Cover photo by fuyu
Yumi Arai's 'Graduation Photo' presents a new form of farewell—not about parting or moving forward, but about keeping the memory of someone who was once there in your heart.
The motif of 'photos' is sung not just as a record but as a symbol of memory and a vessel for emotions. This is where the universality of this song lies.
What 'Graduation Photo' Tells Us About Someone Who's No Longer Here
"Swept away by the crowd, I change, and you sometimes scold me from afar."
These lyrics convey that 'someone you can no longer meet' continues to exist in the photo within your heart. Graduation is not just about leaving a place or time but also about the quiet end of relationships with people.
Photo by umisora
The scenery captured in the photo belongs to the past. Yet, the person in it still lives on in your heart. That’s why they’re unforgettable.
The 'Me' and 'That Person' Preserved in the Photo
'Graduation Photo' resonates deeply because it intertwines feelings for others with feelings for oneself. A photo not only records the person you were with but also captures the 'you' from that time.
Photo by uhe
What did we talk about back then? What were we wearing? Even fragments like these are brought back by a single photo. Like music, it resonates deep within our memories.
Even If We Can’t Meet Again, I Don’t Want to Forget
"Even after graduation, we’ll still be friends," said that person with a smile.
As time passes, that promise fades away. But the smile from that moment remains, both in the photo and in your heart.
Photo by heizou
Perhaps photos are a gentle way to 'close the past beautifully.' Because you can’t forget, you tuck them away and move forward.
'Graduation Photo' quietly captures the subtleties of such emotions.
