[For when you want to cry] A ballad love song. A heartbreaking love song.
Here are some ballad songs we’d love you to listen to when you feel like crying.
We’ve gathered recommended tearjerkers and full-on sob songs, including popular love songs.
If you’re hurting from love, can’t forget an ex, or you’re feeling lonely and looking for songs to listen to, this is for you.
These are all ballads that will quietly stay by your side while you cry alone.
Find the one song that matches how you feel right now, and let yourself cry as much as you need.
Crying might help you sort out your feelings, or even give you the push you need to move forward.
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[When You Want to Cry] Ballad Love Songs. Heart-wrenching Romance Songs (31–40)
NAOHY
HY’s song “NAO” is a heartbreaking ballad with lyrics about an unrequited love.
The person you like loves someone else—those poignant words make it a classic that grips women’s hearts and won’t let go.
Many people probably find themselves crying every time they hear it live.
evening primroseNovelbright
This work portrays a poignant state of mind: unable to forget a once‑beloved person, the protagonist can’t help but keep chasing their lingering shadow as memories of days gone by well up.
Vocalist Yudai Takenaka’s delicate high-tone voice gently envelops the pain of a protagonist who cannot accept the breakup.
The grand sound centered on piano and strings is another highlight.
It’s a song to listen to when you want something to stay close to the pain of heartbreak, or when you can’t take a step into a new love.
#302Hirai Ken
A song by Ken Hirai that was chosen as the theme for the drama “4-Minute Marigold.” It’s a heartrending ballad about falling for someone who loves someone else—enduring the pain while wishing that someday they’ll turn and notice you.
Both the melody and the lyrics are sure to move anyone caught in an unrequited love to tears.
Even knowing you’ll get hurt by staying close, you still want to be nearer to them than anyone else—because you love them.
And you can’t help thinking: someone who cares about you is right here, so very close…
futureKobukuro
A very heartrending ballad about continuing to hide your feelings so you can go on liking someone.
It’s a song by Kobukuro that became the theme for the film “orange.” If confessing your love doesn’t lead to mutual feelings, you’ll have to give up… In that case, it’s better to stay in unrequited love.
The protagonist of this song may find it harder to bear being unable to stay by that person’s side than the pain of unrequited love.
If you remain friends, you can always be by their side as a friend… It’s a bittersweet love song that conveys a strong will and the depth of love.
Close your eyesHirai Ken
This is a song that resonates with the aching feeling of holding on forever to the memory of a beloved person you’ve lost.
It’s the 20th single by singer-songwriter Ken Hirai, known for his unique musical world, released in 2004 and written as the theme song for the film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World.” It topped the year-end Oricon singles chart and became a massive hit, with total shipments exceeding one million copies.
It’s a ballad overflowing with the sorrow of only being able to meet that person in memories—when closing your eyes brings their smile to mind.
If you’ve experienced parting from someone dear, or if you want to quietly reflect on the past, please give it a listen.
[For when you want to cry] A ballad love song. Heart-wrenching romance songs (41–50)
tearsfayray
“Tears” was released in 2000 as Fayray’s seventh single.
The song was used as the theme for the TBS drama “Friends” and reached No.
11 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It is one of Fayray’s most popular and biggest hit songs, and remains a beloved ballad that is still sung in karaoke today.
aloneGosuperāzu
This is “Hitori,” the Gospellers’ 16th single, released in 2001.
An a cappella-only track with no instrumental accompaniment, it is among the group’s most popular songs.
The lyrics express deep love and trust for a lover, and the harmonies sung by the five members make that sentiment resonate even more profoundly.