[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 School Students] Recommended Classic Songs to Sing at Graduation (41–50)
cherry blossomMoriyama Naotaro
This song, a massive hit in 2003, is a masterpiece that depicts parting and reunion through the beauty and transience of cherry blossoms.
Naotaro Moriyama’s clear vocals and the simple, piano-centered arrangement resonate deeply with listeners.
The lyrics, which liken cherry blossoms scattering at the very moment they are in full bloom to the turning points of life, evoke both the poignancy of a departure and a forward-looking hope.
Chosen as the ending theme for the MBS/TBS program “Sekai Ururun Taizai-ki,” it sold over one million copies.
In 2019, it was revived with a new arrangement as the theme song for the drama “同期のサクラ” (Synchrony’s Sakura), and it continues to be loved across generations.
Sung at a graduation ceremony—one of life’s important milestones—it will etch memories with friends and a resolve for the future even more deeply.
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.
Eyes of the heartSakamoto Kyu
This song was the late Kyu Sakamoto’s final work, released in 1985.
The lyrics were written by Toyohisa Araki and the music composed by Takashi Miki.
Songs created by this duo and sung by Teresa Teng were big hits at the time—this piece comes from that golden partnership.
There’s a story behind how this song became a choral piece: just before Kyu Sakamoto passed away, a middle school music teacher happened to hear the song on his radio program, was deeply moved by it, created a choral arrangement, and that version gradually spread.
Sakura (Solo)Moriyama Naotaro
A song that was a huge hit in 2003.
The lyrics depict the cherry blossom season, and the fleeting worldview of the song is enough to bring tears to your eyes.
While the atmosphere of the music is reflective, the lyrics are positive and powerful, making it a song that evokes reunion and a bright future.
Singing it together will surely make you feel even more encouraged.
Just as it has continued to be sung in different forms—like the 2019 version—it will no doubt keep resonating in your heart even after graduation.
ChessboardOfisharu Higedan Dism
A song with a melody that evokes a bittersweet flutter in the heart and lyrics that portray life’s journey.
Chosen as the set piece for the middle school division of the 90th NHK All-Japan School Music Competition, this work likens life to a chessboard, singing of the importance of chance encounters and small moments.
It’s truly perfect for middle school students on the verge of graduation.
This song gently supports the complex feelings where anticipation and anxiety about a new environment intertwine.
If sung at a graduation ceremony, it will surely become a moving memory.
GraduationKobukuro
This is a graduation song that looks back on memories one by one.
It’s a track by the duo Kobukuro, who have produced numerous masterpieces like “Wadachi” and “Tsubomi,” released in 2020 as their 31st single.
It truly feels like the quintessential graduation song, with beautiful sound and choral work that stirs the emotions.
The memories of school life last a lifetime.
It’s a memorable ballad that makes you want to never forget your classmates or your school, no matter how much time passes.
BelieveMay J.
Believing, a song that evokes anticipation for a new future, is perfect for graduation ceremonies.
May J., known for songs like Let It Go from the film Frozen, covered it in 2014, beautifully recreating the original’s warmth and grand sense of scale.
Its lyrics, which help you cherish the days spent with friends and look ahead with hope for tomorrow, gently encourage graduates as they take their next steps.
Moreover, this song, which reminds you that you can help one another through whatever comes and that you’re never alone even when you’re apart, is highly recommended for graduation day.
