“Graduation Photo” popular cover song
“Sotsugyo Shashin” (Graduation Photo) is one of Yumi Arai’s signature songs and a timeless classic that continues to be sung today.
It remains hugely popular as a graduation song, and it’s a beloved Japanese classic that everyone has heard at least once.
Precisely because it’s such a masterpiece, countless artists have continued to cover this song.
Over the years, artists of all ages—and across genre boundaries—have kept this song alive with their covers.
In this article, we’ll introduce all of those covers in one go.
You’ll find some surprising artists who have covered it, as well as boldly arranged versions—making for a playlist you’re sure to enjoy.
[Graduation Photos] Popular Cover Songs (1–10)
Graduation Photohaifaisetto
Hi-Fi Set’s “Graduation Photograph.” It’s the big hit by Yumi Matsutoya that everyone knows.
It’s a lovely song often heard during graduation season.
Hi-Fi Set’s voices are clear and gentle, resonating in the heart.
It’s wonderful in a way that’s different from Yuming’s distinctive vocals.
A cover that brings a sense of calm.
Graduation PhotoFujihara Sakura
Sakura Fujiwara is a singer-songwriter.
Her voice is often described as smoky, and she effortlessly delivers laid-back songs like Soup and her cover of Spitz’s Haru no Uta.
Among these, listening to Fujiwara’s Sotsugyō Shashin somehow fills me with a bittersweet feeling.
It’s a gentle cover that softly wraps you up alongside the sound of an acoustic guitar.
Graduation PhotoAoba Ichiko
Ichiko Aoba’s “Sotsugyo Shashin” is the kind of song that gently sinks into your heart—each word carefully savored, yet never overheated.
She sings it simply with just a gut guitar.
With her slightly dreamlike aura, she’s reportedly received high praise from Ryuichi Sakamoto and Haruomi Hosono, and it’ll be exciting to see what she does next.
Graduation PhotoWANIMA
WANIMA is a popular rock band that has even performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Known for their bursting energy and hard-hitting rock sound, many people may not be used to hearing them do ballads.
Even in “Sotsugyo Shashin,” the trio’s power is on full display.
The original is a gentle song, but their version conveys a strong sense of vigor.
It brings back memories of those days when we ran around in our youth.
Graduation PhotoOkano Akihito
This is a cover by Akihito Okano, the vocalist of Porno Graffitti.
He’s an outstanding singer who can handle both bright, exuberant pop songs and heart-wrenching ballads.
In “Sotsugyō Shashin,” his expressive power and the arrangement shaped by his unique voice are really cool.
His unpretentious, straightforward vocals fit perfectly with the song’s honest sentiment.
Graduation PhotoImai Miki
With its simple arrangement, this song lets you fully immerse yourself in Miki Imai’s gentle, soft vocals.
The strings resonating from the background help further expand that mellow world.
It carries a charm that seems to seep into a weary heart.
By all means, give it a listen.
Graduation PhotoTokunaga Hideaki
Hidetaka Tokunaga, whose voice truly shines in numerous ballads like “Kowarekake no Radio,” brings that strength to the fullest in “Sotsugyō Shashin” as well.
His slightly husky vocals have captivated women everywhere.
This is one of those covers that draws you in with an arrangement you can’t help but get lost in.