Japanese Graduation Song Rankings [2026]

KanadeSukima Suichi85rank/position

Sukima Switch – “Kanade” Music Video : SUKIMASWITCH / KANADE Music Video

This is one of Sukima Switch’s signature ballads, the kind you want to listen to when the season of farewells arrives.

Released as a single in March 2004, it’s also well known as an insert song for the film “Rough” and as the ending theme on the final day of the 2006 “Nettō Kōshien.” The lyrics, set to a wistful melody, portray parting with someone important while holding on to hope for the future.

Many listeners are surely moved by its message of a strong bond that keeps people connected through song even when they’re apart.

Featured on the album “Natsugumo Noise,” it has remained beloved and has been covered by many artists.

It’s a song perfect for spring, when life changes—whether you’re taking a new step forward or looking back nostalgically on your youth.

THANXWANIMA86rank/position

WANIMA- THANX(OFFICIAL VIDEO)

A gem of a message song that powerfully sings of gratitude and farewell.

The members of WANIMA convey their straightforward thanks, gently supporting warm feelings toward loved ones and the courage to take a new step forward.

Featured on the album “Are You Coming?” released in November 2015, this track captures many listeners’ hearts with its exhilarating sound and resonant lyrics.

It’s also a perfect choice to enhance a speech expressing thanks to friends and hope for the future.

GraduationOzaki Yutaka87rank/position

Yutaka Ozaki – Graduation (Official Music Video)

Yutaka Ozaki delivers a work that captures the clumsy emotions of youth in their entirety with his powerful voice.

Frankly portraying the feelings of young people—such as the sense of confinement in school life and distrust of adults—this piece carries a universal message about the yearning for freedom that everyone experiences during their school years.

Released in January 1985 and peaking at No.

20 on the Oricon chart, it debuted as the lead single from the album “Kaikisen” (Tropic of Cancer).

Later, in 2016, it was featured as the commercial song for a web-exclusive short movie by a casual apparel chain, continuing to resonate across generations.

It’s a song to listen to when you find yourself wavering between ideals and reality or questioning the norms of society.

Endless JourneyMr.Children88rank/position

Mr.Children “Endless Journey” MUSIC VIDEO

This is the 15th single by Mr.Children, released in October 1998 after the band fully resumed activities following a hiatus.

Chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Naguru Onna,” it topped the Oricon charts despite its length of nearly seven minutes.

Beginning with a quiet, introspective question and gradually opening up like a widening vista, the song is notable for its structure and a dynamic arrangement where band sounds interweave with strings to moving effect.

The lyrics, imbued with a will to break free from stagnation, open a new door, and move forward, are perfectly suited to the milestone of graduation.

Selected as Song of the Year at the 13th Japan Gold Disc Awards, this masterpiece is one we especially recommend to those taking a new step or facing a turning point in life.

A graduation song, a song of friends.1989rank/position

A graduation song, a song of friends.

We’d like to introduce a graduation song that gives you the courage to step into the future while looking back on your memories.

It’s a track by 19, originally included as the B-side to the 1999 single “Ano Kami Hikōki Kumorizora Watte,” and there’s even an anecdote that this song was initially a candidate for the A-side.

Centered on acoustic guitar, its simple accompaniment and the alternating vocals of Keigo Iwase and Kenji Okahira create a pleasantly resonant interplay.

The lyrics capture the feeling that time begins to flow differently the moment you become aware of an ending, and convey the message that parting is not a final stop but a new beginning—something that truly touches the heart.

Even at a graduation ceremony, where it’s easy to become sentimental, listening to this song will naturally bring a smile after the tears.

It’s a highly recommended track for anyone who wants to cherish memories with friends while taking a bright step forward.

I’m glad I met you.Inoue Sonoko90rank/position

Sonoko Inoue – “I’m Glad I Met You” (short ver.)

A refreshing band sound that evokes the coming of spring makes this track especially memorable.

Singer-songwriter Sonoko Inoue created it as she was approaching her own high school graduation, and it was included on her album “Hello,” released in March 2016.

It was also used as the theme song for the NOTTV drama “Sakura Saku.” The lyrics depict everyday scenes shared with friends and the bonds that continue even when you’re apart.

It’s perfect for those moments when you want to say “thank you” to your cherished friends—words that can feel a bit embarrassing to express in everyday life.

Graduation PhotoArai Yumi91rank/position

Graduation Photograph / Sotsugyou Shashin (2022 Ｍix)

A classic graduation song that has been sung across generations, this number by Yumi Arai was originally released in February 1975 as a song provided to Hi-Fi Set, and then self-covered on her third album, COBALT HOUR, released in June of the same year.

Rather than capturing the moving moments of a graduation ceremony, the lyrics portray the stirring of the heart when, after time has passed, you find yourself opening an old photo.

The contrast between the changing self and the unchanging gaze within the photograph evokes personal memories for each listener.

It was featured in a Kirin Lager Beer commercial in 2007 and in the Fuji TV drama “Sotsu Uta” in 2010, among other appearances, and it continues to be loved over the years.

It’s a song that stands by not only those approaching graduation, but also anyone who wants to quietly look back on days gone by.