Popular Graduation Song Rankings [2026]

bondYamazaki Tomoko71rank/position

"Kizuna" Chorus Song / Mixed Choir in Three Parts / Full Ensemble (All) - With Full Lyrics - For Part Practice - Covered by Singer micah

Beloved as a staple song for graduation ceremonies, this choral piece by Tomoko Yamazaki features lyrics that evoke everyday moments with friends—like cherry blossom season or the walk home at dusk.

It reminds us that the times we spent laughing together and sometimes struggling are irreplaceable treasures.

Its warm message—that even when we part, our hearts remain deeply connected—helps turn the sadness of farewell into hope.

Included in a song collection published in July 2010, the work was originally composed as a commemorative piece for a choral seminar.

Characterized by simple yet beautiful harmonies, it continues to be sung in various arrangements, such as three-part mixed chorus and two-part equal voices.

It’s a perfect song for graduation ceremonies and send-off gatherings, where an entire class can unite their hearts and sing as one.

Song of BeginningsGReeeeN72rank/position

Hajimarino Uta

If you want to send gratitude and encouragement to a teacher embarking on a new path, GReeeeN’s “Hajimari no Uta” is a great choice.

Its lyrics gently embrace the moment when students take their first steps into a new chapter, and will surely convey your appreciation to the teacher.

Released in 2016, the song’s promotional video—depicting the final days of a school that is closing—deeply moved many viewers.

Played at a farewell ceremony, it can give both teachers and students the courage to make a fresh start together.

Maximum reachSEKAI NO OWARI73rank/position

SEKAI NO OWARI “Highest Altitude” ONE PIECE Lyric MV

A song by SEKAI NO OWARI that powerfully pushes the backs of those about to dive into an unknown world.

Its message—that by not looking away from your own weaknesses but accepting them and even turning them into allies, you can soar higher than anyone—turns the anxieties of a new beginning into solid hope.

Released as a digital single in September 2023, the track was written as the theme song for the beloved anime One Piece.

It was later included on the album Nautilus, released in March 2024.

It’s the perfect number for a farewell party when you want to passionately cheer on someone single-mindedly charging toward lofty goals—like a colleague leaving to chase a dream or a student retiring from a club to step onto the next stage.

CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi74rank/position

Cheers

A classic song that comes to mind when you want to send heartfelt cheers to a friend standing at a major crossroads in life.

Written by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi to celebrate a friend’s wedding, it was included on his album “Kanpai,” released in September 1980, and later re-recorded and released as a single in February 1988.

Its melody, resonating with a powerful vocal, fits not only weddings but also moments of new beginnings like graduations and retirements.

In 2010, it was featured in a Kirin Lager Beer commercial, and it has continued to be loved across generations.

Emphasizing hope for the future more than the sadness of parting, this piece is perfect for linking arms and singing together with friends.

Play it at a meaningful farewell where you want to hold back tears while giving someone a gentle push, and the entire venue will be wrapped in warm emotion.

Goodbyekariyushi 5875rank/position

Kariyushi58 “Sayonara”

A bittersweet yet powerful rock ballad that sings of the warmth of moving forward while carrying the love and memories of time gone by.

It’s a song by Kariyushi58, a band from Okinawa, released as a single in February 2009.

Chosen as the theme song for the NTV drama “Zeni Geba,” it garnered a huge response, reaching as high as No.

10 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

It was later included on their second album, “Deeji, Kariyushi.” Vocalist Shingo Maekawa’s straight, earnest voice grips the heart.

An inspiring number that gently gives a push to someone dear who is setting off for a new place.

Song of a FriendBUMP OF CHICKEN76rank/position

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.

Gazing up, the sky is blueHata Motohiro77rank/position

Motohiro Hata / Aogeba Aozora Music Video

This heartwarming medium-tempo ballad sung by Motohiro Hata reminds us that parting isn’t an end, but the beginning of new days.

The gentle tones of the acoustic guitar and his clear, “voice of steel and glass” tenderly soothe hearts weighed down by anxiety or loneliness.

One of the song’s greatest charms is how it portrays a strong bond that remains even when people are apart—without ever using the word “goodbye.” It drew attention when it aired from March 2019 as the theme song for SoftBank’s “Graduation” TV commercial, and it was later included on the album Copernicus.

It’s the perfect song to give to a dear friend you’ve spent so much time with, conveying gratitude for the past and a heartfelt “let’s keep walking together” for the future.