For formal ceremonies in Japanese schools, everyone bows at the beginning and end of the ceremony. This bow is called a shurei (修礼). First, everyone stands at attention. On the piano, a C chord is played. Next, a G7 chord is played, and everyone bows. Finally, a C chord is played, and everyone stands at attention again.

Here are lyrics for some songs sung at elementary and junior high school graduation in Japan.

Tabidachi no hi ni (旅立ちの日に) was written by the principal (小嶋登) and music teacher (坂本浩美) of 秩父市立影森中学校 in Saitama. SMAP's cover of Tabidachi no hi ni is very nice. Ai Kawashima released a different song with the same name, which could be confusing.

旅立ちの日に

Tabidachi no hi ni

白い光の中に　山なみは萌えて 遥かな空の果てまでも　君は飛び立つ 限り無く青い　空に心ふるわせ 自由を駆ける鳥よ　ふり返ることもせず 勇気を翼にこめて　希望の風にのり この広い大空に　夢をたくして 懐かしい友の声　ふとよみがえる 意味もないいさかいに　泣いたあのとき 心通った　うれしさに抱き合って日よ みんなすぎたけれど　思いで強く抱いて 勇気を翼にこめて　希望の風にのり この広い大空に　夢をたくして 今　別れのとき 飛び立とう　未来信じて 弾む　若い　力信じて この広い　この広い　大空に 今　別れのとき 飛び立とう　未来信じて 弾む　若い　力信じて この広い　この広い　大空に

Shiroi hikari no naka ni yama nami wa moete Harukana sora no hate made mo kimi wa tobitatsu Kagiri naku aoi sora ni kokoro furuwase Jiyu o kakeru tori yo furi kaeru koto mosezu Yuki o tsubasa ni komete kibo no kaze ni nori Kono hiroi ozora ni yume o takushite Natsukashi tomo no koe futo yomigaeru Imi mo nai isakai ni naita ano toki Kokoro kayotta ureshisa ni daki atta hi yo Minna sugi takeredo omoi de tsuyoku daite Yuki o tsubasa ni komete kibo no kaze ni nori Kono hiroi ozora ni yume o takushite Ima wakare no toki Tobitato mirai shinjite Hazumu wakai chikara shinjite Kono hiroi kono hiroi ozora ni Ima wakare no toki Tobitato mirai shinjite Hazumu wakai chikara shinjite Kono hiroi kono hiroi ozora ni

Furusato (ふるさと) is a traditional Japanese song that may be sung throughout the year.

ふるさと	Furusato
うさぎ追いしかの山 こふな釣りしかの川 夢はいまもめぐりて 忘れがたきふるさと いかにいます父母 つつがなしや友がき 雨に風につけても 重いいずるふるさと 志を果たして いつの日にか帰らん 山は青きふるさと 水は清きふるさと	Usagi oishi kano yama Kobuna tsurishi kano kawa Yume wa ima mo megurite Wasuregataki furusato Ika ni imasu chichi haha tsutsuganashi ya tomogaki Ame ni kaze ni tsuketemo Omoi izuru furusato Kokorozashi wo hatashite Itsu no hi ni ka kaeran Yama wa aoki furusato Mizu wa kiyoki furusato

Kimi Ga Yo (君が代) is Japan's national anthem.

君が代	Kimi ga yo
君が代は 千代に八千代に さざれ石の いわおとなりて こけのむすめで	Kimi ga kayo wa Chi yo ni ya chi yo ni Sazare ishi no Iwa oto narite Koke no musume de

Sakura (さくら) was written by Naotaro Moriyama (森山直太朗) in 2003. Here's a video of Moriyama singing the song.

さくら

Sakura

僕らはきっと待ってる 君とまた会える日々を さくら並木の道の上で 手を振り叫ぶよ どんなに苦しい時も 君は笑っているから 挫けそうになりかけても 頑張れる気がしたよ 霞みゆく景色の中に あの日の歌が聴こえる さくら　さくら　今、咲き誇る 刹那に散りゆく運命と知って さらば友よ　旅立ちの刻 変わらない その想いを今 今なら言えるだろうか 偽りのない言葉 輝ける君の未来を願う 本当の言葉 移りゆく街はまるで 僕らを急かすように さくら　さくら　ただ舞い落ちる いつか生まれ変わる瞬間を信じ 泣くな友よ　今惜別のとき 飾らないあの笑顔で　さあ さくら　さくら　いざ舞い上がれ 永遠にさんざめく　光を浴びて さらば友よ　またこの場所で会おう さくら舞い散る道の上で

Bokura wa kitto matteru Kimi to mata aeru hibi o Sakura namiki no michi no ue de Te o furi sakebu yo Donna ni kurushii toki mo Kimi wa waratteiru kara Kujikeso ni narikakete mo Ganbareru kigashita yo Kasumiyuku keshiki no naka ni Ano hi no uta ga kikoeru Sakura sakura ima sakihokoru Setsuna ni chiriyuku sadameto shitte Saraba tomo yo tabidachi no toki Kawaranai sono omoi o ima Ima nara ieru daro ka Itsuwari no nai kotoba Kagayakeru toki no mirai o negau Honto no kotoba Utsuriyuku machi wa maru de Bokura o sekasuyo ni Sakura sakura tada maiochiru Itsu ka umare kawaru toki o shinji Naku na tomo yo ima sekibetsu no toki Kazaranai ano egao de sa Sakura sakura iza maiagare Towa ni sanzameku hikari o abide Saraba tomoyo mata kono basho de ao Sakura maichiru michi no ue de

Sayonara Tomoyo (さよなら友よ) was written by 阪田寛夫 and 黒沢吉徳.

さよなら友よ

Sayonara tomoyo

心を映して　空の色 少し悲しく　光る朝 別れの時が　今迫る さよなら友よ　さよなら友よ 忘れまいこの日を　いつまでも 何にも言わない　校舎さえ 心ありげに　見える今日 勇んで行けと　声がする さよなら友よ　さよなら友よ 忘れまいこの日を　いつまでも 草の芽伸び行く　春の道 行手示して　浮かぶ雲 別れの時が　今迫る さよなら友よ　さよなら友よ 忘れまいこの日を　いつまでも

Kokoro o utsushite sora no iro Sukoshi kanashiku hikaru asa Wakare no toki ga ima semaru Sayonara tomoyo sayonara tomoyo Wasuremai kono hi o itsu made mo Nani mo iwanai kosha sae Kokoro arike ni mieru kyo Isan de ike to koe ga suru Sayonara tomoyo sayonara tomoyo Wasuremai kono hi o itsu made mo Kusa no me nobi yuku haru no michi Yukute shimeshite ukabuku mo Wakare no toki ga ima semaru Sayonara tomoyo sayonara tomoyo Wasuremai kono hi o itsu made mo

The Yurihonjo City Song (由利本荘市歌) is used for commencement, graduation, and various other events. The city website has PDFs of the vocal and piano sheet music.

由利本荘市歌

Yurihonjo City Song

時に添い歴史つらめき 里をうるおし人をむすんで 小吉川　海へと向かう水の道 その海はせめぎあう世界へひらく 先人の知恵に学んで今日を生きる la la la la la la ふるさとの四季おりおりに 花はほほえみ風は薫って 鳥海の　山きよらかに裾をひき 頂きはめくるめく宇宙につづく 子どもらとともに夢見て明日を創る la la la la la la aah aah

Toki ni soi reikishi tsurameki Sato o uruoshi hito o musunde Koyoshigawa umi e to mukau mizu no michi Sono umi wa semegi au sekai e hiraku Senjin no chie ni manande kyo o ikiru La la la la la la Furusato no shiki oriori ni Hana wa hohoemi kaze wa kaotte Chokai no yama kiyo raka ni suso o hiki Itadaki wa mekurumeku uchuu ni tsudzuku Kodomora to tomo ni yume mite asu o tsukuru La la la la la la aah ahh

鳥海中学校校歌

Chokai Junior High School Song

鳥海の峰　　空に映え けだかき姿　わが誇り 縄文の丘　　つつじ咲き出で 歴史を胸に　よろこび学ぶ すこやかに　すこやかに 英知を磨き ああ鳥海中学校 理想に燃える 若鮎躍る　子吉川 清き流れぞ　わが鏡 勤労の日々　汗さわやかに 大地の恵み　永久に忘れじ たくましく　たくましく 体を鍛え ああ鳥海中学校 いのち輝く ぶなの林の　やまどりは 希望はばたく　わが未来 文化薫りて　のびゆく町の 夢語り合う　友情の和よ うつくしく　うつくしく 心一つに ああ鳥海中学校 明日を拓く

Chokai no mine sora ni hae Keda kaki sugata waga hokori Jomon no oka tsutsuji sakiide Rekishi o mune ni yorokobi manabu Sukoyaka ni sukoyaka ni Eichi o migaki Ah ah chokai chuu gakkou risou ni moeru Wakaayu odoru koyoshigawa Kiyoki nagarezo waga kagami Kinro no hibi ase sayaka ni Daichi no megumi towa ni wasureji Takumashiku takumashiku Karada o kitae Ah ah chokai chuu gakkou inochi kagayaku Bunano hayashi no yamadori wa Kibo wa bataku waga mirai Bunka kaorite nobiyuku machi no Yumegatari au yujo no wayo Utsukushiku utsukushiku Kokoro hitotsu ni Ah ah chokai chuu gakkou ashita o hiraku

	矢島中学校校歌
一	清く淀みなき小吉川の流れは 我らの心を洗う 耳を澄ませ聞けよあの深淵の響きを 矢島中学の永久の教え
二	天の上原はきわまりなく 学びの広野はつきることなし 科学正義我らみないそしむところ 矢島中学の強き信念
三	土に香りありふるさとあり 伸びゆく我らの望みも豊か 若葉萌ゆる八汐の木かげに思う 矢島中学の窓は楽し
四	雲にそびえ立つ鳥海山 白雪輝き我らをみがく 仰げ進め希望の高峰をさして 矢島中学の永久の使命

At Yashima Junior High School (矢島中学校), I often make music requests. Some of the kids know The Beatles or The Carpenters, and they all know Michael Jackson is creepy (but not his music). 90s rock music is foundational to their growth as individuals.

	1. Ojo. Leo Kottke, 6 and 12 String Guitar. 1969. Not sure the students know how to handle 12 string solo guitar.
	2. Basket Case. Green Day, Dookie. 1994. Plus the next three songs on the album, because they didn't bother to change the CD after the song.
	3. Stairway to Heaven. Led Zeppelin, IV. 1971. Vice principal likes.
	4. In the Meantime. Space Hog, Resident Alien. 1995. Everyone who knows this song loves it.
	5. Give Up the Funk. Parliament, The Best of Parliament Funkadelic. You have to party while listening to George Clinton.
	6. Me and Bobby McGee. Janis Joplin, Pearl. 1971.
	7. Tank! Seatbelts, Cowboy Bebop OST. 1998. 中学生 were too young to see it on TV.
	8. Blue Sky. The Allman Brothers, A Decade of Hits 1969-1979.
	9. Steven's Last Night in Town. Ben Folds Five, Whatever and Ever Amen. 1997.
	10. Beat It. Michael Jackson, Thriller. 1984.
	11. Come On (Let the Good Times Roll). Jimi Hendrix, Electric Ladyland. 1968.
	12. Promises. Eric Clapton, Backless. 1978.
	13. Follow the Leader. Eric B. and Rakim, Follow the Leader. 1988.
	14. Maria. West Side Story (Original Broadway Cast). 1957.
	15. Wish You Were Here. Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here. 1975.
	16. Stickshifts and Safetybelts. Cake, Fashion Nugget. 1996.
	17. Feel. Robbie Williams, Escapology. 2003.
	19. Strawberry Fields Forever. The Beatles, Magical Mystery Tour. 1967.
	20. Everlong. Foo Fighters, The Colour and the Shape. 1997.
	21. Where It's At. Beck, Odelay. 1996.
	22. Out of My Head. Fastball, All the Pain Money Can Buy. 1998.
	23. The Kids Aren't Alright. The Offspring, Americana. 1998.
	24. Fade to Black. Metallica, Ride the Lightning. 1984.