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[Showa-Era Graduation Songs] Nostalgic? Emotive? A curated selection of timeless classics loved across generations
Graduation songs are ones you start hearing everywhere from around February.
Every year, numerous tracks related to graduation are released.
And many people can vividly remember the songs that were hits when they graduated.
In this article, we’ve gathered graduation songs that were released during the Showa era and became hits.
Among these classics are songs that are still beloved decades after their release, as well as tracks experiencing revival hits on social media.
If you’re from the Showa generation, enjoy the nostalgia; if not, discover them with fresh ears and enjoy these Showa hit songs.
[Showa-Era Graduation Songs] Nostalgic? Emo? Timeless Classics Loved Across Generations (1–10)
Song of FledgingSakushi: Murano Shirō, Sakkyoku: Iwakawa Saburō
As a choral piece themed around graduation, this work has been sung in schools for many years.
The lyrics were written by Shiro Murano, a poet who represents early Showa-era modernist poetry.
The composer is Saburo Iwagawa, known for numerous school choir works, and the piece was created in 1965.
It begins with imagery that evokes the signs of spring, then reflects on days spent at school, culminating in a moving expression of gratitude and farewell to teachers and friends.
It has been loved across generations, having been included in the 2005 compilation “Tabidachi no Hi ni ~ Graduation Song Best ~,” and covered by Anemoneria in 2021 as the theme song for the TV anime “Wonder Egg Priority.” It’s a classic that gives courage to take a hopeful first step—not only for those who remember singing it at their graduation, but also for anyone about to embark on a new journey.
Ya Ya (I Won’t Forget That Era)Sazan Ōrusutāzu
A single released in 1982 by Southern All Stars, one of Japan’s iconic rock bands.
Though they’re often associated with summer and a lively image, this work is a ballad that tenderly reflects on days gone by, and it has left a deep impression on many fans.
The lyrics mention the name of the light music club that Keisuke Kuwata belonged to during his time at Aoyama Gakuin University, and it’s said that scenes from the campus are woven into the song.
These depictions, grounded in real experience, resonate with listeners’ own youthful memories and evoke empathy across generations.
In 1995, the song was included in high school music textbooks, a recognition of its excellence as a piece of pop music within educational settings.
It was also used in a commercial for Mazda’s MPV.
It’s a perfect song to listen to during graduation season for anyone wishing to look back on irreplaceable moments.
Youth—When the Sun Rises in the Sky AgainZa Burodosaito Fō
This song, which left its mark on many hearts as the theme for the 1966 Fuji TV drama series “Wakamonotachi” (The Young Ones), features lyrics by Toshio Fujita and music and arrangement by film-score master Masaru Sato, performed by The Broadside Four.
Eschewing flashy technique, its melody carefully shapes the contours of each word, giving it a singable strength that anyone can hum.
Rather than loudly proclaiming hope, the lyrics portray people gritting their teeth and continuing to walk on; the ethic of repetition—setting out again when dawn breaks—resonates deeply.
Selling around 300,000 copies at the time, it was later covered by many artists, including Kyu Sakamoto and Naotaro Moriyama, and has been adopted in school music curricula.
It’s a song I especially recommend to those stepping onto a new path at graduation or facing a turning point in life.
GraduationHikaru GENJI
Hikaru Genji, who became a social phenomenon in the late-1980s idol scene.
Released in November 1987 as the B-side to their second single “Glass no Jūdai,” this track is an unusually beloved graduation song despite being on the flip side.
With lyrics by Ryo Asuka and music by CHAGE, it was also included on the album “Hikaru Genji,” released in January 1988.
The lyrics, which resonate deeply, carefully depict the emotional sway of not ending a farewell in sorrow alone, but holding it as a memory while stepping forward.
It’s a song that showcases the group’s more emotional side, known otherwise for their dazzling performances.
In September 1995, during their pre-disbandment appearance on TV Asahi’s Music Station, a staging choice in which the members removed their roller skates near the end of the song became a hot topic.
Recommended for those who want to feel both poignancy and hope at the start of spring.
Adolescence (with an autumnal/reflective nuance)Iwasaki Hiromi
This was the 11th single, released in September 1977, with a well-known episode that 18-year-old Hiromi Iwasaki, fresh out of high school, was moved to tears by the lyrics during the recording.
Written by Yū Aku and composed by Takashi Miki, the song peaked at No.
6 on the Oricon chart and won the Vocal Performance Award at the 19th Japan Record Awards.
Its lyrics, which portray the loss of youth along with an autumnal atmosphere, are carried by a gently lyrical melody, with Iwasaki’s delicate, supple vocals delivering each word with care.
The fact that it has been continually covered by numerous artists—including Akina Nakamori and Hiroji Miyamoto—speaks to its timeless, universal appeal.
It’s a quintessential Showa-era ballad recommended for those who want to savor the bittersweet feelings of graduation and the nostalgia for time slipping away.
While shining…Tokunaga Hideaki
This ballad, which can be called Hideaki Tokunaga’s breakout work, delicately portrays the wavering emotions of youth.
It sings of opening the door to adulthood while staying true to oneself, and the anxieties and hopes of young people on the verge of graduation strike close to the heart.
Released in July 1987 as his fourth single, it became a major hit, peaking at No.
4 on the Oricon chart and selling approximately 280,000 copies.
Its use in a Fujifilm commercial rapidly boosted its recognition, and it continues to shine with an unfading charm.
The sound, a fusion of kayōkyoku and AOR, is nostalgic yet refreshing, gently enveloping the listener’s heart.
It’s a song I especially recommend to those about to take a new step forward, or to anyone who wants to keep moving ahead while looking back on the past.
Even though it’s springKashiwabara Yoshie
In 1983 (Showa 58), everyone had school days filled with unfading memories.
The song that gently, wistfully brings those memories back is Yoshie Kashiwabara’s “Haru na no ni.” This piece, which depicts the season of partings known as graduation, was written by Miyuki Nakajima.
It captures the loneliness of farewells that arrives with spring.
The heart-wrenching poignancy that tightens the chest amid the brilliance of the season etches itself deeply into the listener’s heart.
As fleeting yet beautiful as blossoms before they fall, the lyrics are likely why the song continues to be loved by many, even as times change.
It’s a masterpiece that colors a page of bygone youth.