[Song of Gratitude] Timeless classics and the latest tracks that convey heartfelt “thank you” to your seniors
I want to give a heartfelt gift to the senior who supported me! You were scolded many times, taught important things, and worked together toward your goals… Surely you, too, have someone like that in your life, don’t you? When a senior graduates or retires, many of us want to express our gratitude to the fullest, yet still feel embarrassed to say it directly.
So in this article, we’ll share plenty of songs that express gratitude to seniors.
Find the song that perfectly matches your feelings, and try conveying your thanks to your senior along with the music.
- [For Graduates] Graduation Songs and Cheer Anthems to Convey Gratitude and Support
- A collection of songs you’ll want to listen to when retiring from your school club [Youth]
- [Thank-You Song] A song to convey your feelings of “thank you” to someone special
- Songs That Touch the Heart! Tearjerkers to Sing at Farewell Parties & A Collection of Song Ideas to Send Off
- Thank you, Teacher: A Song of Gratitude for Teachers and Mentors — An Emotional Farewell Song for the Journey Ahead
- Gratitude Song Rankings [2026]
- A Song to Say Thank You: A Moving Tune Perfect for a Farewell Ceremony
- [Farewell] A selection of moving, tear-jerking Japanese songs recommended for graduation ceremonies
- [Gratitude, Encouragement, Memories] Tear-Jerking Graduation Songs You Can’t Listen to Without Crying [2026]
- [Farewell Party Songs] From hidden gems to the latest hits: a collection of classics to color the moment of parting
- [Songs I Want to Dedicate to My Juniors] Heartfelt Thank-You Songs and Cheer-Up Anthems
- [Grateful for Encounters] A Collection of Classic Songs Celebrating Cherished Meetings [Love & Friendship]
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
[Songs of Gratitude] Timeless and New Gems That Convey “Thank You” to Your Seniors (11–20)
Song of BeginningsGReeeeN
GReeeeN’s “Hajimari no Uta” gently embraces the moment when students take their first steps into a new chapter.
It’s a perfect graduation song for expressing gratitude to teachers, but if you, as underclassmen sending off your seniors, sing it, it will become a “song of thanks” that conveys all the appreciation you’ve felt and will beautifully color a moving scene.
Released in 2016, the song’s promotional video—depicting the final days of a school closing down—touched hearts and moved many people.
By listening to or singing it together with your seniors, you’ll gain the courage to embark on new beginnings side by side.
budKobukuro
This heartwarming ballad by Kobukuro delicately expresses deep love and gratitude for a mother—a true gem of a song.
Written as the theme for the drama “Tokyo Tower,” it was released in March 2007.
The lyrics, woven from Kentaro Kobuchi’s experiences at age 18, resonated with many, reaching No.
1 on the Oricon charts and winning the 49th Japan Record Award.
It’s a moving track you’ll want to hear when expressing thanks to someone special, or during seasons of graduation and farewells.
HarukaYOASOBI
For people who have a hard time expressing their feelings, I recommend YOASOBI’s “Haruka.” It’s a medium-tempo number that accompanies spring departures, a song of gratitude that vividly brings back memories from the day you met to the moment you part.
Ikura’s gentle vocals sink into your heart, and because our days together are not to be taken for granted, you can’t help but feel thankful for the time you shared.
Parting with a beloved senior is lonely, but try expressing your gratitude with a smile—by singing “Haruka” or putting it into a letter.
I’m sure even clumsy feelings can lead to the future.
Don’t bloom.WHITE JAM
With its gentle, piano-centered accompaniment and beautifully sweet vocals, WHITE JAM’s “Sakanaide” leaves a striking impression.
At first glance, you might wonder what the title means, but it’s a wish for the cherry blossoms not to bloom—because when they bloom, it signals graduation season, a time of farewells to people we love.
Along with the feeling of not wanting to say goodbye just yet, let’s also express our gratitude for everything up to now.
To the futureKiroro
Kiroro’s “To the Future,” which has become a classic graduation song and is also one of their signature hits, is an overwhelmingly well-known track.
In the lyrics, the word “mother” appears, but if you replace it with “senpai,” the content fits perfectly.
It’s a masterpiece among masterpieces that conveys both encouragement and gratitude to seniors setting off on a new path.
Gray and BlueYonezu Kenshi + Suda Masaki
Gray and Blue, a collaboration between super-popular artists Kenshi Yonezu and Masaki Suda, became popular for its lyrics about friendship.
The song is a duet in which two childhood best friends talk about their memories and their bond, making it a favorite at karaoke as well.
While it’s a friendship song, the content can also be interpreted as expressing feelings toward a senior, so I recommend it.
[Song of Gratitude] Exquisite classics and the latest tracks (21–30) that convey a heartfelt “thank you” to your seniors
Thank you, you idiot.Kishidan
One of the tracks included on Kishidan’s April 2012 album “Nihonjin” is memorable for its lyrics that candidly express gratitude.
Feelings of thanks that are usually hard to put into words are conveyed through a powerful, rock-infused sound.
The word “bakayarou” (“you idiot”) carries a sense of familiarity and affection that actually amplifies the sentiment of gratitude.
This piece is recommended for those who want to express thanks to someone important but feel too shy to say it outright.
How about listening to this song while picturing the face of the person you want to thank?