A roundup of songs that start with “So.” Perfect for word-chain games or picking karaoke tracks!
How many song titles that start with “so” can you think of?
When it comes to words that begin with “so,” there are plenty—like “sora” (sky), “sotsugyō” (graduation), “songu” (song), and “sonzai” (existence)—and many of these words also appear in song titles.
In this article, we’ll showcase a bunch of songs with titles that start with “so.”
We’ve picked well-known tracks across generations as well as recent buzzworthy songs.
Use this as a reference for song-title shiritori or choosing tracks for “shiritori karaoke.”
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Songs that start with “So” (Japanese syllable ‘So’). Perfect for shiritori or picking karaoke tracks! (11–20)
Only the graduation photo knowsHinatazaka46
With the arrival of spring comes a season of farewells, and many people may be holding onto feelings they were never able to express.
Capturing those bittersweet yet warm emotions is Hinatazaka46’s “Only the Graduation Photo Knows.” Released in January 2025 as their 13th single with Nao Kosaka as center, the song drew attention for coinciding with the major milestone of a first-generation member’s graduation.
Debuting at No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Ranking, it has resonated with many listeners.
Its beautifully classic J-pop melody vividly evokes scenes from graduation day.
Try pairing it with videos that capture everyday moments with friends or quiet times in the classroom.
It’s the perfect song for this season—one that offers the courage to move forward, even amid the sadness.
GraduationTHE ALFEE
A song that conjures a poignant inner landscape, where the seasons quietly turn their pages and past loves and days of youth become buried beneath the snow.
It’s an early track by THE ALFEE, the rock band that has long led Japan’s music scene, included on their first album, “Seishun no Kioku” (“Memories of Youth”), released in July 1975.
This work is also known as the first song written and composed by Toshihiko Takamizawa.
Koji Makaino’s arrangement highlights the beautiful melodies and the introspective world of the lyrics.
More than just a farewell song, it holds both the radiance and the ache of days when young lives burned brightly—tightening the chest with its bittersweetness.
On a night when you want to quietly bask in memories, why not listen to it alone, taking it in deeply?
Graduationsaitou yuki
When it comes to Yuki Saito’s debut single, surely this classic comes to mind.
With Takashi Matsumoto and Kyohei Tsutsumi teaming up, it beautifully portrays the poignant scenes of graduation.
The imagery of the uniform buttons, the gap between the tears others expect and one’s own feelings—these subtle shades of youth resonate through her crystal-clear voice.
Released in February 1985, the song also drew attention as the CM track for Myojo Foods’ “Ramen Called Youth.” It was included on the acclaimed album AXIA and later self-covered on the 2021 album Suikyo-kyoku (Water Capriccio).
The lyrics convey a realism that isn’t just sweet; there’s a slightly cool, detached perspective that set it apart from typical idol songs of the time.
It’s a track for anyone who wants to savor the unique atmosphere of graduation season or sink into bittersweet memories.
Even after graduating, even after saying goodbye, even from afarMariko Nagai
Starting with what seems like a bright anecdote—being the only one grinning widely in a graduation group photo—this song is actually a bittersweet number about a love that was never confessed.
With lyrics penned by Mariko Nagai, it vividly portrays a powerful feeling that doesn’t fade even after graduation and goodbyes, and every listen brings back the sights of those days in sharp detail.
Released in February 1993 as the B-side of a single and later included on the March 1993 album “OPEN ZOO,” it’s a hidden gem.
Why not listen to it when you’re anxious about walking separate paths and possibly never meeting again, yet still want to believe in an unchanging bond? Alongside the sweet-and-sour memories of youth, it will gently warm your heart as you set out on a new journey.
Just a little longer until graduationGLAY
A mid-tempo ballad from GLAY, the four-piece rock band from Hakodate, Hokkaido, that gently seeps into the heart.
Based on TAKURO’s own experiences, the lyrics delicately capture the bittersweet everyday atmosphere that precedes parting—distinct from the exhilaration of a graduation ceremony.
Originally released to the world in February 2002 as the B-side to the single “Way of Difference,” the song was later included on the album “UNITY ROOTS & FAMILY, AWAY.” While the title track became a major hit as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Ainori, this song has also enjoyed enduring popularity among fans.
If you know the unique loneliness that settles in the season before graduation, it’s sure to move you.
Why not revisit it slowly, letting it wash over you as you dwell on memories from that time?
The PeopleYamashita Tatsuro
Released in 1988 as a key track that closes out the album “Boku no Naka no Shonen,” this song is, as its title “Sōbō” suggests, a grand and powerful ode to life that affirms the lives of the nameless.
Many may remember it from its use in a JACCS Card commercial at the time.
A new music video was released in November 2020, and the song continues to be loved across generations.
Yamashita Tatsuro’s hallmark, richly layered choral work is breathtaking—it stirs the heart with every listen.
It’s a song that can turn anxiety into hope when you’re at life’s crossroads, such as graduation or starting a job.
A gentle yet strong push on the back for all who are moving toward the future.
Songs that start with “So”: a roundup. Perfect for word-chain games or karaoke picks! (21–30)
Graduationonsoku rain
That unique atmosphere after the graduation ceremony—a mix of loneliness and anticipation—is unforgettable, isn’t it? This song by Onsoku Line, a rock band based in Fukushima Prefecture, features a striking guitar sound that seems to drown out that very heartache.
It was included as the B-side to the single “Natsume,” released in March 2006, and was later featured on the album “Fūmi Zekka: Onsoku Line Rare Tracks.” The lyrics resonate with the determination to move forward boldly into the season of thaw, even while shedding tears of farewell.
It’s a rock tune I’d recommend to those who’d rather cry their hearts out, laugh, and step into the next stage, rather than sink into a somber ballad.