[2026] Modern graduation songs: Reiwa-era staples and new tracks you should know

Kadode no Ippo (feat. CHICO CARLITO)ASOBOiSM

ASOBOiSM / The First Step of KADODE feat. CHICO CARLITO

A spring anthem teamed up by ASOBOiSM and CHICO CARLITO.

It’s a song that gives you a push to take that first step toward your dreams.

ASOBOiSM’s true-to-life lyrics pair perfectly with CHICO CARLITO’s powerful rap.

Released in March 2024, this track is sure to encourage not only those graduating or starting a new chapter, but anyone standing at a turning point in life.

Self-produced by ASOBOiSM, it showcases her musicality to the fullest.

A song that stays close to the mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety that come with a new environment.

Give it a listen!

Futabaaimyon

Aimyon – Futaba [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A song released in March 2022.

Created as an anthem to support the 18-year-old generation, this track features a warm melody and uplifting lyrics that really resonate.

Its themes of growth and new beginnings align with graduation season, carrying a heartfelt message of encouragement for young people.

It was written as the theme song for NHK’s special program “Aimyon 18-sai Matsuri,” and its first performance—an online collaboration with 1,000 18-year-olds across Japan—was especially memorable.

This piece gently nudges those embarking on graduation or a new chapter forward.

You’ll surely connect with Aimyon’s delicate expressiveness.

On nights when cherry blossoms fallaimyon

Aimyon – On the Night the Cherry Blossoms Fall [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

As if symbolizing the arrival of a new season and the partings it brings, Aimyon’s “Sakura ga Furu Yoru wa” is a richly emotional song perfectly suited to the milestone of graduation.

While delicately portraying encounters and farewells, the track also carries a charm that inspires the hopes of spring.

In the lyrics Aimyon weaves, anxiety and anticipation for the future coexist, adding color to graduation ceremonies and offering warm comfort to listeners.

Hearing this song may help you prepare your heart for a new departure.

For this spring’s graduation, be sure to lend an ear to the beautiful melody Aimyon has crafted.

CheeseSG

Cheese – SG(Official Music Video)

In May 2024, SG released a poppy, catchy track.

It’s a number themed around embracing change and finding contentment in the present.

Sprinkled with episodes from the past, it’s packed with SG’s distinctive worldview—fleeting fears, the desire for deep connection, and the courage to face uncomfortable truths.

With melodies and lyrics that resonate, it feels exciting, as if it holds hints for moving forward positively in life.

It’s a piece we especially want those who are struggling or feeling uncertain to hear, and it also aligns perfectly with graduation season.

Blue in the classroomHoshimachi Suisei

[MV] A Classroom in Blue / Suisei Hoshimachi (hololive × HoneyWorks) [#HoloHani Original]

This song centers on memories of youth and friendship.

Suisei Hoshimachi’s clear, transparent vocals resonate deeply with listeners.

While it captures the loneliness and anxiety felt before graduation, it also conveys gratitude for the days spent with friends.

It’s included on the Hololive × HoneyWorks collaboration album “Horohani-gaoka High School.” Released in February 2024, the album feels like it speaks for today’s graduates.

It’s perfect for those who are reluctant to part with friends or anxious about a new environment—you’re sure to find courage in it.

Melancholy Cherry Blossomsatarayo

Atarayo – Sorrowful Sakura (Music Video)

Atoyoi’s graduation ballad beautifully portrays the feeling of wishing to reunite someday in the same place, while savoring familiar scenery and bittersweet memories.

It expresses the emotion of how an ordinary spring landscape suddenly feels special as the moment of parting draws near, through a gentle melody and emotionally rich lyrics.

Released in March 2023, the song tenderly accompanies listeners with vocals and sounds that are at times heartrending and at times warm.

It’s a track for those taking a new step with the arrival of spring, and for anyone experiencing a farewell with a dear friend.

Sakura PhotographHatsuboshi Gakuen

Hatsuboshi Academy “Sakura Photograph” Official Music Video (HATSUBOSHI GAKUEN – Sakura Photograph)

It’s a moving ballad perfect for the season when cherry blossoms dance.

Released in April 2025, this song is the theme for the season event “Sakura-Mau Start Line” in the game Gakuen Idolmaster.

The gentle harmonies of the trio—Liliya Katsuragi, Sayaka Shiun, and Saki Hanami—leave a lasting impression.

It’s as if the tender melody rides the spring breeze and soars into the sky.

The lyrics, which portray meetings, farewells, and irreplaceable friendship, will especially resonate with those graduating from school.

Be sure to give it a listen during cherry blossom season.