents.
Singing it together with classmates will surely create lasting memories.
Junior high school students, why not express both the joy of graduation and the sadness of parting through this work?
Smile ~You Are Not Alone~shiori
This warm song gently supports the hearts of graduating students whose chests are full as they prepare to part from family and friends.
Shiori’s gentle voice speaks to each person, saying, “It’s okay—you’re not alone.” Released in May 2012, the song was also used in a Studio Alice commercial.
The “Hana no Shiori” initiative, which involved visiting schools nationwide and singing together with over 20,000 students, drew attention as a message aiming for a society without bullying.
For junior high school students feeling anxious about new environments, listening to this song will surely help them realize that there are people who support them and feel reassured: “I’m not alone.”
Cherry blossom seasonATSUSHI
Set in the season when cherry blossoms dance, this song beautifully captures the mix of hope and anxiety that accompanies a new beginning.
Written by EXILE ATSUSHI as he reflects on his own junior high school days, the lyrics resonate with students facing graduation.
Broadcast on “Minna no Uta” starting in August 2014, the piece moved many viewers with its gentle melody woven by piano and strings, layered with ATSUSHI’s emotionally rich vocals that strike deep in the listener’s heart.
As a song that accompanies life’s milestones—such as graduation and school entrance ceremonies—it is sure to remain beloved by many for years to come.
GIVE ME FIVE!AKB48
AKB48 is the girls’ group that created a new standard in the idol scene.
Their 25th major single, “GIVE ME FIVE!”, whose title means a high-five in English, became a hot topic for featuring the members playing instruments instead of dancing.
It’s great arranged for choir, but for junior high students, it might be even more fun to liven up the stage as a band.
With the catchphrase “When we’ve cried enough for a lifetime, let’s high-five!”, it’s a perfect number to brighten up a graduation ceremony.