[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!
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[Graduation Songs] Graduation songs featuring captivating piano tones! Introducing recommended Japanese tracks perfect for piano-and-vocal performances (1–10)
bouquetmilet
Released digitally ahead of schedule in April 2024 as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “Antihero.” It opens with a striking piano intro, and her delicate vocals—so intimate you can hear her breath—soak into the heart.
The lyrics, which portray someone moving forward while embracing their wavering emotions as they are, may resonate with graduates carrying conflicting feelings.
A mid-tempo ballad, it forgoes flashy ornamentation, relying instead on the strength of melody and words, making it perfect for those who want to deliver a thoughtful, stripped-down solo performance.
I want to become a cherry blossom tree.AKB48
To those whose hearts are full as graduation season arrives and farewells with friends and teachers draw near: this single, released by AKB48 in February 2011, was used as the theme song for the drama “A Letter from Sakura: AKB48’s Individual Graduation Stories,” and it resonated with many people.
Its warm sound, woven from piano and strings, gently embraces both the sadness of parting and the hope of a new beginning.
The lyrics, themed around cherry blossoms, carry a universal message—that even when we’re apart, memories return with the same season—so each listen is sure to bring the faces of loved ones to mind.
With its simple, beautiful melody, it’s easy to perform as a solo with voice and instrument, making it a great choice for graduations and farewell gatherings.
MiracleGReeeeN
A classic hit that became hugely popular as the theme song for the TV drama ROOKIES.
Released in 2008, it topped the Oricon charts for two consecutive weeks.
The introduction, which begins with a delicate piano melody, is memorable and makes it easy to perform as a solo vocal-and-piano piece.
The lyrics feature beautiful wordplay, describing the journey the two have taken day by day as “kiseki” (trajectory) and the chance encounter that brought them together as “kiseki” (miracle).
Despite its upbeat tempo, the song’s emotionally rich melody grips listeners’ hearts and won’t let go.
Beloved across many settings—including being chosen as the entrance march for the 2009 National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament—this piece is perfect for anyone who wants to reaffirm a special bond or who’s seeking a heartwarming song for the milestone of graduation.
[Graduation Songs] Graduation songs with captivating piano tones! Introducing Japanese tracks perfect for piano-and-vocal performances (11–20)
Cherry Blossom BookmarkAKB48
AKB48’s 15th single, released in February 2010, was produced as a full-fledged choral piece—something rare for the group.
It was also used as the theme song for the TV drama “Majisuka Gakuen” and debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.
Portraying the sadness of parting and the hope for the future through the image of cherry blossom petals scattering, the song has a warmth that engraves the precious moments of youth in the heart.
Its gentle, piano-centered sound and the harmonies sung by all the members resonate deeply.
It’s a perfect track for those who want to sing at graduation or farewell ceremonies, or for anyone facing a goodbye with someone important.
If there’s a “see you”Sori Sawada
A breakup song that refuses to romanticize parting—the clarity of that stance is deeply moving.
The ache of that moment when you can’t even manage a casual “see you” presses on your chest alongside the piano’s delicate resonance.
Without relying on flashy arrangements, the melody gently soaks in the wavering of emotions, making it a piece you could perform as a solo with respect for the original’s world.
It carries a universality that fits not only the end of a romance but also farewells with friends and changes in life circumstances.
It’s a song I’d like to send to anyone carrying unspoken words at the milestone of graduation.
Sakura, You, and Ituki.
Released in January 2024, tuki.’s song is a springtime farewell number chosen as an insert track for ABEMA’s romance reality show “Kyou, Suki ni Narimashita.
Graduation Edition 2024.” As the cherry blossoms symbolize, it delicately portrays the bittersweet moment when a brief yet beautiful youthful romance comes to an end.
Scenes like looking back on a well-worn path and resolving to let go of memories with someone precious paint a picture that anyone facing graduation can relate to.
On YouTube, it surpassed 10 million views in about 11 months after release, showing how beloved it is by many listeners.
It’s a perfect song for those searching for BGM to play at a graduation ceremony or wanting to convey their feelings through a solo acoustic performance.
my graduationSPEED
This is the sixth single by SPEED, a four-member female dance and vocal group that drew attention at their debut because all the members were still in their early teens.
Released in February 1998, the song was also used in a commercial for Nissin Foods’ Nissin Yakisoba U.F.O.
and topped the Oricon Weekly Chart for three consecutive weeks.
It opens with delicate piano lines, then swells emotionally in the chorus—an arrangement that leaves a strong impression.
Although the word “graduation ceremony” never appears in the lyrics, the song portrays the resolve to take a step into adulthood through the end of a romance, gently encouraging those who are setting out on a new path.