![[Departure] A Special Feature on Anime Songs to Hear at Graduation Ceremonies [Tearjerkers]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/ZGvDTx2rf80/maxresdefault.webp)
[Departure] A Special Feature on Anime Songs to Hear at Graduation Ceremonies [Tearjerkers]
When it comes to graduation songs, there are all kinds—from classic choral pieces to popular J-pop hits.
But if you’re an anime fan, you probably want to listen to anime songs that are perfect for graduation! In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of anime tracks you’ll definitely want to hear as you reflect on graduation.
In addition to the timeless staples every anime fan thinks of, we’ll also feature songs that aren’t originally “graduation songs” but still fit the graduation vibe.
We hope you find a new favorite!
Departure: A Special Feature on Tear-Jerking Anime Songs to Hear at Graduation Ceremonies (1–10)
SketchNEW!Aimyon
A ballad penned by Aimyon as the theme song for Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Picture-World Story, released in March 2025.
Resonating with the film’s motif of a “world of pictures,” it gently portrays the warmth of the days Doraemon and Nobita have shared.
The lyrics carefully capture quiet, everyday moments not shown in the film, such as Nobita dozing off with his glasses still on, and Doraemon watching over him with a tender gaze.
Released as the title track of her 17th single, the single also includes an insert song.
With Aimyon providing both the theme and the insert song, the film is richly colored by her music.
It’s a perfect song for those looking to reflect on irreplaceable days with a dear friend at the milestone of graduation.
in the pocketNEW!Mr.Children
Graduation isn’t a farewell, but a moment to step onto a new path.
There’s a song, released by Mr.Children in August 2024, that gently gives a push to those setting off.
Written as the theme for Naoko Yamada’s animated film “Your Color,” it doesn’t rely on overly dramatic turns; instead, it wraps the listener in a soft warmth.
With the film’s music director, Kensuke Ushio, joining the arrangement, the track preserves the tactile feel of a band sound while featuring delicate placements of tones that evoke light and the passage of time.
It’s a number meant to reach those who struggle to put their feelings into words, carrying hearts in flux.
Alongside the lingering atmosphere of a graduation ceremony, it offers a gentle blessing—like tucking away precious emotions in your pocket to take home.
my true selfNEW!Yuika
When taking the first step into a new life, everyone feels both excitement and anxiety.
This song by Yuika gently embraces both.
The lyrics, which affirm even your weaknesses and clumsiness as part of “who you are,” resonate deeply.
It carries a warmth that tells those who tend to overwork themselves for others that it’s okay to value yourself more.
Released in October 2024 as the ending theme for the TV anime “The Yokai Schoolteacher Has Arrived!” this is the first time a song written and composed by Yuika herself has been used as an anime theme.
While pop and bright in tone, it’s filled with her signature style of carefully depicting honest, down-to-earth emotions.
It’s a must-listen for anyone facing graduation and stepping into a new environment with uncertainty.
You don’t have to be perfect—this song gives you the push to live for yourself.
So PreciousNEW!Asaka
Asaka’s 15th single, released in April 2024 as the ending theme for the TV anime Laid-Back Camp Season 3.
Having previously handled the series’ opening themes, this is her first challenge as an ending theme.
The lyrics and composition were created by Eri Sasaki and Hiro Nakamura, who have both been involved with the series’ endings.
It evokes a calm, gentle atmosphere—like the quiet feeling on the way home from a camping trip—that sinks into your heart.
The song expresses “the warmth that lingers at the end of a journey,” and Asaka’s restrained yet resolute vocals gently nudge you toward your next step.
When you reach a milestone like graduation, there’s that moment when the sadness of parting and the excitement of a new departure well up at the same time.
This track tenderly accompanies those complex emotions, making it a recommended listen for anyone who wants to quietly reflect on memories with friends.
ContrastNEW!TOMOO
A mid-tempo ballad centered on piano and vocals that tenderly captures the complex emotions of youth.
Created by TOMOO, this piece was written as the ending theme for the second cour of the TV anime “Blue Box,” airing in January 2025.
Joy and loneliness, the frustration of being close yet out of reach, feelings swaying between bravado and true thoughts—these conflicting emotions are depicted as they coexist, unfolding with the passage of time.
As TOMOO herself says, it was made “as if co-written by my teenage self and my present self,” blending past impulses with a current perspective to gently resonate with listeners’ memories.
It’s perfect for graduation season, when you find yourself wanting to revisit feelings you couldn’t put into words and the person you used to be.
Recommended for anyone who wants to softly illuminate the light and shadow in their heart before stepping into somewhere new.
Song Not to ForgetNEW!Macaroni Enpitsu
Graduation is a send-off—meaning it’s also a new starting line.
At such a milestone, I highly recommend the ending theme of the TV anime “Oblivion Battery” by Macaroni Empitsu.
It was surprise-released in April 2024 alongside the start of the broadcast, and later included on the EP “Bokura no Namida nara Sora ni Umeyou.” Its appeal lies in a perfect balance: it raises the heat of youth head-on without forcing emotion.
Written and composed by vocalist Hattori, it’s a poignant yet powerful track that holds both the memories we never want to forget and the cruelty of time that will inevitably fade them.
Though it’s a tie-in for a series about high school baseball, it’s recommended for anyone who wants to etch their irreplaceable days into their heart.
Listen as you linger in the afterglow of graduation, and you’ll likely find tears falling.
bright and clearNEW!Sugar.
Giving voice, connecting hearts—this song, which touches the very core of youth, was created by Sato..
Released in January 2025 as the ending theme for the TV anime “Flowers Bloom, Like Asura,” it embraces the warmth of words while staying true to the original work’s worldview, set in a high school broadcasting club.
This marks Sato.’s first anime tie-in and first band arrangement.
With Shingo Sekiguchi as arranger, the piece elevates the intimacy of a solo performance into a dramatic soundscape that carries the lingering afterglow of the story.
The music video was filmed at the artist’s alma mater just before its closure, with current students appearing as extras.
It’s a visual work perfectly suited to the season of departure, leaving a voice behind in a place that is passing away.
A must-listen for those graduating and for anyone taking a new step forward.