[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 (21–30)
Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro
This song is Motohiro Hata’s 17th single and also served as the theme song for the animated film STAND BY ME Doraemon, so many of you have probably heard it.
The song expresses feelings for a precious presence that’s always by your side, making it perfect for graduation ceremonies.
These days, it’s easy to buy choral sheet music online, and you can find part-specific audio tracks on YouTube, so it’s become easier for anyone to practice.
ultramarineSakushi: Fukushima-ken Minamisoma Shiritsu Odaka Chūgakkō Heisei 24-nendo Sotsugyōsei / Sakkyoku: Oda Miki
As a song befitting the important milestone of graduation, “Gunjō” is truly moving.
With lyrics written by junior high school students in Fukushima Prefecture and a melody composed by Miki Oda, the piece carries wishes for recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Its stirring piano lines and lyrics that sing of hope for the future will encourage graduates as they take their next steps.
The high notes in the women’s chorus, in particular, create a deeply touching harmony.
Even in moments of parting, the song has the power to lift listeners’ spirits, making it a memorable piece for any graduation ceremony.
[For Junior High Students] Recommended Classic Songs to Sing at Graduation (31–40)
Unchanging ThingsSakkyoku: Yamazaki Tomoko
This piece was written and composed by Tomoko Yamazaki.
Yamazaki, who has created many choral works including “Taisetsu na Mono” and “Kizuna,” often writes songs whose simplicity allows the feelings to come straight to the heart.
This song, too, carries the message that although parting is sad, we want to cherish the encounters we’ve had.
Structurally, it begins in unison and later divides into three parts to enjoy the harmony.
The melody isn’t very complex, so it would be nice if you can avoid singing it flatly and instead express the emotions skillfully.
I should be able to fly (in the sky).supittsu
On the day you set off, you feel like listening to a song that makes you want to thank your classmates and teachers you met at school.
“Sora mo Toberu Hazu,” released by Spitz in 1994, features Kusano’s crystal-clear vocals that lift your spirits.
The wistful lyrics prompt you to look back on your school days, too.
Its catchy melody makes it easy to sing, and the chorus lyrics that make you feel like you can go anywhere are perfect for singing on graduation day!
Thank youFUNKY MONKEY BABYS
Here’s a song by FUNKY MONKEY BABYS released in 2013.
The band is known for featuring celebrities who fit the image of each song on their cover art instead of themselves, and for this track, Sanma Akashiya appears on the jacket as a teacher.
Since it was used as the theme song for the 85th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (Senbatsu) and for “Akamru! Scoop Koshien,” it’s a perfect choice to sing at school.
Choral pieces are great, of course, but familiar, accessible songs like this can really liven things up, too.
dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo
Since its release in 2004, this song has been beloved as a classic across generations.
Hitoto Yo created it in response to the September 11 attacks.
Its warm lyrics, which pray for unconditional love and lasting peace, are the kind you may find yourself recalling and humming at various points in life.
There’s also a version where she performs it with a choral backing, which makes it easy to imagine it being sung by a large group—another strong point of recommendation.
Bridge of Gloryyuzu
A song that makes you want to take a step forward while holding all your school-life experiences close to your heart is perfect for graduation day! “Eikou no Kakehashi” (Bridge of Glory) by Yuzu, released in 2004, embraces a range of emotions and makes you feel the reality of living in the present.
Chosen as the official theme song for NHK’s coverage of the Athens Olympics, its encouraging lyrics have remained beloved.
With graduation just ahead, why not sing this song that makes you feel that the hardships and tears you experienced during school were never in vain, but are building a bridge to tomorrow?