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

Words of FarewellGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Words of Gift

A song filled with passionate resolve to overcome the sadness of parting and vow to meet again.

GReeeeN’s “Okuru Kotoba” powerfully pushes forward those who carry the bonds of friendship into the future.

It’s not a cover of the classic song with the same title, but an original single released in October 2018.

Written as the theme song for the film “Run! T High School Basketball Club,” it serves as a cheer anthem that ties in with the story’s themes of setbacks and comebacks.

It’s the kind of anthem that makes you want to link arms and sing with the friends you shared your club and school days with.

It’s sure to give courage and hope to men setting off into a new world.

Highly recommended as moving background music for graduations and farewell parties.

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.

Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)Yonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)

This is a track whose beautiful, fleeting sound and lyrics—portraying the aching feelings of two childhood companions who grow apart as they become adults—strike straight at the heart.

Included on singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu’s album BOOTLEG, released in October 2017, the song also drew major attention for featuring actor Masaki Suda as a guest vocalist.

It contrasts the past, when they laughed together without a care, with the present, as they each walk their own path.

Its message—suggesting a bond that remains deep inside no matter how much time passes—gently encourages men setting out for different places.

After graduation, when you feel anxious or lonely about a new life ahead, why not listen to it while reminiscing about an old friend?

Dropkick&TEAM

&TEAM ‘Dropkick’ Official MV

&TEAM is a nine-member global group that debuted under HYBE LABELS JAPAN, captivating the world with their diverse personalities and strong unity.

Featured on their album First Howling : NOW, released in November 2023, this track is a high-energy rock tune.

Its theme—kicking away hardships and running toward the future with your comrades—resonates with the mixed feelings of anxiety and hope on a day of new beginnings.

And with its irresistibly sing-along chorus that makes you want to throw your fist in the air, it’s perfect for getting hyped with friends at karaoke.

Sakura RoadKyūshūdan

Kyushu Man 'Sakura Road' PV (Full ver.)

Singer-songwriter Kusuo, hailing from Nagasaki Prefecture, has reggae roots yet wins broad support with emotive, heart-stirring songs.

Released in March 2009 as his second major-label single, this work is a classic that dramatically portrays springtime partings and new departures.

It was later included on the album “(R).” The single also features a track that served as the ending theme for TBS’s “Sekai Fushigi Hakken! (Discovery of the World),” and at the time, a commercial featuring a professional wrestler from the same hometown became a hot topic.

The lyrics, which balance the bittersweet sorrow of falling cherry blossoms with a resolute stride toward the future, gently give listeners a push forward.

Sung over reggae’s uniquely comfortable groove, it lifts your spirits without becoming overly sentimental.

It’s a perfect pick for karaoke to celebrate new beginnings and get everyone fired up with friends.

GraduationMatsuyama Chiharu

Graduation / Chiharu Matsuyama

Chiharu Matsuyama, a folk singer from Ashoro, Hokkaido, enjoys immense popularity.

This song, included as the B-side to the single “Mado” released in March 1979, is a renowned ballad themed around farewells and new beginnings that come at life’s turning points.

It lyrically portrays not only graduation as a school event but also the various transitions in life, resonating deeply with listeners.

A longer version with a different arrangement was also included on the album “Sora o Tobu Tori no Yō ni No o Kakeru Kaze no Yō ni,” released in May of the same year, offering fans the pleasure of comparing the two.

Its wistful yet warm melody is perfect for singing with emotion at karaoke.

It is a timeless song that continues to be loved across generations.

See you again.THE FRANK VOX

THE FRANK VOX – Let's Meet Again [Music Video]

The four-member male vocal group THE FRANK VOX from the Kansai region released a song in January 2025 that marks their first-ever graduation track.

It resonates with a heartfelt message that not only captures the poignancy of parting, but also carries hope for future reunions.

Centered on their signature harmonies and call-and-response style, the warm, comforting sound is imbued with the wish that the song might become a “bookmark” for cherished moments.

Released as a pre-distribution single from the album VOX BOX 2, the track was also selected as the ending theme for ABC TV’s Bukatsu People: Zenryoku Ouen Bukapi! and the TBS/MBS network show Prebat!!.

It’s recommended for those struggling to choose music for graduation ceremonies or farewell gatherings, and for anyone seeking the perfect song to send off someone embarking on a new chapter.