Memories come flooding back! Graduation songs recommended for the Yutori generation
Speaking of graduation, it’s a major event that could be called a turning point in life.
When the everyday you took for granted comes to an end and you stand at a crossroads to leap into a new world, a variety of emotions well up—joy and anticipation, as well as anxiety and bittersweet feelings.
This time, we’ve put together a list of classic J-pop songs to color your graduation, tailored for the yutori generation.
It’s a wide-ranging list from upbeat tracks to sentimental numbers, so be sure to check it out to the end!
Memories come flooding back! Graduation songs recommended for the Yutori generation (1–10)
About meMrs. GREEN APPLE
A grand, moving rock ballad that teaches us the wonder and preciousness of life.
It’s a song by the rock band Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, released in January 2019 as their eighth single.
Written as the support song for the 97th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament, it resonates not only with the victors but also with the stories of those who fall short, and its warmth is part of its appeal.
Vocalist Motoki Omori has said he was conscious of not saying “Just try your best” irresponsibly, and the song carries a profound message that affirms even days when things don’t go well and the feeling of loneliness.
Standing at the major milestone of graduation, you may feel not only excitement but also waves of anxiety and uncertainty.
In such moments, this masterpiece gives you the courage to walk your own path and makes you feel the miracle of being alive.
365 Days’ Paper AirplaneAKB48
Sung by AKB48, this piece is a warm song with a pleasantly soothing tone.
Its message—that you don’t need to compare yourself to others and can move forward at your own pace—gently encourages listeners.
Although it was a coupling track on the single “Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby,” released in December 2015, it became widely loved as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Asa ga Kita.” As it has also taken root as a choral piece, it’s recommended as a song to celebrate the start of a new chapter during graduation season, when anxiety and excitement are intertwined.
Friend ~Time to Depart~yuzu
Released in 2013 and also broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” this number was chosen as the set piece for the middle school division in the 80th NHK National School Music Competition, so many people may have sung it in chorus.
It was created out of feelings for the staff who supported the tour after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and its theme is the strong bond that connects us under the same sky even when we’re apart.
Its beautiful melody and Yuzu’s signature warm harmonies really resonate in the heart.
It’s a song of encouragement that you’ll especially want to hear during the season of farewells.
FriendKetsumeishi
It’s a classic song about friendship and parting that I can’t help but want to listen to when graduation season arrives.
Released as a single by Ketsumeishi in February 2002, it’s included on their signature album Ketsunopolis 2 and was used as the ending theme for TV Tokyo’s JAPAN COUNTDOWN.
The message—wishing happiness for friends who are setting off on different paths—hits even harder when you listen to it as an adult.
If you play it on a night when an old friend suddenly comes to mind, it’s sure to bring those memories vividly back and move you to tears.
proofflumpool
Let us introduce a classic essential for graduation season that fuses choral and band sound.
Released in September 2011, this single by flumpool was specially written as the set piece for the Junior High School Division of the 78th NHK All-Japan School Music Competition.
It was also broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta and included on the album “experience.” With lyrics that engrave the time you’ve lived into your heart and give you the courage to move toward the future, the song resonates deeply with many people.
Why not listen to it at a graduation ceremony as you bid farewell to friends and beloved teachers, or on a spring day as you take your first step forward?
Goodbye Memoriessupercell
A bittersweet yet refreshing rock number that captures a page of youth: a graduation ceremony faced while carrying feelings you’ve never managed to say out loud.
This is the second single released in February 2010 by the creator unit supercell.
Its exhilarating, string-laced sound and Nagi’s clear, transparent vocals paint a gripping portrait of unspoken love.
The climax—where those feelings finally become words through a burst of courage—is nothing short of breathtaking.
If you’re harboring feelings for someone important right now, this song will surely give you the push you need to take that first step.
The season of farewellSHISHAMO
This song vividly portrays the bittersweet feeling of a one-sided crush, where all you can do is follow the senior you admire with your eyes at the graduation ceremony.
Performed by SHISHAMO, it appears as the final track on their album “SHISHAMO 2,” released in March 2015.
It tells the story of a love where the person you like is in a different class, and all you can do is watch from afar.
After graduation, you won’t be able to see them anymore, but you still hope they won’t forget you—that wish is deeply moving.
It’s a recommended track for those who grew into adulthood carrying words they never managed to say, or for times when you want to bask in sweet, bittersweet memories.