Tear-jerking love songs: classic and popular hits from Japanese music
There are times when you just feel like crying, right?
Among those moments, I’ve picked out some Japanese songs that sing about love.
I think they’ll bring a tear to your eye.
It’s also nice to share them with your special someone.
And if there are songs you don’t know, be sure to tell your classmates about them, too.
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Tear-jerking love songs: Classics and popular Japanese tracks (81–90)
We’re already broken up, you and I.AYANE
It’s a bittersweet love song that brings back memories of past relationships.
Released in January 2025, it’s included on the EP album “my luv.” AYANE’s clear, airy vocals are striking, and before you know it, you find yourself overlaying your own life onto the world of the lyrics.
The smooth, mellow R&B sound really seeps in, too.
It’s perfect for listening alone on nights when you can’t help but think of an ex.
By the time it ends, you might be able to look forward a little.
Song for…HY
A gem of a ballad about a bittersweet love, gifted to us by HY, a band from Okinawa.
Izumi Nakasone’s clear, luminous voice gently embraces the heartache of a love forced to part.
Included on their 2004 album TRUNK, this song is known as a masterpiece that leaves a deep mark on listeners’ hearts.
Its lyrics, which comfort those suffering from a breakup or enduring a long-distance relationship, are sure to resonate with you.
It’s the kind of song you’ll want to play when you want to feel the bond with someone special, or on nights when you need to cry alone.
In loveHY
Even if you weren’t the one they chose, the fact that you loved doesn’t change… A bittersweet yet forward-looking sentiment runs through this touching HY ballad.
Written as the theme song for the film “366 Days,” released in January 2025, the track is positioned as an answer song to their 2008 classic “366 Days.” It beautifully portrays emotional growth—rising from the pain of heartbreak and embracing even that experience as a cherished memory—and is also included on the album “TIME.” Set across Okinawa and Tokyo, the film unfolds a pure love story spanning 20 years, and this song superbly captures its worldview.
For those who have reached the end of a romance, or who are about to take a new step forward, this is a song that will gently give you a push.
hundreds of millions of light-yearsOmoinotake
Omoinotake’s music has the power to move listeners across generations.
This song, written as the theme for the drama “Eye Love You,” expresses feelings for someone far away.
With its refreshing groove and emotional lyrics, it drew major attention immediately upon its release in February 2024.
It’s also included on the album “Pieces,” where it has earned strong support from fans.
Overflowing with affection for someone dear, this track is recommended when you want to feel the bonds with a lover, family, or friends.
Its heartfelt lyrics and beautiful melody are sure to warmly embrace your heart.
Gajumaru ~Heaven in the Rain~ReoNa
An emotionally moving work that depicts feelings for a precious person who has been lost.
Streaming began in January 2024, followed by a CD release in February of the same year.
It beautifully captures a poignant emotional state that can be interpreted as singing about bereavement.
It was also selected as the ending theme for the second cour of the TV anime Shangri-La Frontier.
ReoNa’s transparent vocals fully convey the protagonist of the lyrics, who strives to find hope even amid despair.
Centered on the themes of love and parting, this piece is recommended for anyone looking back on the past while trying to face forward.
FruitsRin Oto
Rapper Rin-ne, who’s garnered attention for his everyday-life-inspired lyrics and rap skills strong enough to win multiple MC battles, teams up with asmi—often called “the most-used voice on social media”—on Fruits, the theme song for the Netflix series Let’s Get Divorced.
Even when you’ve decided to break up, you can’t help but still care; if you’ve ever been in love, that feeling might overlap with your own experience.
It’s a sentimental pop tune with a laid-back track and a poignant melody that really resonates.
Tear-jerking love songs. Japanese classics and popular tracks (91–100)
LetterSHE’S
A gem of a song that renders delicate emotions, woven with melodies and words that sink into the heart.
Released by SHE’S in July 2020, this track is written around the theme of a letter to oneself and depicts the movements of the heart within human relationships.
The piano and band sound blend beautifully, gripping the listener.
The song is included on the album Tragicomedy and also appears on the Tricolor EP.
Its music video, starring Eiji Akaso and Mayuu Yokota, also drew attention.
This is a track for anyone worn out by daily life and on the verge of losing themselves.
It’s sure to resonate with your heart.