For Your Karaoke Picks! Recommended Graduation Songs Sung by Male Artists [2026]

Friend ~Time to Depart~yuzu

Yuzu “Friend ~The Time of Departure~”

When you and your friends are facing graduation with shared anxieties, the song you’ll feel like singing at the end is Yuzu’s “Tomodachi ~Tabidachi no Toki~ (Friend ~Time of Departure~).” It was also the set piece for the junior high division of NHK’s National School Music Competition.

Up to now, whenever something happened, friends and teachers were there to help—but from here on, there will be many more things you’ll have to overcome on your own.

There may be times when you feel discouraged, but in those moments, remember this song and the many days you spent with your friends.

Everyone feels anxious—it’s the same for all of us.

Believe that a wonderful future is surely waiting, and until the day we meet again, let this song give you courage and hope.

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SAKI

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March 9Remioromen

Remioromen – March 9

A classic graduation song and also a karaoke staple.

It’s one of the signature tracks by the three-piece rock band Remioromen, released in 2004 as their third single.

It became a huge hit after being used as an insert song in the drama “1 Litre of Tears.” This slow ballad grabs you right by the emotions, and vocalist Fujimaki’s voice feels like it goes straight into your heart.

Although it was originally written as a celebration song for a wedding, it has now become established nationwide as a choral piece sung at graduation ceremonies.

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Araki Jakkan

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Sakura Clear SkiesYuuri

Yuuri “Sakurabare” Lyric Music Video (1-chorus ver.)

A song that highlights Yuuri’s heartrending vocals that resonate deep in the heart.

It expresses the complex emotions of people facing graduation, carried by the warm tones of piano and strings.

The lyrics, richly poetic in their gratitude toward family and friends, are sure to strike a chord with many.

Released digitally in February 2021, this work is Yuuri’s first graduation song.

The backstory—that it was created in response to an email from a fan—further enhances its appeal.

It’s also perfect for karaoke; sing it with your feelings for someone special, and it will surely become a memorable moment.

OrangeSPYAIR

SPYAIR “Orange” Music Video (Theme Song for Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle: The Movie)

This SPYAIR song is a heartwarming piece themed around encounters, bonds, and farewells within limited time.

It conveys the importance of moving forward without saying goodbye, holding onto the hope of meeting again.

It paints the image of taking flight into an orange sky and sings of the beauty of cherishing every moment.

Released on February 14, 2024, it was also chosen as the theme song for Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle: The Movie.

It’s a track that helps you overcome the fear of parting or change and gives you the courage to trust your own path, making it perfect for those facing graduation or retirement.

How about singing it at karaoke and sharing the feeling of looking ahead and moving forward together?

spring melancholyMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Spring Melancholy

This song was apparently written by vocalist Motoki Omori the day after he graduated from high school, and it captures the real feelings of a recent graduate.

Looking back on school life and the people around him, it expresses the complex emotions of graduation, where love and dislike are intertwined.

While the lyrics carry a gentle message tinged with longing and a touch of sadness, the melody is warm and softly nostalgic.

Listening to it feels healing, and its relaxed tempo makes it a great choice for karaoke, too!

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Hane Keisuke

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GraduationOzaki Yutaka

Yutaka Ozaki “Sotsugyo” (Graduation) – LIVE CORE Complete Edition: Yutaka Ozaki in Tokyo Dome, 1988-09-12

Some of you may be looking forward to graduation, when you’ll finally gain your freedom.

A perfect graduation song for you is Yutaka Ozaki’s “Graduation.” Loved for many years as a quintessential graduation song, it won strong support from many young people who were students when it was released, thanks to its aggressive lyrics.

Some may feel constrained by the school environment, which in a sense ties you down.

You might find yourself brooding over that lack of freedom—just getting irritated or withdrawn.

This song captures both the joy of breaking free from that kind of life and the faint unease that lurks beneath it.

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SAKI

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Song of a FriendBUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN “Friend’s Song”

The song I want to listen to while reflecting on a friend I’m parting ways with is BUMP OF CHICKEN’s “Tomodachi no Uta” (“Song of Friends”).

The lyrics, written by Motoo Fujiwara as he thought of characters from works he loved since childhood, convey a clumsy yet warm sense of friendship, and the grand sound incorporating trumpet is sure to resonate deeply with men as well.

Released in February 2011 as their 19th single, this track moved many as the theme song for the film “Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops—Angel Wings.” It’s a song that wraps up the anxieties of a new departure and gently nudges you forward.

Even if you end up walking separate paths, it makes you believe the time you shared won’t disappear—a masterpiece filled with kindness.