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Nogizaka46 Graduation Songs, Entrance Songs, and Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
Nogizaka46’s songs combine a neat, refined elegance with stirring, passionate messages.
Many of you may have been saved by their poignant melodies that stay close to you in seasons of parting, or by the empowering words that give you a push to take a new step forward.
This time, from among their graduation and school-entrance songs, we’ll introduce in ranking format the masterpieces that deeply shake listeners’ hearts.
Let’s find together that one special track that vividly adorns meetings and farewells!
Nogizaka46 Graduation Songs, Entrance Songs, and Popular Songs Ranking [2026] (1–10)
The meaning of goodbyeNogizaka 461rank/position
This is the song you’ll want to listen to when you want to carry not only the sadness of parting but also gratitude for having met.
Released in November 2016 as Nogizaka46’s 16th single, it is also known as Nanami Hashimoto’s final single as center.
It became the group’s first million-certified release and was performed at the 67th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen that year.
It’s a track especially suited for those facing graduation and feeling anxious about being separated from dear friends.
Its warm message sinks in, teaching us that “goodbye” isn’t merely an ending but a stepping stone to becoming stronger.
As a cherished anthem that gives you the courage to take a new step, why not send it to a friend who’s setting out on a new journey?
I feel like taking the long way home.Nogizaka 462rank/position
I want to take the long way on purpose and savor this moment.
This piece, which portrays a bittersweet yet forward-looking state of mind, carries the message that taking the shortest route isn’t the only right answer.
It’s a song released by Nogizaka46 in November 2018 as their 22nd single, and it was the last track with Nanase Nishino at center before her graduation, a member who led the group.
Chosen as the commercial song for Haruyama Trading, it was beloved by many, with first-week sales of about 1.063 million copies.
Its charm, after all, lies in the lyrics that give you the courage to step into the future while affirming your past.
Leaving a familiar place is lonely, but this song makes you realize that one step can be the chance to meet a new you.
It’s a track I want women standing at a crossroads in life to hear.
pedestrian overpassNogizaka 463rank/position
Haven’t we all experienced those moments when we find ourselves stopping at a crossroads in life? This song, released by Nogizaka46 in December 2024 as their 37th single, delicately portrays that very hesitation of the heart.
Should we take a step toward our dreams, or stay where we are? The protagonist’s inner conflict is expressed through gentle piano and dramatic strings.
The lyrics are by Yasushi Akimoto, and the music is composed by Katsuhiko Sugiyama, known for Kimi no Na wa Kibou and Kikkake.
In its first week, it sold 484,000 copies on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, achieving the group’s 36th consecutive No.
1.
It’s a track we especially recommend to those who are about to graduate and can’t find the courage to leap into a new world, or to anyone standing at a turning point in life.
Time-Limited Unrequited LoveNogizaka 464rank/position
The first original song for Nogizaka46’s 6th generation, included on Type-B of the 38th single “Navel Orange.” The music video, released in March 2025, leaves a striking impression with dance scenes set against Hokkaido’s snowy landscapes and atop a frozen lake.
Set in a school classroom, the song portrays the anxious feelings of unspoken emotions as deadlines like graduation and class changes approach.
Many will relate to the usually reserved protagonist who realizes time is running out and tries to take a step forward.
The fresh vocals and driving melody give a powerful push to anyone hesitating.
It’s recommended not only for women experiencing unrequited love, but also for those who need courage to dive into a new environment.
When the fleabanes bloomNogizaka 465rank/position
When the season is filled with the scent of spring, a complex mix of the sadness of parting and the resolve to set out begins to grow, doesn’t it? This number by Nogizaka46 is a masterpiece that gently embraces those emotions we feel during graduation season.
Released in March 2016 as their 14th single, it features Mai Fukagawa as the center, serving as a grand send-off toward her graduation.
It was also used in a commercial for “sizebook,” so many of you have likely heard it.
The video, with its hakama outfits that evoke the Taisho era’s romantic aesthetic, is striking—just watching it may bring a lump to your throat.
When you’re anxious yet determined to step into a new world, this song will quietly give you courage and become something truly precious.
Beyond nostalgiaNogizaka 466rank/position
Memories of youth and the ache of unrequited love tighten the heart.
Created in February 2025 to mark Nogizaka46 member Yūki Yoda’s graduation, this piece is an emotional work built on a beautiful soundscape of piano and strings.
It’s filled with the regret of not confessing your feelings to the one you love, and simply reading the lyrics makes you empathize with that emotion.
It’s a song I recommend to anyone who has experienced parting with someone precious, or to everyone standing at a crossroads in life.
Not hereNogizaka 467rank/position
Nogizaka46 is an idol group that debuted with the sensational catchphrase “the official rivals of AKB48 at the height of their popularity.” Their 31st single, “Koko ni wa Nai Mono,” also drew attention for having Asuka Saito—who graduated from the group at the end of 2022—serve as center.
Its lyrics, which evoke a departure toward a new future, stir the heart alongside a translucent arrangement of piano and strings.
It’s a pop tune perfectly suited to graduation season, carrying a powerful message about moving forward on your own feet even amid loneliness.
