![[Departure] A Special Feature on Anime Songs to Hear at Graduation Ceremonies [Tearjerkers]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/cXaU8gAbCRY/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)
my true selfYuika
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.
I touched an angel!Hōkago Tī Taimu
An insert song from K-On!!.
The lyrics—likely possible precisely because it’s a slice-of-life anime—are striking for how they bring back memories of sparkling youth.
The passionate message to friends, “Graduation isn’t the end; we’ll still be comrades from here on,” blows away the sadness of parting and hints at a dazzling future.
in the pocketMr.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.
A gaze is lightKitanitatsuya
Let me introduce a song by Tatsuya Kitani that captures the shock of first love and the feeling that the world changes in an instant.
Released in July 2025 as the opening theme for the TV anime “A Sign of Affection Blooms,” the track was created with the artist consciously aiming to make “the brightest song of my career,” resulting in an irresistibly refreshing melody that resonates deeply.
The lyrics delicately depict light piercing through heavy, overcast clouds, melting away the walls around the heart.
With vivid freshness, the song sings of the moment when love rewrites one’s values.
Many listeners may recall how meeting someone transformed them, especially when standing at the milestone of graduation.
When you need the courage to take a new step, this is a song you’ll want to hear.
My greatest treasureGirls Dead Monster · Lisa
The theme song of Angel Beats!.
The lyrics—about how those days filled with constant fights were actually irreplaceable—evoke memories of youth.
They convey a powerful resolve to part from someone precious and to start walking forward alone without being defeated by the reality of their absence.
bright and clearsatou
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.
sealLiSA
This is the ending theme of Sword Art Online II, sung by LiSA, who has worked on numerous anime songs.
Though she’s known as a rock heroine, this is a beautiful ballad with a slightly more relaxed tempo than her usual style.
It’s a song I especially want those who spent time with someone they loved during their school days to listen to.
