[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.
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[Showa-Era Graduation Songs] Nostalgic? Emotional? A Curated Selection of Timeless Classics Loved Across Generations (31–40)
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.
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.
The Flower Girl of TokyoHaruo 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.
Violet-colored tearsIwasaki Hiromi
Celebrated as a classic that captures the ache of unrequited love, this song continues to resonate with many.
It depicts the loneliness and sorrow that love can bring through the beautiful phrase “violet-colored tears,” and Hiromi Iwasaki’s pure, translucent voice perfectly conveys the song’s world.
Released in June 1981, it was also featured in a commercial for Fuji Heavy Industries (now Subaru), making it beloved by a wide audience.
It’s recommended listening when you want to heal the pain of heartbreak or when you’re mourning a farewell with someone dear.
Why not let Iwasaki’s voice envelop you as you face the emotions deep within your heart?
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.