Popular Graduation Song Rankings [2026]

CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi71rank/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 5872rank/position

Kariyushi58 “Sayonara”

A bittersweet classic perfect for the season of farewells.

It stirs deep gratitude for days gone by and aching feelings for someone precious you’ll never meet again.

Released as a single by Kariyushi58 in February 2009, it was selected as the theme song for NTV’s Saturday drama “Zeni Geba,” earning the band their first Top 10 entry on the Oricon weekly chart.

Vocalist Shingo Maekawa’s warm voice and the distinctly Okinawan rhythm leave a strong impression.

This is a song that gently supports those who have experienced parting or lost someone dear.

Try listening while looking up at the sky—surely, your feelings will reach that special someone.

Song of BeginningsGReeeeN73rank/position

GReeeeN – Song of Beginnings

A song by GReeeeN characterized by warm, compassionate lyrics and a refreshing melody.

As an anthem cheering on those taking a new step, it has resonated with many.

While cherishing past memories, it carries a positive message about moving toward the future, gently giving listeners a supportive push.

It was also featured as Able’s 2016 spring commercial song, becoming a source of comfort for people starting new lives.

Recommended for those standing at a new stage in life—such as graduations, school entrance ceremonies, or starting a job.

Listening to this song may turn your anxieties into hope.

bondYamazaki Tomoko74rank/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.

Gazing up, the sky is blueHata Motohiro75rank/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.

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.

Maximum reachSEKAI NO OWARI77rank/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.