Graduation Songs for Those in Their 30s: Nostalgic Classics That Rekindle Emotions & Timeless Favorites Still Popular Today

TOMORROWMayo Okamoto

TOMORROW

With its uplifting lyrics and buoyant piano melody, this is a pep song that gives courage to listeners.

Singer-songwriter Mayo Okamoto’s debut single “TOMORROW,” released in May 1995, was chosen as the theme song for the TV drama “Second Chance” and became a massive hit, achieving Double Platinum status.

Its message—that strength lies beyond the tears—will surely give a powerful push to graduates embarking on a new world.

Beloved enough to be selected as the entrance march for the National High School Baseball Tournament in March 1996, this song is widely cherished.

Sing it with friends at a reunion, and your memories of youth are sure to come vividly rushing back.

Have the plums bloomed? Are the cherry blossoms not yet?Metis

Have the plum blossoms bloomed? Are the cherry blossoms not yet, I wonder? Metis Top songs audio

This is singer-songwriter Metis’s major-label debut single, “Has the Plum Blossomed? Is the Cherry Not Yet?” Released in January 2007, it was used as the opening theme for programs including Toyama Television’s “bbt music selection.” The song stands out for its title inspired by an Edo-period short lyric song (端唄, hauta) and its sound that incorporates traditional Japanese elements.

Its lyrics, which long for the arrival of spring, resonate with the feelings of standing at life’s milestones such as entrance exams and graduation.

It’s an uplifting anthem recommended for anyone seeking courage.

Hope ~Yell~NEWS

NEWS – Hope ~Yell~ [Official Music Video]

This is a rousing anthem that sends a powerful cheer to those setting off for a new stage in life.

Released as a single in May 2004, it was used as the image song for the Athens Olympic Volleyball World Final Qualifiers on both TBS and Fuji TV.

Its positive message, singing of hope for the future, is perfect for the major milestone of graduation.

In this season when excitement and anxiety about a new life mix together, give it a listen when you want to spur yourself on.

Farewell to the days of youthTHE Inazuma Sentai

Farewell to the days of youth

A powerful rock ballad that passionately sings of the ache of days that won’t return and the hope for the future.

It was included on a single released by THE Inazuma Sentai in November 2006.

This song was also used as the ending theme for the TV anime Silver Olinssis.

Loved for many years as a number that symbolizes the band’s lyrical side, it conveys a message of saying farewell to the past and stepping into the unknown, giving a strong push to those facing graduation.

Graduationonsoku rain

Sotsugyo

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.

graduationKato Miria

Miliyah Kato 'Graduation'

Miliyah Kato’s fifth single, released in February 2006, is a song written from the unique perspective of a then–current high school girl.

Rather than depicting graduation as a formal ceremony, it focuses on a “graduation of the heart,” freeing oneself from suffocating daily life and the pressure to conform.

Set to a beat infused with R&B and hip-hop elements, the lyrics capture a blend of defiance and vulnerability.

The track was also used as the opening theme for TV Tokyo’s music program Ryuha-R, gaining wide recognition in the late-night music scene.

It was later included on the album Diamond Princess and has come to be regarded as a song that symbolizes the struggles of the teen years.

It’s a down-to-earth graduation anthem that resonates with anyone seeking freedom amid a sense of stagnation.

Sakura, Bloom!arashi

[+81 DANCE STUDIO] Arashi – Sakura Sake / Performed by Travis Japan

Among the many graduation songs out there, there are countless tracks that hold special meaning for people in their thirties, and Arashi’s “Sakura Sake” is one of them.

Famously featured in a prep school commercial, this song carries a passionate message for everyone doing their best.

Its bright, positive vibe is perfect for new beginnings—not only lingering on farewells, but also offering encouragement for the future that’s about to start.

Among Arashi’s many cheer songs, the reason this one continues to be loved by such a wide range of ages is likely its universal appeal.

Sing it with your classmates at karaoke, and memories of your school days will come rushing back.