Popular Graduation Song Rankings [2026]

Until we meet againyuzu50rank/position

Mataaeruhimade

Farewells are not an “ending,” but a “promise to meet again.” This is the uplifting message carried by Yuzu’s 14th single.

Released in October 2002, the song was used as the ending theme for the TV Asahi anime Doraemon and also featured in the film Doraemon: Nobita and the Windmasters.

The lyrics were created with contributions from children at an “Adventure Camp,” with Yujin Kitagawa carefully weaving their sincere words into lines that resonate deeply.

It peaked at No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and was performed as part of a medley at the 2003 NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

It’s a perfect choice for a class that wants to express gratitude to their teacher at a graduation ceremony.

Singing of bonds that don’t fade even when apart and the hope of meeting again, this song is ideal for showing appreciation to a beloved teacher while presenting how much you’ve grown.

horizonback number51rank/position

back number – Horizon

A gem of a track by back number that gently stays close to your heart whenever you hit a wall in life.

Even amid the despair that feels like your dreams and hopes are collapsing, the lyrics portray the journey of looking inward and eventually finding light—sure to move you deeply.

This song is also known for being created in August 2020 for high school students after the Inter-High Championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While affirming frustration and sorrow, it gives a sense of the view that awaits beyond overcoming them.

As you step into a new world at graduation, you may feel anxiety or loneliness.

In those moments, this song will wrap your pain in its embrace and give you the quiet courage to take that first step.

MiracleGReeeeN52rank/position

GReeeeN – Kiseki

This song, which expresses the days we walked together as “tracks” (kiseki) and the fact that we met as a “miracle” (kiseki), is filled with straightforward love and gratitude.

It’s GReeeeN’s smash-hit single released in May 2008.

Chosen as the theme song for the TBS drama ROOKIES, it added color to the show’s most moving scenes.

The astonishing fact that it was recognized by Guinness World Records for the number of full ringtone downloads is further proof of how deeply it has resonated with so many people.

It’s perfect for moments when you want to share hope for the future while bidding farewell to friends—like club retirements, graduations, or workplace send-off parties.

If everyone in the venue sings it together with gratitude for those you cherish, your bonds will grow even stronger.

Thank you · GoodbyeSakushi: Ide Takao / Sakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako53rank/position

Choral Piece 'Thank You, Goodbye'

This beloved classic has long been an essential song for graduation season.

It warmly expresses gratitude to friends, classrooms, and teachers, skillfully weaving together memories of student life with hopes for a new beginning.

First broadcast in February 1985 on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” it has continued to resonate with many hearts ever since.

The lyrics and melody crafted by Takao Ide and Wakako Fukuda beautifully capture the complex emotions of those facing graduation.

Recommended as a heartwarming anthem that supports everyone reaching the end of their student days.

Thank youSUPER BEAVER54rank/position

SUPER BEAVER “Arigatou” MV (Band ver.)

SUPER BEAVER is a rock band that keeps moving the hearts of many listeners with a straightforward rock sound that goes straight to the core of the words.

Featured on the album “361°,” this song is more than a simple message of gratitude—it’s a powerful rock number that affirms encounters, farewells, and the very feeling of being alive.

Released in February 2014, it isn’t tied to any TV show or film, yet it’s known as a classic that spread by word of mouth along with the heat of live house performances.

There’s hardly a more fitting song for expressing your feelings to friends at a farewell gathering.

If you let the band’s unvarnished intensity carry the words of thanks that are usually too embarrassing to say, the whole venue is sure to be wrapped in warm emotion.

Sakura Clear SkiesYuuri55rank/position

Sakura Clear Skies

It sings of someone who can’t forget the memories spent with a loved one.

Though the pain of parting is there, it becomes the spark for new beginnings—a masterpiece that conveys the bonds between people.

It’s a song by the singer-songwriter Yuuri, who drew attention during his street performances.

Released in February 2021, this track is included on the album “Ichi,” released in January 2022.

If you’re looking for a song that portrays a farewell in the season of cherry blossoms, give this one a listen.

It will surely give you the courage to accept and overcome the farewell you’re facing with someone precious now.

Listen closely to the phrases filled with messages that comfort the loneliness of parting.

JourneyFuji Kaze56rank/position

Fujii Kaze – Tabiji (Official Video)

Singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze, who draws attention for his genre-blending musicality.

Released digitally in March 2021, this piece was written as the theme song for the TV drama “Nijiiro Karte.” The story behind its creation—crafted to align with the drama’s worldview after interactions on set—is wonderful, too.

The nostalgic electric piano tones and his soulful vocals warmly embrace the listener.

Comparing life to a long journey, the lyrics affirm that even past mistakes and farewells have meaning, making it a perfect fit for occasions that mark new beginnings, such as farewell gatherings.