[Instagram Reels] Moving J-POP and Heart-Touching Classics Perfect for Graduation Season [2026]

Until graduationBoku ga mitakatta aozora

The Blue Sky I Wanted to See / “Until Graduation” Music Video

This song, packed with the bittersweetness of first love that everyone experiences and the heartbreak of parting, is the perfect number to use when making videos for graduation season.

Performed by the idol group Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora, who have drawn attention as Nogizaka46’s official rivals, the track is included on their second single released in January 2024 and was also loved as the ending theme for the Nippon TV show “Sorette!? Jissai Dounanoka.” This medium-tempo ballad, which depicts the inner conflict of facing graduation while carrying unspoken feelings, is sure to evoke the kind of emotion that feels like a snapshot of youth.

If you pair it with a memory movie with friends or a short reel expressing gratitude to someone special, even the most ordinary everyday scenes will be etched in your heart as dramatic memories.

CorrectRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – The Answer [Official Music Video]

This work, which portrays the courage to face questions without definitive answers, is an anthem of encouragement dedicated to everyone standing at a crossroads in life.

It is included on RADWIMPS’ 2018 album “ANTI ANTI GENERATION” and was written specifically for NHK’s “RADWIMPS 18 Festival.” Unlike the solvable problems we learn at school, the song emphasizes the importance of discovering your own answers on the path ahead.

A beautiful piano-centered arrangement intertwines with vocalist Yojiro Noda’s gentle voice, quietly supporting those attending graduation ceremonies or embarking on new beginnings.

It is a song we especially hope will be heard by those parting from friends or feeling anxious about the future.

We againSG

Us, Again – SG (Official Lyric Video)

A gem of a number that gently sings of the sadness of parting and the hope of meeting again at the milestone of graduation.

Released in April 2021 and hailed as a “Reiwa-era graduation song,” this track has surpassed 150 million total streams and continues to be loved by listeners of all ages.

Warm depictions of past memories and days filled with carefree laughter resonate alongside a resolve to set out on our own paths and a hopeful message of talking through the night when we reunite someday.

Starting in November 2024, a brass band version was featured in Calorie Mate’s exam-season support commercial, adding a fresh appeal.

It’s a song that tenderly envelops farewells with cherished friends, perfect for processions at graduation ceremonies or as background music for memory videos.

Sakura Clear SkiesYuuri

Sakura Clear Skies

Sparked by an email from a fan, Yuuri’s “Sakurabare” is a graduation ballad that truly touches the heart.

Released digitally in February 2021, it was later included on the 2022 album “Ichi.” Carried by a beautiful melody woven from piano and strings, the song delicately expresses gratitude to parents and friends, as well as the complex emotions of leaving the nest.

Its imagery—even the everyday scenes and familiar scents—deeply resonates with listeners’ memories and is sure to bring tears to their eyes.

It’s a perfect choice for creating a slideshow or video to say “thank you” to someone special during graduation season.

The song will gently nudge you forward as you take your next step.

I heard the sound of cherry blossoms blooming.＝LOVE

=LOVE (Equal Love) / 1st ALBUM track 'I Heard the Sound of Cherry Blossoms Blooming' MV [YouTube ver.]

When you sense the arrival of spring, doesn’t the everyday suddenly start to sparkle? This work vividly portrays the beginning of love that visits at such seasonal turning points.

It’s a refreshing number sung by =LOVE, the idol group produced by Rino Sashihara.

Included as the lead track on the May 2021 album “Zenbu, Naisho.” it topped the Oricon weekly chart.

The expression of “the sound of cherry blossoms blooming”—a sound we shouldn’t be able to hear—brilliantly overlaps with the shock of falling in love.

In the music video, the rapid costume changes that transform the members’ outfits in an instant became a hot topic, visually conveying a sense of “blooming.” As you dive into a new environment this season, adding it to a video compiling precious memories will surely give your footage an even more dramatic flair.

far; distant; by farGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Haruka

Let us introduce a masterpiece ballad by GReeeeN that resonates deeply during graduation season.

Chosen as the theme song for the film “ROOKIES -Graduation-,” this track was released in 2009 as their 11th single.

Its lyrics carefully depict the resolve of a young person leaving home to pursue their dreams, along with the heartfelt words of love from their father and mother.

Beginning with piano and building gradually, it’s sure to move anyone who listens.

Use it as background music for a graduation slideshow or a video of memories, and the tears will surely start to flow.

Song SevenRADWIMPS

Nanoka

This classic RADWIMPS song opens with a warm, gospel-like chorus and flows into a gentle rap part—an impressive progression.

Included on the March 2009 album “Altcolony no Teiri,” it wasn’t released as a single, yet it has remained beloved by fans for years.

Its message—about a protagonist who lacks self-confidence but finds the world shining through the presence of someone precious—resonates deeply during graduation season, when we reaffirm our bonds with friends and lovers.

In recent years it has also enjoyed a resurgence on social media and is popular as background music for videos.

When you’re making a montage-style memory movie from photos and clips, its dramatic structure will only heighten the emotional impact.