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

When graduation season arrives, you hear graduation songs everywhere.

There are massive hits from the Showa and Heisei eras, songs that have become beloved staples of the season across generations, and new tracks released each year to mark the time of farewells.

In this article, we’ll introduce songs that were hits when people in their 30s were graduating, or that were commonly used at graduation ceremonies.

Listening to the tracks you heard back then—songs you actually sang at the ceremony or that played as background music—might bring back those nostalgic, bittersweet feelings.

They’re also great picks for karaoke at class reunions.