[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 the charm of piano tones! Introducing recommended Japanese tracks perfect for singing with piano (31–40)
Friend ~Time of Departure~yuzu
Yuzu’s song “Tomo ~Tabidachi no Toki~” was featured on NHK’s Minna no Uta and selected as the required piece for the 80th NHK National School Music Competition.
The lyrics, which sing about friends who become separated at graduation, are heartrending.
It reached No.
5 on the Oricon singles chart.
It was originally written for the staff involved in their tour after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The powerful piano accompaniment, which seems to support one’s resolve for the future, also really hits home.
cherry blossomKobukuro
Created by Kentaro Kobuchi and Shunsuke Kuroda of Kobukuro, this work is a gem whose exquisite two-part harmonies resonate deep in the heart.
Through the motif of cherry blossoms, it portrays changes and growth in life and emotion, with blossoms that bloom and fall in spring symbolizing lost love and unfulfilled feelings.
The piano intro, reminiscent of petals scattering, is especially striking.
Released as a single in November 2005, it was later chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Ns’ Aoi” in February of the following year.
It’s recommended not only for those who have experienced heartbreak or farewell, but also for anyone standing at a turning point in life.
Lend an ear to the piano’s timbre and give it a listen.
Farewell, YouthChatto Monchī
The song chosen for Recruit Holdings’ “Sotsu-ome Project 2007” commercial was Chatmonchy’s “Saraba Seishun.” It’s included on their major-label debut mini-album, “chatmonchy has come,” and it’s a graduation song that reminds us the days we spent without much thought were actually irreplaceable and special.
In live performances, Akiko Fukuoka on bass also plays the piano for an acoustic version.
It has a different kind of charm from the original, so be sure to give it a listen!
Sakura Clear SkiesYuuri
Sakura-bare is Yuuri’s first graduation song, following the fame he gained with the hit Dry Flower.
Released in 2021 as a digital-only single, it was created in response to emails from fans who were about to graduate.
The lyrics addressed to parents and friends are moving, and the simple yet gripping piano accompaniment supports Yuuri’s emotional vocals.
When the strings come in, the sound grows majestic, making it an unforgettable masterpiece that brings listeners to tears.
On the day of departure…Kawashima Ai
The original song for I WiSH’s debut single “Asu e no Tobira,” which was a big hit in 2003, is Ai Kawashima’s classic “Tabidachi no Hi ni…,” a song she had been performing since her street-live days.
Its lyrics, which look back on memories with friends at graduation time, make it a truly bittersweet graduation song.
The piano accompaniment gently supports Kawashima’s vocals, and the piano phrases that weave between the vocal lines are beautifully memorable.
Compare the piano approach—such as the intro and accompaniment—with that of “Asu e no Tobira” and hear how they differ!