Resonating with Graduation Season! A Collection of Graduation Songs for Instagram Stories [2026]

Sakura RabbitKawasaki Takaya

Takanori Kawasaki - Sakura Usagi [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Singer-songwriter Takaya Kawasaki, whose “Magic Carpet” became a huge topic on social media.

Released digitally in January 2021, this song is a heartrending number that portrays unspoken feelings of love at the milestone of graduation.

Comparing his timid, cowardly self to a small, endearing animal, you can almost picture him standing still amid the scattering petals.

The track is also included on his album “Nukumori,” and his trademark husky voice and beautiful vibrato are sure to move listeners to tears.

The fragile story of gazing at someone from afar while harboring three years of growing feelings is something anyone can relate to.

It’s a perfect springtime classic that makes you want to capture a precious memory and post it on Instagram.

When it shinesHitsuji Bungaku

Hitsujibungaku – When It Shines (Official Music Video) [TV Anime “The Heike Story” Opening Theme]

Hitsujibungaku is a rock band that captivates listeners with a sound that’s both delicate and powerful.

This track, which they released for streaming in January 2022, was written as the opening theme for the anime The Heike Story.

While resonating with the sense of impermanence found in historical tales, its clear vocals and band sound gently nudge us, who live in the present, forward.

The lyrics affirm that the world is beautiful no matter how difficult the circumstances, offering the courage to step into the future—something that may deeply move many listeners.

The song is also included on their April 2022 album our hope, making it a perfect pick for graduation and send-off season.

It’s also great for Instagram Stories—try posting it with photos of cherished memories with close friends or scenes filled with spring light.

CorrectRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – The Answer [Official Music Video]

RADWIMPS, a rock band whose name means “cool cowards.” The song they wrote for NHK’s event and special program “18 Fes” is one you’ll especially want to hear during graduation season.

Its lyrics, infused with the resolve to find answers in life to the questions school never teaches you, are likely to resonate with many.

A version sung with a thousand young people was included on their 2018 album ANTI ANTI GENERATION, and a studio-recorded version was released on CD in February 2024.

The moving ensemble of piano and chorus will make that graduation moment—where farewells to friends intersect with hopes for the future—unforgettable.

We againSG

Us, Again – SG (Official Lyric Video)

Singer-songwriter SG, who has garnered attention through his activities on TikTok and YouTube.

Released in April 2021, this song gently sings of the sadness of parting and the hope of reunion—truly a track worthy of being called a “Reiwa-era graduation song.” Simple yet irreplaceable memories—like the day they both got drenched after forgetting an umbrella—are sure to vividly resurface in listeners’ hearts.

The piece also made waves when its brass band version was featured in a Calorie Mate commercial supporting exam-takers.

Pair it with moving ceremony footage or a slideshow of photos with friends, and make your graduation unforgettable—try using it in your Instagram Stories.

The clap-along rhythm makes it perfect for everyone to sing together.

Until graduationBoku ga mitakatta aozora

The Blue Sky I Wanted to See / “Until Graduation” Music Video

This is the second single by Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora, an idol group formed as the official rivals of Nogizaka46, known for singing about relatable, real-life youth.

It’s a medium-tempo ballad tinged with melancholy, where the sounds of piano and strings stir the emotions.

The lyrics depict the frustrating subtleties of a heart that can’t confess its feelings to a first love as graduation approaches and time slips by—something that may remind anyone of a page from their own youth.

Released in January 2024, the song was also selected as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Sorette!? Jissai Dounanoka.” Pair it with story posts that capture everyday moments with friends or scenes from the classroom to heighten the emotional atmosphere.

It’s a graduation song that accompanies the season of partings and beautifully colors your memories.

Run Through the MemoriesMy Hair is Bad

My Hair is Bad – Dash Through the Memories

A ballad by My Hair is Bad filled with a warm message of gratitude to friends who shared irreplaceable time together, and of turning even painful experiences into strength for the future.

The sincere words penned by vocalist Tomohito Shiiki affirm the days that have passed in their entirety and give you the courage to take a new step forward.

Released in June 2024, the song also drew attention for being written as the theme for the film Crayon Shin-chan: Our Dinosaur Diary.

It’s an important track that closes out the album ghosts, featuring a grand band sound worthy of a story’s end credits.

It’s a song that gently supports graduates as they etch their memories into their hearts and move on toward tomorrow—why not listen to it together with your cherished friends?

MiracleGReeeeN

GReeeeN – Kiseki

When it comes to youth anthems, you just can’t leave this one out! Released in May 2008 as the theme song for the drama “ROOKIES,” GReeeeN’s signature track “Kiseki” is a pure love song that celebrates the joy of meeting the person you love and the resolve to walk into the future together.

True to its title, the lyrics call the couple’s meeting a “miracle” (kiseki) and describe the path they’ve walked as a “trace” or “trajectory” (also kiseki)—a wordplay that stirs the heart every time you listen.

In 2009, it was also chosen as the entrance march for the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament, making it beloved across generations.

It’s a moving song you’ll want to play at graduations, thank-you parties, and those final moments with dear friends or a loved one, to express your gratitude.