Tear-jerking classic graduation songs! Recommended tracks for graduation movie BGM

StoryAI

AI – Story

A ballad that sings of the reassurance of having someone precious by your side and of an overflowing, profound love.

It’s a single released in May 2005 by AI, a singer-songwriter who captivates listeners with her husky, soulful voice.

The dramatic melody that begins with a piano intro gently wraps around the listener’s heart.

Also included on the album “Mic-a-holic Ai,” this beloved classic stayed on the charts for over 70 weeks after its release.

It’s also known as the Japanese ending theme for the Disney film Big Hero 6.

Carrying the message that you are not alone, this song is perfect for graduation-season memory videos that express gratitude to friends and mentors.

Be sure to give this warm, moving number a listen.

A Song for a Friendsonā poketto

Sonar Pocket 'A Song for a Friend' [MV Full]

It’s a moving anthem to friendship that resonates deeply.

The lyrics, written for a friend far away, beautifully express a bond that doesn’t change even as we grow up.

Vivid depictions of childhood memories and cherished moments spent together bring listeners a sense of nostalgia and warmth.

Released in February 2009 as Sonar Pocket’s third single, it was later included on the album “Sonapokeism (1) ~The Shape of Happiness~.” It continues to comfort many people as a song they want to hear during graduation season or when reuniting with friends.

Sakura RabbitKawasaki Takaya

Takanori Kawasaki - Sakura Usagi [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Singer-songwriter Takaya Kawasaki, whose name became widely known with the huge hit Magic Carpet, released this song as a digital single in January 2021.

It’s a bittersweet unrequited love song set on graduation day.

After three years of secretly caring for someone, he still can’t bring himself to say just one word—“I love you.” He expresses that trembling heart by likening it to fluttering petals and a timid rabbit.

Also included on the album Nukumori, the delicate tones of the acoustic guitar and his emotionally rich vocals make it a real tearjerker.

It’s often used on TikTok for graduation memory videos, making it perfect for coloring a page of youth.

Holding onto the words left unspoken, this masterpiece gives you the courage to take a new step forward—be sure to give it a listen.

Homeward Road in MarchHirai Dai

Dai Hirai / The Way Home in March (Lyric Video)

This is a memorable ballad that warmly depicts the scenery of graduation season.

With his gentle voice, Dai Hirai delicately sings about the subtle emotional sway that mixes joy and loneliness at the moment of departure.

Expressing the complex feelings that come with life’s milestones like advancing to a new stage or graduating, alongside the calm scenery of spring, the piece is also notable for its elegant arrangement of piano and strings.

Released digitally in February 2022, it is also included on the album “LOVE＋PEACE.” It is a song that resonates with the arrival of spring, offering comfort to those setting off into new environments and to those parting from cherished friends.

Embrace the presentsatō moka

Satomoka – Embrace the Now (Music Video)

A ballad by Moka Sato that makes you want to gently embrace the “now” we tend to lose sight of during busy days and the season of graduations and farewells.

Released as a single in November 2025, it’s a work that lays bare unadorned feelings.

What really hits home is how it portrays the will to move forward, even while carrying loneliness, through everyday details like familiar rooms and scenery.

It’s a song that sinks into the heart when you’re tucking away precious memories and heading toward a new place.

DreamerJO1

JO1 | ’Dreamer’ Official MV

It’s a ballad that gives you the courage to take one step at a time toward your dreams.

Written as the theme song for the drama “Short Program,” in which all the members starred, it was included on the album “KIZUNA,” released in May 2022.

Created as an anthem to support those pursuing their dreams, the song stays close to people who, despite their anxieties and doubts, try to look ahead.

Its melody, which blends gentleness with fragility, builds dramatically toward the end and truly moves the listener’s heart.

It’s a song you’ll want to hear on the day you set off on a new journey.

March 9Remioromen

Remioromen – March 9th (Music Video Short ver.)

When it comes to Remioromen’s signature songs, isn’t it “Konayuki” and this track, “March 9”? Both songs were tied to the hugely popular drama “1 Litre of Tears,” as the theme song and an insert song, so many people remember them as a pair of long-running hits.

In particular, “March 9” has become a staple graduation song and will surely continue to be sung for years to come.

It’s also a very popular choice for graduation choruses—moving and tear-jerking whether you’re singing it or listening to it.

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