A lovely graduation song

[2026] Graduation songs you’ll want to play in concert band! A collection of moving J‑Pop hits

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
Graduated from a music school / 21 years of piano experiencesatomi
I began playing the piano at the age of four and spent six years at a conservatory, focusing mainly on classical music while honing my skills. In addition to solo performance, I studied extensively in chamber music and two-piano repertoire, and I had the opportunity to perform twice on stage as a soloist in piano concertos. While not to the same extent as classical, I also learned jazz and pop through practical performance. I was active as a pianist in various settings, including instrumental and vocal/choral accompaniment, performance assistance for other departments, and recording sessions. Beyond the piano, I devoted five years to the trombone in a wind ensemble. I hope to draw on these experiences to share the charm of music with many people.

Music is indispensable at graduation ceremonies.

Memories of student life—days spent with friends and teachers, club activities, school trips—float back as if they were yesterday, and sink in all the more alongside lyrics that resonate.

In this article, we introduce recommended graduation songs, mainly J-pop, that make those special moments even more vivid when performed by a wind ensemble.

Along with timeless classics that have been loved for years, we also feature masterpieces that have become popular in the Reiwa era and beyond, so be sure to check them out.

We hope that a wind ensemble performance will add even more color to this important day of celebrating a new beginning at your graduation ceremony!

[2026] Graduation Songs You’ll Want to Play in Wind Ensemble! A Moving J-POP Collection (21–30)

The meaning of goodbyeNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 'The Meaning of Goodbye'

The meaning of goodbyeNogizaka 46

The Meaning of Goodbye (2017)

Parting isn’t only sad—it also teaches us the preciousness of having met.

Let me introduce a song that carries that message.

Nogizaka46’s 16th single, released in November 2016, is known as the graduation single with Nanami Hashimoto as center.

Composed by Katsuhiko Sugiyama, who also worked on “Kimi no Na wa Kibou,” it’s a beautiful ballad built around piano and strings.

The song earned the group their first million-certified single and was performed at that year’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

Rather than denying farewells, the lyrics ask what they mean and encourage moving forward, resonating deeply.

It’s a song I especially hope those facing the emotional goodbyes of graduation will listen to.

Consider delivering that emotion even more profoundly through a wind ensemble performance.

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Kitearashi

ARASHI – Kite [Official Music Video]

Kitearashi

KITE / Arashi (NHK 2020 Song) [Wind Ensemble] Rocket Music - POP-307

Arashi’s “Kite” is perfect for the moving moments of a graduation ceremony.

Produced by Kenshi Yonezu, this song reflects on hopes for the future and the process of overcoming difficulties, while empowering listeners to embark on a new beginning.

Since its 2020 release, it has been embraced by many fans and is especially recommended for performance at graduations.

Its moving vocals and message full of hope warmly watch over everyone setting out on a new journey.

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End and Beginningkariyushi 58

Kariyushi58 'The End Is the Beginning'

End and Beginningkariyushi 58

[Ensemble Lidore] The End, the Beginning

The end of today is also the beginning of a new tomorrow.

That straightforward outlook on life is conveyed by this song from Okinawa-born rock band Kariyushi 58, released in February 2010 as the B-side to their single “Ame nochi Hare.” It gained nationwide recognition when it was chosen as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Gyoretsu no Dekiru Horitsu Sodanjo,” and later returned to the spotlight in 2017 as the theme for the TV Tokyo drama “Sanbiki no Ossan 3.” Over the course of roughly six minutes, its structure gradually builds from a quiet intro to a passionate peak, delivering the lyrics’ message deep into the listener’s heart.

This work is a motivational anthem that makes you want to ask yourself, before graduation, whether there’s anything left undone.

While it mourns parting with friends, it also sends students off toward a new chapter—an ideal piece to perform in wind ensemble for those embarking on their next journey.

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Thank youFUNKY MONKEY BABYS

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS “Thank You”

Thank youFUNKY MONKEY BABYS

WSJ-13-009 Thank You / FUNKY MONKEY BABYS (Wind Ensemble J-POP)

This is a mid-tempo ballad themed around gratitude, released as the final single by FUNKY MONKEY BABYS, who disbanded to much regret in 2013.

It was used as the theme song for NTV’s “Akamara! Scoop Koshien” and as the official song for MBS’s 85th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament.

The music video, which drew major attention, features Sanma Akashiya playing a junior high school teacher approaching retirement.

Blending the group’s signature rap-like delivery with a catchy melody, the song naturally stirs feelings of appreciation for the people who have supported you—parents, friends, teachers, and more.

It peaked at No.

4 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and is also included on the best-of album “Funky Monkey Babys LAST BEST.” It’s a moving number that brings hearts together—perfect for conveying gratitude to someone special at a graduation ceremony, especially when arranged for and performed by a wind ensemble.

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OrangeSPYAIR

SPYAIR “Orange” Music Video (Theme Song for Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle: The Movie)

OrangeSPYAIR

[Theme song of “Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle” (The Movie)] Orange / SPYAIR

A signature song by SPYAIR with a moving, heartfelt melody and a powerful message.

It sings about finding the courage to overcome the fear of goodbyes and change, and to believe in your own path.

Released in February 2024, it drew attention as the theme song for Haikyu!! The Movie: The Battle at the Garbage Dump.

Centered on themes of encounters, bonds, and farewells within limited time, it expresses the beauty of living each moment to the fullest.

It’s perfect not only as a graduation song but also as one for retiring from club activities.

Conveying the importance of always facing forward and moving ahead, this is an ideal piece for graduation ceremonies—why not try performing it in a wind ensemble arrangement?

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my graduationSPEED

SPEED / my graduation -Music Video-

my graduationSPEED

“Concert Band Hit” my graduation / SPEED

This is the sixth single by SPEED, the female group that led the J-POP scene in the 1990s, released in February 1998.

It was a massive hit, topping the Oricon weekly chart for three consecutive weeks and selling over 1.47 million copies in total.

It also drew attention as the commercial song for Nissin Foods’ “Nissin Yakisoba U.F.O.” Although the lyrics never explicitly mention a “graduation ceremony,” they depict the resolve to take a step into adulthood through the end of a romance, recalling memories like a first kiss and Christmas.

The high tones of Eriko Imai and Hiroko Shimabukuro beautifully capture a poignant yet pure world, conveying a sense of hope beyond farewell.

Boasting one of the top sales among songs themed around graduation, this piece features a melody line that shines even in wind band arrangements.

It’s a classic song we’d love to see performed by anyone who’s experienced young love or is setting off on a new path.

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Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya – Come, Spring

Come, spring.Matsutōya Yumi

Spring, Come / Yumi Matsutoya [Grade 4]

Selected as the theme song for NHK’s morning drama series in 1994, this piece reached households across the country every morning.

Released as Yumi Matsutoya’s 26th single, it topped the Oricon charts and became a million-selling hit with cumulative sales exceeding 1.16 million copies.

Its beautiful melody, evoking traditional Japanese sensibilities, and its lyrics woven with classical diction received high praise—so much so that they were included in junior high school Japanese textbooks.

Depicting a prayer for spring after a long winter, the song is perfectly suited to graduation ceremonies that mark farewells and new beginnings.

When performing it with a wind ensemble, focusing on long-breathed phrasing and sensitive pacing will help convey the original’s serene beauty.

On this important day celebrating a new departure, why not send off the graduates with a gently resonant performance that touches the heart?

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