![[Graduation Songs] Graduation songs featuring captivating piano tones! Introducing Japanese songs perfect for piano-and-vocal performances](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/1eSxTnMcTMs/maxresdefault.webp)
[Graduation Songs] Graduation songs featuring captivating piano tones! Introducing Japanese songs perfect for piano-and-vocal performances
With graduation ceremonies approaching, many of you might be looking for music that leaves a lasting impression.
The delicate tones of the piano gently embrace both the sadness of parting and the excitement for a new beginning.
Among graduation songs, there are countless masterpieces where the piano takes center stage and amplifies the emotion many times over.
Whether you’re choosing BGM for a ceremony or want to perform something yourself to create lasting memories, piano pieces are a special option.
In this article, we’ll introduce Japanese songs brimming with the charm of the piano—perfect for this milestone called graduation.
We’ve gathered pieces that are approachable even for those who want to try singing and playing the piano, so be sure to find your favorite one!
[Graduation Songs] Graduation songs featuring captivating piano tones! Introducing recommended Japanese tracks perfect for piano-and-vocal performances (1–10)
BelieveSugimoto Ryuichi
A classic choral piece for graduation ceremonies that has been sung across generations.
Released in 1998 as the ending theme for NHK’s nature travel program “Ikimono Chikyū Kikō” (The Earth’s Biodiversity Journey), it later became so widespread that it was even included in music textbooks.
The lyrics, which speak in straightforward words about trusting one another and having hope for the future, are perfect for the season of new beginnings.
The charm of this piece lies in its gently resonant piano and singable melody line.
It’s also recommended for those who want to try singing with piano accompaniment; even a simple arrangement can convey deep emotion.
Eyes of the heartSakamoto Kyu
The ballad by Kyu Sakamoto, released in May 1985 as a B-side, is known as one of the last recordings he completed during his lifetime.
The song centers on themes of gratitude toward someone with whom one has shared many years and a deep love that seeks to perceive what cannot be seen.
Its structure is striking, with a calm tempo that allows the melody to rise and expand broadly.
After its release, a middle school music teacher who heard it on the radio arranged it as a choral piece, and it eventually grew into a standard song sung at graduation ceremonies across the country.
It’s a perfect choice for those who wish to deliver a gentle, piano-accompanied rendition or to express thanks to those who have supported them.
KanadeSukima Suichi
Released in March 2004, Sukima Switch’s second single is a timeless piano-centered ballad that continues to be loved by listeners of all ages.
Although it peaked at No.
22 on the weekly charts, it became a long-running hit, spending 38 weeks on the Oricon rankings.
Featured in various contexts—such as an insert song for the film “Rough” and the ending theme for “Netto Koshien”—the piece builds its scenery carefully from an extended intro, carrying a heart-wrenching emotion even before the vocals begin.
The lyrics, which portray a woman as the one setting off on a journey, offer warmth that comforts both those who leave and those who see them off, making it perfect for graduation season.
With a structure that lets the piano part shine beautifully, it’s also highly recommended for anyone who wants to create a lasting memory with a solo piano-vocal performance.
Thank youikimonogakari
This is Ikimono-gakari’s 18th single, written as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series Gegege no Nyobo.
Released in May 2010, it won the Excellent Work Award at the 52nd Japan Record Awards.
Set to a warm sound woven by piano and strings, the lyrics carefully express gratitude to a beloved person.
The words depict conveying inexpressible feelings through the warmth of a hand and hold hope for a future walked together—making it perfect for graduation season.
It’s also a great choice for those who want to convey thanks to teachers and friends who supported them, or for anyone looking to try a solo vocal-and-piano performance.
footprint(s)Little Glee Monster
This is Little Glee Monster’s 16th single, popular for its powerful vocals and beautiful harmonies.
Released in September 2020, it was written as the set piece for the junior high school division of the NHK National School Music Competition.
Built around piano and strings, the grand sound is layered with the members’ rich choral work, creating a structure that swells emotionally toward the chorus and truly moves the listener.
The lyrics, penned by the members themselves, affirm the path one has taken and express the resolve to keep moving forward despite uncertainty.
It’s a perfect song for those standing at the milestone of graduation, looking back on their days so far while taking a new step forward.
A choral arrangement has also been published, so in addition to solo performance, it’s highly recommended to try singing it together with friends.
A Day Called Tomorrow (Mixed Chorus in Three Parts)Yagisawa Kyoji
This piece, sung with mixed three-part chorus and piano accompaniment, is a work in which composer Satoshi Yagisawa set music to a poem by poet Yoko Yamamoto.
After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, it drew significant attention when students from Hachiken Junior High School in Sendai performed it at an evacuation center, as reported in the news.
It was also performed at the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen at the end of the same year, and has since become widely known as a song that brings hope in difficult times.
Its smooth melody and the piano’s warm sonority gently embrace the determination to face tomorrow and the spirit of supporting one another.
The lyrics carry a will to move forward, making it deeply resonant when sung at graduations or farewells.
Please give me wingsakai tori
A timeless classic passed down through graduation season.
This song, released by Akaitori in February 1971 as the B-side to the single “Takeda no Komoriuta,” is rooted in folk yet distinguished by its shimmering, translucent choral work.
Its lyrics, which symbolically portray a longing for freedom and hope for the future, strike a deep chord.
The melody, which straightforwardly voices the wish to soar into the open sky, is perfect for that moment of departure we call graduation.
Featured in music textbooks and selected in 2007 for the “100 Best Japanese Songs,” it pairs beautifully with piano accompaniment and is highly recommended for those who want to try singing and playing.