The Tear-Jerking World of Heart-Piercing Anime Songs
Do you have an anime that you got so hooked on it moved you to tears?
When you encounter a work like that, sometimes just hearing a single line of the theme song out of the blue can make you cry.
Maybe the song didn’t hit you at first, but the closer the finale gets, the more heartbreakingly it starts to feel…
In this article, we’ve gathered anime songs that will make you cry and cry and cry.
We’ve included both old and new anime, so it should resonate with a wide range of generations.
By all means, enjoy the works themselves along with the songs.
- Touching Anime Ballads That Make You Cry [Moving & Heart-Wrenching]
- Moving and iconic anime songs, popular tracks
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- Anisongs that were hits in the 2000s: a nostalgic collection of legendary tracks
- [Nostalgic] Classic and Popular Anime Songs Recommended for People in Their 30s
- The nostalgic atmosphere tugs at your heartstrings. Tear-jerker songs from the Showa era.
- Anime Love Song Special [Heart-Fluttering & Tearjerkers]
- [So touching it makes you cry] A heartbreakingly wistful and sad song that tightens your chest
- [Just the Lyrics Make Me Cry] Tear-Jerking Songs That Touch the Heart
- Tear ducts guaranteed to burst! Heart-wrenching masterpiece songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
- [Collection of Epic Songs] A compilation of cool anime songs chosen by anime fans
- [Today's Tearjerker Song] Tear ducts destroyed! Timeless and trending tracks that will make you cry no matter what
- Tears won’t stop with these sentimental lyrics! Heisei-era tearjerker songs
[Tearjerkers] The World of Heart-Piercing Anime Songs (41–50)
Yorozuya BluesHaizu Odeo
The insert song “Yorozuya Blues” from the anime Gintama is a track whose bluesy, gritty melody deeply portrays the show’s world.
Its somewhat melancholic, sentimental blues rhythm carries a power that prompts self-reflection amid an uncooperative reality and awakens one’s pride.
Set in Edo, where aliens known as Amanto have invaded and values have suddenly shifted, Gintama centers on the protagonist and unfolds a tapestry of human stories that make you laugh, cry, and feel warm inside.
The richly emotional lyrics, which resonate with the struggles of modern people, are profoundly moving.
[Tear-Jerking] The World of Heart-Piercing Anime Songs (51–60)
GarnetOku Hanako
This is a wonderful song that etches each fleeting moment of youth into the heart.
It gently portrays school grounds, after-school scenes, and the everyday moments we tend to overlook, while weaving in feelings for a cherished person, resulting in a tender composition.
Okuda Hanako’s clear, translucent voice warmly sings of memories that never fade with time and emotions that remain unchanged, making this a particularly memorable track.
Released in July 2006 as her fourth single, it was selected as the theme song for the animated feature film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, peaking at No.
51 on the Oricon charts and staying on the charts for 19 weeks.
Accompanied by a simple piano tone that brings back nostalgic memories, this song is one you’ll want to hear if you’ve experienced parting with someone dear or are about to take a new step forward.
Capsuleaiko
A number by aiko where gentleness and heartbreak resonate together.
Written specifically for the TV anime “Apocalypse Hotel,” it opens with delicate piano melodies, then builds as the band and strings come in, beautifully expressing a swell of emotion.
The lyrics carry a wish to lock away memories with a precious person in one’s heart, along with the sorrow of their absence—piercingly poignant.
It might be just the thing to listen to when you want to have a good cry.
Snow WingsRedballoon
It was redballoon’s major debut single and served as the ending theme for the TV anime Gintama.
The lyrics depict a wintry scene that feels frozen in place, which at first makes the song seem painful and sad.
However, backed by an intense band sound, it gives you the strength to rise up and keep moving forward.
It’s a song that gives you courage in tough times.
DECIDEDUVERworld
This is UVERworld’s 31st single, which was used as the theme song for the film Gintama.
The track was created to align with Gintama’s story, and it seems to focus mainly on love and sorrow.
It’s a rock tune that makes your heart swell—and brings you to tears.
See youDREAMS COME TRUE
It’s a timeless song that wraps a farewell with a loved one in warm hope.
Created by the pop duo DREAMS COME TRUE, the track layers Miwa Yoshida’s powerful vocals over a wistful melody, evoking not only loneliness but also the promise of meeting again.
The pure chorus sung by children further heightens the emotional impact of the story.
After being included on the album “AND I LOVE YOU,” it was released as a single in February 2008 and chosen as the theme song for the film “ONE PIECE Episode of Chopper Plus: Bloom in the Winter, Miracle Sakura.” Commissioned directly by the original author, it was crafted into a moving piece that closely matches the film’s worldview.
It’s a song that gives you the courage to look ahead during graduation and departure seasons.
See youDREAMS COME TRUE
It’s a timeless song that wraps a farewell with a loved one in warm hope.
Created by the pop duo DREAMS COME TRUE, the track layers Miwa Yoshida’s powerful vocals over a wistful melody, evoking not only loneliness but also the promise of meeting again.
The pure chorus sung by children further heightens the emotional impact of the story.
After being included on the album “AND I LOVE YOU,” it was released as a single in February 2008 and chosen as the theme song for the film “ONE PIECE Episode of Chopper Plus: Bloom in the Winter, Miracle Sakura.” Commissioned directly by the original author, it was crafted into a moving piece that closely matches the film’s worldview.
It’s a song that gives you the courage to look ahead during graduation and departure seasons.