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

road; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)EXILE

EXILE / Road

This is the 23rd single by EXILE, a dance and vocal group beloved across generations for their dynamic performances and emotionally resonant vocals.

Released in February 2007, the song is a grand ballad themed around graduation and new departures.

It topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and became the 1,000th song in the chart’s history to reach number one, marking a milestone release.

It was also used as the opening theme for the music variety show “Ongaku Senshi MUSIC FIGHTER,” and is familiar as the approach melody at Keikyu Kanazawa-hakkei Station.

The lyrics, which weave together gratitude for the days spent together and the resolve to step into each person’s future, evoke both the sorrow of parting and a sense of hope.

A choral version is included as well, making it a perfect choice for those who want to sing together with friends at graduation ceremonies.

spring sunlightKanapu × Kujira

[Suite] KAFU × Kujira #97 “Spring Sunlight” [Original MV]

KAF × Kujira brings together two figures who embody the internet-born music scene: a virtual singer and a creator who started as a Vocaloid producer.

In March 2022, this track was released as the sixth installment of “Suite,” a collaboration project commemorating the third anniversary of KAF’s activities.

Timed with KAF’s own high school graduation, Kujira wrote this song around the themes of “graduation,” “departure,” and “spring.” The lyrics avoid direct words like “goodbye,” instead carefully depicting the fleeting inner landscape just before parting and the fragments of memory that race through one’s mind right before they’re put into words.

A classroom bathed in spring sunlight, the sudden pang of a casual conversation recalled—its allure lies in the open space that lets each listener naturally overlay their own graduation experiences.

Shimmering synths and a light beat evoke the brightness of spring, blending wistfulness and radiance in equal measure.

It’s a song we hope reaches anyone standing at a new threshold.

Sakura RabbitKawasaki Takaya

Takanori Kawasaki - Sakura Usagi [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Singer-songwriter Takaya Kawasaki rose to prominence when his song “Mahou no Juutan” (Magic Carpet) went viral on TikTok in 2020.

Released digitally in January 2021, the track is a bittersweet unrequited-love song set on the special day of a graduation ceremony.

It portrays the protagonist—who longs to confess feelings to someone they’ve admired for three years but can’t quite find the courage—as a “rabbit.” The frustration of being timid and the ache of only being able to watch from afar on a cherry-blossom-strewn schoolyard are conveyed with a warmth that resonates alongside the acoustic guitar.

The song was also included on the album Nukumori, released in June 2023.

It’s a track that will comfort those approaching graduation with unspoken feelings for someone, as well as anyone who remembers the words they couldn’t say back then.

Only the graduation photo knowsHinatazaka46

The Only One Who Knows Is the Graduation Photo by Hinatazaka46

Hinatazaka46’s 13th single, released in January 2025.

Set to a bittersweet yet refreshing melody, the song portrays the feelings hidden within graduation photos.

Its lyrics—evoking the wistfulness of cherry blossom season and the regret of a love left unconfessed—resonate as symbols of youth’s end and a new beginning.

The music video, themed around a “parade that heralds spring,” is crafted with a vivid, colorful vision.

Centered on Nao Kosaka, the members’ expressive vocals and performances leave a strong impression.

It’s a recommended track not only for students nearing graduation, but also for anyone wishing to look back on nostalgic memories.

Dear,Snow Man

Dear,

A moving song from Snow Man, the now nationally beloved idol group known for their acrobatic dance and diverse personalities.

Included on their first best-of album, THE BEST 2020‑2025, released in January 2025, it’s a warm medium-tempo ballad that expresses gratitude to fans on their fifth anniversary.

The gentle piano and strings that seem to wrap you in a hug make it perfect for Instagram Stories that look back on memories with mentors and friends.

Centered on the themes of overflowing love and bonds, this track can convey your appreciation even more deeply when played over a simple slideshow of everyday photos.

It’s a number you’ll want to add as a message to someone special, one that leaves warmth rather than sadness during the season of farewells.

Daphne (winter daphne)DISH//

DISH// – Sweet Daphne [Official Video]

DISH//’s song “Jinchoge” has been embraced by many as a graduation anthem for a new era.

The joy and bittersweetness of youth they convey evoke a sense of nostalgia perfect for the season of farewells and new encounters.

Written as the theme song for the drama “The Winner in February: The Classroom of Certain Success,” the track carries a message of encouragement for anxious exam-takers and graduates.

The flower language of the winter daphne—symbolizing “eternity” and “glory”—offers courage and hope fitting for a fresh start.

Co-written by Takumi Kitamura and Hattori of Macaroni Enpitsu, this song’s stirring melody and lyrics make it an indispensable piece for graduation ceremonies to come.

Graduation (feat. Shuto)hannya

Hannya / Graduation (feat. Shuto) / Official Music Video

Partings and new departures that come at life’s turning points.

Hannya’s new song “Sotsugyo” (“Graduation”) takes on this universal theme.

Released for streaming in February 2026, the track features Hiito, an artist based in Okinawa.

Over a calm, piano-centered beat, Hannya recounts past memories with restraint yet palpable heat.

It’s a reality—far from mere platitudes—that only he could portray after building his career since the 2004 album “Ohayo Nippon” and even headlining a successful Budokan show; it really hits home.

With Hiito’s gentle vocals added, the song leaves a bittersweet yet forward-looking afterglow.

Carrying all of the past and still striving to move on to the next stage, it feels like a quiet push on the back for anyone on that path.