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

horizonNEW!Moeka Yahagi

Moeka Yahagi – Horizon [Music Video]

A ballad written as the ending theme for the TV anime Sorairo Utility.

Moeka Yahagi handled both lyrics and composition; it was delivered in advance in January 2025 and released on CD in February of the same year.

While accompanying the story of girls who grow closer through golf, it conveys a strong resolve: “Even if they laugh or mock you, stay true to the path you believe in.” In creating the song, Yahagi focused on the moment in play when you inhale before taking a shot, translating into the lyrics the feeling of being able to center yourself in that instant, even while carrying pain.

The melody, blending warmth and wistfulness, is perfect for graduation ceremonies that mark a new first step.

It’s a song that gently supports anyone who wants to move forward in their own way despite feeling crushed by others’ eyes and judgments.

Wonderful WorldNEW!&TEAM

&TEAM ‘Wonderful World’ Focus Cam (방과후 ver.)

A track where refreshing piano tones and warm vocals spread out as if wrapping the sweet-and-sour feelings of youth.

Released in January 2025, this song by &TEAM was created as the ending theme for the TV anime Honey Lemon Soda.

Its message—that a once-lonely world gains color through meeting someone special and gives you the courage to take a step forward—resonates deeply.

Paired with the opening theme “Magic Hour,” it conveys the feeling of moving ahead while holding both the brightness and anxieties of adolescence.

It’s a number that reminds you, as you face graduation and step onto a new path, to feel gratitude for the friends and loved ones who stayed by your side.

It’s a song especially for those who want to savor the miracle of having met, rather than the sadness of parting.

Et ceteraNEW!imase

[imase] Etcetera (MV)

Have you ever experienced missed connections in your youth or carried feelings you couldn’t put into words? This song by imase gently brings back those memories tucked away in the depths of your heart.

Released in August 2024, it was written as the opening theme for the Netflix anime series “Kimi ni Todoke: 3rd Season.” Centered on a warm piano refrain, its sound—woven from a dramatic melody and falsetto—strikes a delicate balance between poignancy and pop sensibility.

While resonating with the world of the show, it also possesses a universal appeal that overlaps with each listener’s own memories of youth.

It’s a track you’ll want to hear as graduation approaches and you look back on days with your friends—especially if those unspoken feelings from back then suddenly pass through your heart.

sealLiSA

LiSA 'Shirushi - MUSIC CLIP short ver. -'

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.

piece of youthChouCho

ChouCho – piece of youth (Acoustic ver.) (Girls und Panzer: The Movie theme song)

A moving number featuring ChouCho’s gentle vocals, used as the theme song for the anime film Girls und Panzer: The Movie.

Every day up to graduation was so intense that we could hardly think about tomorrow—tough, yet full of joy.

This is a song that lets you believe those days will shape the future starting tomorrow.

promiseFriends

Friends “Promise” (TV anime Horimiya ending theme)

“Yakusoku” captivates with the warm tones of its guitar and Emi Okamoto’s crystal-clear vocals.

It was chosen as the ending theme for the TV anime Horimiya.

The lyrics trace a promise shared with a precious person who is now far away, painting the feelings that linger.

Delicate arrangements—piano, guitar, and layered chorus—gently accompany listeners as they set out on a new journey.

Its bittersweet yet forward-looking message makes it a perfect fit for the milestone of graduation.

Run Through the MemoriesNEW!My Hair is Bad

My Hair is Bad – Dash Through the Memories

A ballad by My Hair is Bad filled with a warm message of gratitude to friends who shared irreplaceable time together, and of turning even painful experiences into strength for the future.

The sincere words penned by vocalist Tomohito Shiiki affirm the days that have passed in their entirety and give you the courage to take a new step forward.

Released in June 2024, the song also drew attention for being written as the theme for the film Crayon Shin-chan: Our Dinosaur Diary.

It’s an important track that closes out the album ghosts, featuring a grand band sound worthy of a story’s end credits.

It’s a song that gently supports graduates as they etch their memories into their hearts and move on toward tomorrow—why not listen to it together with your cherished friends?