[Departure] A Special Feature on Anime Songs to Hear at Graduation Ceremonies [Tearjerkers]

A gaze is lightNEW!Tatsuya Kitani

Your gaze is light / Tatsuya Kitani – Your Gaze, Crepuscular / Tatsuya Kitani

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.

Dwelling of LightNEW!Rei Yasuda

Rei Yasuda “Hikari no Sumika” Music Video — TV Anime “The Blue Jewels” Opening Theme

Just as gemstones are formed over eons, people too spend long years discovering a brilliance that is uniquely their own.

Carrying that message, Rei Yasuda’s track has been selected as the opening theme for the TV anime “Ruri no Houseki” starting in July 2025.

Interweaving natural motifs like wind and rain, the song expresses a determined desire to seek what one lacks and someday reach a place filled with light.

Her clear, transparent vocals ride atop a grand soundscape, resonating with a warmth that gently encourages the listener.

It’s a song we especially want to share with those facing the milestone of graduation and about to set off on a new path.

Why not walk your journey of slowly discovering your true self together with this piece?

MemoriesNEW!The Quintuplets of the Nakano Family

Memories

If you’re looking for an anime song to stay by your side in that heart-swelling moment on graduation day, I recommend this one.

Featured on the EP “Quintessential Smiles EP,” released in September 2024 as a theme song for The Quintessential Quintuplets*, it’s sung by the five Nakano sisters.

Their layered harmonies are packed with the bonds forged by friends who have shared the same time together.

This song doesn’t just dwell on nostalgia—it warmly affirms that the days you’ve accumulated have shaped who you are now.

After-school laughter with friends, the challenges you overcame together, each casual conversation—while holding those treasure-like memories close, you’ll find the courage to take a new step forward.

For everyone standing at the milestone of graduation, give it a listen when you want to savor the preciousness of the time spent with your companions.

I touched an angel!After School Tea Time

Tried performing K-On!'s 'Touched by an Angel!' with the band [Gestalt Collapse] [Anime Song] [Ho-kago Tea Time]

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.

Recipe for HappinessNEW!Hirai Dai

Hirai Dai “Recipe for Happiness” Anime MV | TV Anime “The Apothecary Diaries” Season 2 Ending Theme

This song was selected as the ending theme for Season 2 of the TV anime “The Apothecary Diaries.” Written and performed by singer-songwriter Dai Hirai, it was released on the same day the anime began airing in January 2025.

It’s a poignant medium-tempo tune that portrays the frustration of having feelings you want to convey but can’t get across, of wanting to get closer but being unable to.

What makes the piece truly outstanding is its perspective of affirming even bitterness and missed connections as “ingredients for happiness.” It’s perfect for the season of farewells.

The song was also featured on THE FIRST TAKE, where a special arrangement centered on Hirai’s solo guitar-and-vocal performance drew attention.

It’s a gentle companion for those who want to look forward while holding onto bittersweet memories—friends parting ways after graduation, relationships that never aligned, and more.

My greatest treasureGirls Dead Monster · LiSA

My Most Precious Treasure ~Yui final ver.~

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.

Glimmering in incompletionNEW!Oishikuru Melonpan

Oishikuru Melonpan “Shining in Imperfection” Music Video

A song by Oisicle Melonpan that paints the hidden sparkle of those laid-back after-school hours with a breezy, country-tinged sound.

Released in June 2025, it was written as the opening theme for the TV anime “See You Tomorrow at the Food Court.” It marks the band’s first anime tie-in and celebrates the milestone of their 10th anniversary.

The lyrics strikingly feature the word “moratorium,” allowing the languor of a time when you’re not yet anyone to coexist with a glimmer that exists only in that moment.

Its message—embracing unfinished days in a positive light—may resonate with graduates stepping into a new world.

It’s a song that gently nudges you forward in a season where the anxiety and excitement of leaving school mingle together.