I want to use these for a slideshow! A collection of moving/heartfelt BGM

A Gift Without a StampNEW!Hirai Ken

Ken Hirai - 'A Gift Without a Stamp' (Music Video)

This work, originally crafted by Kazuo Zaitsu and released in 1977, is covered here with Ken Hirai’s warm vocals.

Its simple melody, which cherishes the warmth of the words, gently soothes the listener’s heart.

It was included on the album “Ken’s Bar III,” released in May 2014, and chosen as the theme song for the film “Tsukuroi Tatsu Hito,” which premiered in January 2015.

When you want to express gratitude to someone special or need background music for a slideshow that looks back on memories, selecting this song will fill the moment with gentle warmth.

horizonback number

back number – Horizon

This ballad by back number portrays the setbacks and hardships encountered while chasing one’s dreams, as well as the strength to overcome them.

It was created as an encouragement song for high school students whose Inter-High Championships were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With lyrics that gently offer support, it resonates with those carrying lost hopes and sorrow.

It was surprise-released on YouTube in August 2020 and officially released the following August.

Widely embraced by listeners—such as holding the top spot on streaming charts for nine consecutive weeks—this song serves as a source of empathy and comfort for anyone who has experienced setbacks or failure.

It’s a track that will quietly give a push to graduates stepping into a new stage of life.

If you laugh at the skywacci

wacci “If You Laugh at the Sky” Music Video

Let me introduce a motivational song packed with a powerful message: when you feel like crying, look up at the sky and smile.

This track by the five-member band wacci was released digitally in July 2018 and was later included on their album “Gunjo Refrain,” released in November of the same year.

While hard work doesn’t always lead directly to results, the warm perspective that the days you’ve built up are never wasted gently encourages listeners.

Starting in August 2019, it was also selected as the support song for the “Japan Tsunagaru Project” segment on the TV program Mezamashi TV, moving many people alongside the images of those doing their best.

It’s a perfect recommendation for graduation season—an uplifting song that stands by students retiring from club activities and anyone setting out on a new path.

Kitearashi

ARASHI – Kite [Official Music Video]

A grand message song by Arashi that you’ll want to give to friends setting off on a new chapter.

Like a kite catching the wind and soaring high, it portrays the resolve to move forward despite uncertainty.

There’s a warmth in this song that gently watches over that figure and gives a soft push from behind.

The single “Kite,” released in 2020, was written and composed by Kenshi Yonezu as the “NHK 2020 Song.” It was also aired on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” making it beloved across generations.

Parting with friends is lonely, but the sentiment embedded in this work—“we’re connected no matter where we are”—will surely reach their hearts.

If everyone sings it together at a farewell party, it becomes the perfect cheer, powerfully supporting the future of the one setting out.

Bye, my friendbokula.

bokula. – By My Friend - [Official Music Video]

This is a gem of a song from bokula., a rock band based in Hiroshima, filled with the sparkle and bittersweetness of youth.

The lyrics, which remind us that the time and memories spent with friends—things we took for granted—are never wasted, resonate deeply alongside Ei’s straightforward vocals.

Included on the mini-album “Seikatsu ni, Yorisoi.” released in May 2022, the track has won fervent support especially among junior and senior high school students, and has become beloved by many listeners, surpassing a total of 8.5 million streams.

It’s the perfect song for those moments when you’re facing the sadness of going your separate ways but want to reaffirm an unchanging bond.

Why not send this track to your cherished friends as a token of gratitude at the milestone of graduation?

Song of a FriendBUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN “Friend’s Song”

The song I want to listen to while reflecting on a friend I’m parting ways with is BUMP OF CHICKEN’s “Tomodachi no Uta” (“Song of Friends”).

The lyrics, written by Motoo Fujiwara as he thought of characters from works he loved since childhood, convey a clumsy yet warm sense of friendship, and the grand sound incorporating trumpet is sure to resonate deeply with men as well.

Released in February 2011 as their 19th single, this track moved many as the theme song for the film “Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops—Angel Wings.” It’s a song that wraps up the anxieties of a new departure and gently nudges you forward.

Even if you end up walking separate paths, it makes you believe the time you shared won’t disappear—a masterpiece filled with kindness.

DarlingMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE "Darling" Official Music Video

This song by Mrs.

GREEN APPLE was written as the theme for the NHK General TV special “Mrs.

GREEN APPLE 18-Sai” broadcast in December 2024.

It was performed on a stage created together with 18-year-olds, and the moment when a choir of around 1,000 voices joined in was truly breathtaking.

The lyrics express questions about staying true to oneself and an earnest wish to have someone by your side.

As we struggle to meet society’s expectations, there’s an anxiety of nearly losing sight of our true selves.

The warmth that embraces such wavering emotions just as they are is a major charm of this work.

After its digital release in January 2025, it surpassed 100 million streams.

It’s a song that gently supports those facing the milestone of graduation and taking a new step forward, making it a perfect choice for entrance and exit music at ceremonies.