[Showa-Era Graduation Songs] Nostalgic? Emotive? A curated selection of timeless classics loved across generations

Adolescence (with an autumnal/reflective nuance)Iwasaki Hiromi

Adolescence (shishūki)

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.

Love Dial 6700Fingā 5

Koino Dial 6700

With an intro that mimics the ring of a rotary telephone and a spirited call that grabs your attention, this is a signature song by Finger Five.

Written and composed by Yu Aku and Tadao Inoue, it’s a breezy dance number that blends R&B and rock ’n’ roll elements into Japanese pop.

The catchy phone-number motif, set on the eve of a graduation ceremony, leaves an unforgettable impact once you hear it.

Released in December 1973, the song topped the Oricon weekly chart for four consecutive weeks and became a massive hit with over 1.6 million copies sold.

The following year, it was also used as the theme song for the film “The Great Adventure of Finger Five.” The soulful groove created by the five Okinawan siblings, paired with the charming vocals of the youngest sister, Taeko, weaves a harmony that lifts the spirits across generations.

It’s a perfect pick for those who want a bright boost during the season of farewells.

12th graderFunaki Kazuo

Kazuo Funaki / High School Senior

It’s a classic packed with memories of high school life, such as the school building bathed in the red setting sun and scenes of students dancing the folk dance.

Released in June 1963, it became a huge hit, selling over one million copies within a year.

It was also Kazuo Funaki’s debut single, and with this song he made his first appearance at the 14th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen that same year.

It was adapted into a film of the same name, with Funaki himself in the leading role.

The lyrics portray the complex feelings of a high school senior on the verge of graduation; while they regret parting, they also feel the anticipation of a new beginning—making it a perfect song for high school students living fully in the present.

Even though it’s springKashiwabara Yoshie

Harunanoni

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.

GraduationMatsuyama Chiharu

Graduation / Chiharu Matsuyama

This is a song included on the B-side of “Mado,” released in 1979.

Even for those who aren’t fans, it’s a masterpiece that many would pick as the best among countless graduation songs.

The lyrics say, “Graduation is sad, and it’s lonely that we won’t be able to see each other, but I still have a future,” reflecting the pure, unpretentious feelings of youth.

Perhaps it’s precisely that purity that makes it so relatable.

It’s a gem of a track that also conveys the sense of the “vast land” that runs at the core of Chiharu Matsuyama’s music.

Graduationsawada shouko

Seiko Sawada – Graduation 1982

“Graduation,” a song by singer-songwriter Shoko Sawada that expresses the bittersweet feelings of leaving school behind.

Released in 1983, it became Sawada’s most successful single.

While her vocal delivery is calm and matter-of-fact, not overtly tinged with the sadness of graduation, a close listen to the lyrics reveals an inner conflict about graduating and a heartfelt wish for that day never to arrive.

Her voice may sound composed, even a bit defiant, but you can sense that she’s actually very lonely and unsettled by something she can’t change.

For those who are also hiding their loneliness as they face graduation, this song will likely resonate deeply.

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Eyes of the heartSakamoto Kyu

Kyu Sakamoto “Kokoro no Hitomi” (Original Song with Lyrics Subtitles)

A gem-like ballad by Kyu Sakamoto, steeped in warm affection.

The lyrics, filled with deep love for family, and his gentle, tender voice resonate in the heart.

Released in May 1985, this was his final single during his lifetime, expressing his love for his wife.

The lyrics portray an unchanging form of love that endures over the years, resonating with many and making it a popular song often sung at school events.

When you want to feel the bonds with your friends or find yourself at a crossroads in life, listening to it will fill you with warmth.