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. Japanese classics and popular tracks (91–100)
spin; weave; compose (e.g., a story)tota
A gemlike love song woven from evanescent yet beautiful poetic expressions and a crystal-clear singing voice.
While skillfully depicting scenes from nature, it delicately conveys the feelings of thinking about someone dear.
When Tota posted it on social media in June 2021, it quickly sparked a huge response.
In December 2022, it was selected as the tie-in song for a Pure Gummy web commercial, and the full version was released in February of the following year.
Recommended for those who want to face everyday reality while feeling the sorrow of losing someone precious and the strength to keep looking forward.
I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu
A gemlike ballad that gives voice to the ineffable emotions faced at love’s end.
Included on Off Course’s album “over,” released in December 1981, and later issued as their 23rd single in February 1982, this song gently portrays the subtle shifts of feeling that emerge through parting from someone dear.
The “la la la” that threads through the chorus is a striking phrase that reminds us how, at times, it can express the heart more eloquently than words.
Used in a Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance commercial, it has surely lingered in many listeners’ memories.
It’s a song that stands beside you through life’s many moments, embracing the complex emotions we feel—cherishing someone important, tenderness, and a sense of loss.
Goodbye to youKaneyori Masaru
Kaneyori Masaru is a three-piece rock band whose name was chosen because using a person’s name felt familiar and easy to think of.
Their song “Kimi ni Sayonara,” released on October 18, 2023, makes a strong impression with an opening defined by a wistful vocal and guitar sound.
The lyrics, which depict the complex emotions after a breakup, evoke a realism that can’t be summed up as simply sad or lonely.
It’s a melancholic number whose sentimental melody stirs the heart.
Tearful KissSazan Ōrusutāzu
A bittersweet yet beautiful melody that seeps into the heart, this ballad delicately portrays the protagonist’s sorrow and lingering feelings as they face a breakup with a lover.
The emotionally rich vocals woven by Southern All Stars, together with a simple instrumental arrangement, convey the pain of heartbreak with striking clarity.
Released in July 1992, it drew major attention as the theme song for the drama “Zutto Anata ga Suki Datta.” It became Southern All Stars’ first million-selling single and won the Excellence Award at the 34th Japan Record Awards.
Whether you’re seeking to heal the sadness of parting or reminiscing about past love, this song gently stays by your side—and continues to be a source of comfort for many to this day.
single bedSha ran Q
A melodious ballad that poignantly portrays the feelings of a man who, after heartbreak, can’t bring himself to step into a new love.
The single bed etched with memories of his beloved now stands as a symbol of lonely solitude.
The simple, everyday happiness they once shared, and the aching longing for someone who has now become distant, tighten the chest.
Released by Sharam Q in October 1994, this song was used as the ending theme for the anime D·N·A² and is also included on the album “Inferiority Complex.” It’s a song that gently supports those who are trying to move forward while looking back on a past love, and those who have experienced parting with someone dear.
KanadeSukima Suichi
This is Sukima Switch’s second single, released in 2004.
The song was featured as an insert track in the film “Rough,” and a rearranged version titled “Kanade for One Week Friends” was adopted as the theme song for this year’s film “One Week Friends.”
Super Ultra I LOVE YOUSenchimirimentaru
A song by Centimillimental that sings a passionate love confession.
Chosen as the theme song for the film “Given: Hiiragi mix,” it was released for early streaming in January 2024.
Its up-tempo rhythm, guitar sound, and powerful vocals blend beautifully, stirring the listener’s heart.
The lyrics, which express feelings of love in a straightforward way, portray a range of captivating emotions and the blindness of love—making you nod in recognition.
When you want to honestly convey your feelings to someone important but feel too shy to put them into words… listening to this track might be just what you need.