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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? Emotional? A Curated Selection of Timeless Classics Loved Across Generations (31–40)

The Flower Girl of TokyoHaruo Oka

Haruo Oka / The Flower-Selling Girl of Tokyo (sung by the artist himself)
The Flower Girl of Tokyo Haruo Oka

A classic from 1946 that paints a single flower of hope blooming at a Tokyo crossroads where blue willows are budding.

Sung with the warmth of Haruo Oka’s voice, the melody gently embraced people’s hearts during the turmoil of the postwar era.

Through the figure of a young flower seller with a gentle demeanor, the image of Tokyo rising from the ashes comes into view.

The lyrics by Sasa Shio and the composition by Gento Uehara blend beautifully, creating a gem of a song in which a definite hope can be felt even amid loneliness.

This work gracefully depicts the feelings of those seeking to take a new step with the arrival of spring.

It is a moving masterpiece recommended for anyone who wishes to spend a heartwarming moment in the spring sunshine.

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Blue PhotographMatsuda Seiko

Although it was originally a B-side single, this celebrated ballad won overwhelming support as a TV drama theme song.

The poignant melody blends beautifully with the world of the TBS drama “Ao ga Chiru,” and it likely remains deeply etched in many hearts.

When it was first released in October 1983, it was a B-side, but due to its strong reception it was reissued as a double A-side, and it held the No.

1 spot on TBS’s “The Best Ten” for eight consecutive weeks.

Seiko’s crystal-clear vocals express pure feelings for friends who part ways upon graduation.

It’s a gem of a song to revisit at life’s crossroads, as you look back on a radiant youth.

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GraduationTanimura Shinji

Shinji Tanimura’s signature song “Sotsugyo” (Graduation) is a masterpiece that moved many listeners among the graduation songs released in the 1980s.

Its gentle melody and lyrics that weave bittersweet memories seep into the heart.

As you listen and picture the familiar scenes of your school days, immersing yourself in those sweet-and-sour moments, the poignancy and restlessness of youth come flooding back.

It’s a song that celebrates graduates embarking on a new path while renewing our gratitude for days gone by.

Tanimura’s warm vocals gently soothe the sadness of parting.

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Words of FarewellKaientai

Okurukotoba, released by Kaientai in 1979, has been loved for many years.

The song is also known for being chosen as the theme for the TV drama Mr.

Kinpachi in Class 3-B, and Takeda Tetsuya’s warm voice and relatable lyrics have touched many hearts.

While rooted in the tradition of a heartbreak song, it delivers hope and courage, making it perfect for graduation season.

Its heartwarming melody gently pushes people forward as they step into a new stage of life.

Even today, many listeners find themselves newly moved by it, and that timelessness is the mark of a true classic.

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CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Released in 1980, Kanpai is a timeless classic sung not only during graduation season but at many of life’s milestones.

Written and composed by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi as a gift to celebrate his close friend’s wedding, its warm message also perfectly suits the bittersweet moments of parting at graduation ceremonies.

Listening to this song reminds us that beyond the closed door lies a future full of hope.

The lyrics, filled with heartfelt blessings and prayers for the road ahead, leave an unforgettable impression after just one listen.

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[Showa-Era Graduation Songs] Nostalgic? Emotional? A curated selection of timeless classics loved across generations (41–50)

Goodbye once moreChekkāzu

A gem-like ballad that gently weaves the pain of parting, set against a scene of lights drifting beyond the window and ice clinking in a glass.

Among The Checkers’ band sound, it’s a masterpiece that delicately portrays the feelings of a grown-up love.

Fumiya Fujii’s poignantly resonant vocals and Naoyuki Fujii’s beautiful melodies tenderly enfold the end of a love that still lingers with regret.

Upon its release in November 1990, the song reached No.

7 on the Oricon charts, and it was also included on the album “THE CHECKERS THE BEST,” soothing the hearts of many listeners.

It’s a track I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who has experienced parting from someone dear with the arrival of spring.

Why not listen alone on a quiet night and immerse yourself in cherished memories?

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MY GRADUATIONChekkāzu

A gemlike ballad that richly portrays the milestone of graduation.

Set to a gentle melody, it tenderly depicts scenes like exchanging buttons on school uniforms and walking together to the station.

Looking back on memories from ages 16 to 18, it masterfully conveys both the sweetness of young love and the poignancy of parting.

Included on The Checkers’ album “GO” and released in 1987, it was the group’s first self-produced work, with lyrics by Fumiya Fujii and music by Susumu Takeuchi.

Deeply rooted in Japan’s music scene as a staple to hear during graduation season, this song is wholeheartedly recommended for anyone who cherishes memories of their youth.

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