[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)
cherry blossomKobukuro
Both the lyrics, the melody, and the vocals seem to seep deep into your heart.
This work is by the musical duo Kobukuro, known for their beautiful choral work and straightforward musicality, and it was released in 2005 as their 12th single.
It became a big hit after being chosen as the theme song for the drama “Ns’ Aoi.” The song says that although parting from someone is painful, by thinking of that person, the feeling of love begins to grow within you.
Graduation really is a sad event, isn’t it? But that’s exactly why it helps us take another step toward adulthood.
Try singing it while truly feeling the meaning of the lyrics.
Thank youikimonogakari
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?
[For Junior High Students] Recommended Classic Songs to Sing at Graduation (31–40)
On the Day of Departure
For many people, this is the song that immediately comes to mind for graduation ceremonies.
Born in 1991 at a junior high school in Saitama Prefecture, the song’s reputation spread over time through features in music magazines and use in TV commercials, and it has now become one of the quintessential graduation songs.
It has also been released as a single by famous artists on multiple occasions.
With lyrics that express hope for the future in straightforward words and a melody that makes you feel like you could fly anywhere, it’s full of charm.
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.
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!
GarnetOku Hanako
A moving ballad that brings to mind scene after scene from student days—the sprinting figures on the field, casual after-school conversations, lines of handwriting in a notebook.
Released in 2006 as Hanako Oku’s fourth single, it reached a wide audience as the theme song for director Mamoru Hosoda’s animated film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
It’s a celebrated classic that also won the Heisei Anime Song Award for Best Film Theme.
In simple words, it conveys both the ache of time slipping away and gratitude for the encounters that made one stronger.
Even if we are separated, those days will never fade.
That message resonates deeply, making it a perfect song for the milestone of a graduation ceremony.
It’s a piece we especially hope junior high school students will sing as they engrave memories with friends in their hearts and take their first steps forward.
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.