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

ROSEHANA

HANA / ROSE -Music Video-

This emotionally stirring song is infused with a strong will to bloom as your true self, even in the face of adversity.

Born from the audition show “No No Girls,” a collaboration between BMSG and Chanmina, it marks the major-label debut single of the girls group HANA, released in April 2025.

Even before their debut, they drew attention on social media and video platforms, sweeping many charts.

Like a rose with thorns, it brims with self-affirmation that transforms past wounds and hardships into one’s own beauty and moves forward.

The lyrics, which portray pressing on even when things get gritty, are sure to give a powerful push to anyone taking flight into a new world.

Why not use it as background music for videos filled with your resolve for the future or for cherished memory movies?

Bye-Good-ByeBE:FIRST

BE:FIRST / Bye-Good-Bye -Music Video-

Parting isn’t an end, but also a beginning toward the future, isn’t it? That’s the uplifting message you get from “Bye-Good-Bye.” It was pre-released in March 2022 by BE:FIRST, the boy group from BMSG led by SKY-HI.

Its polished sound and the members’ uniquely expressive vocals are captivating.

The lyrics, which see “goodbye” as a starting line, gently encourage listeners forward.

Beloved as the theme song for the morning drama “Before We Say Goodbye: Fantastic 31 Days,” it became a hit with over 200 million streams.

Also included on the album “BE:1,” this track is perfect for a video looking back on memories with friends who are setting off on a new journey.

It’s a highly recommended number for creating videos filled with hope for the future.

HarukaYOASOBI

YOASOBI 'Haruka' Official Music Video

This is a heartwarming song that accompanies the milestone of graduation.

Born from a collaboration with broadcast writer Osamu Suzuki, it was released as a digital-only single in December 2020 and is also included on the debut EP, THE BOOK.

Based on the original novel The Moon Prince, it tells a story from the perspective of a mug that watches over a girl’s growth, resonating more with the joy and gratitude of having met than with the loneliness of parting.

It’s recommended for those who want to celebrate a new chapter while reflecting on memories with friends they’ve shared time with.

The meaning of goodbyeNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 'The Meaning of Goodbye'

Let me introduce a song that reminds us that farewells are not just endings, but precious moments that teach us the miracle of having met.

Nogizaka46’s single “Sayonara no Imi,” released in November 2016, is known as the last single centered by Nanami Hashimoto and remains a deeply memorable masterpiece.

Carried by a beautiful melody woven by piano and strings, its message turns parting into strength, sure to move listeners to tears.

Their moving performance at the 2016 NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen also drew great acclaim, and the single became the group’s first million seller.

This song is perfect as background music for graduation memory videos or Instagram Reels, especially in the season of farewells and new beginnings.

Even if you carry anxieties, it will gently yet powerfully nudge you forward into the future.

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.

NonfictionsDa-iCE

Da-iCE / “Nonfictions” Music Video

Da-iCE is a five-member dance and vocal group known for their overwhelming vocal prowess, featuring twin vocals spanning four octaves.

Set to serve as the support song for the 107th National High School Baseball Championship in May 2025 and as the theme for “Netto Koshien,” this track was produced by members Taiki Kudo and Sota Hanamura.

Its exhilarating sound and lyrics peppered with baseball terminology mirror the image of players sprinting through a fleeting youth.

Sheet music for brass bands has also been released, likely to encourage everyone cheering from the sidelines.

Add it to a video as a shout-out to teammates retiring from club activities or friends embarking on new paths, and those fiery memories will spring vividly back to life.

It’s a moving anthem that stands beside anyone running toward their dreams.

exceed; surpass; go beyond; cross (over)[Alexandros]

[Alexandros] – Transcend (MV) (Anime “Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray” Season 1 Opening Theme)

“Koeru” by [Alexandros] is a fiery story about surpassing your limits and breaking through the wall of your former self.

Its rock sound, which expresses the determination to fight yourself and move forward, is sure to give a powerful push during graduation season as you dive into a new environment.

Released in April 2025 as an advance track from the album “PROVOKE,” it also drew attention for being chosen as the opening theme for the anime Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray.

With a structure that intertwines tension and release, this song goes beyond a simple pep anthem, transforming even inner turmoil into strength.

It’s a perfect fit for retirement-from-club activities videos or reels that look back on memories with friends.

If you want the courage to take a new step forward, give it a listen!