[For when you want to cry or feel sad] Tear-jerking masterpieces that make you cry when you listen
Even when you feel like crying, it’s not as easy to shed tears as it was when you were a child once you’ve grown up.
In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of songs perfect for when you want to cry—from tear-jerking melodies to moving masterpieces.
These are all tracks you can listen to alone at home and really let the tears flow.
We’ve gathered everything from classics to the latest hits: songs that help you free the part of yourself that can’t cry, and songs that stay close to your pain and lift you up.
Find that one song that speaks to your heart—and let yourself have a good, cathartic cry.
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- The lyrics are profoundly good. The more you listen, the more it sinks in. Masterpieces of Japanese music, recommended popular songs.
[For when you want to cry or feel sad] Tear-jerking classic songs that make you cry when you listen (111–120)
I miss you so much, I want to see you.Nishino Kana
More than anyone else, “Aitakute Aitakute” gives voice to the unbearable feeling of not being able to see the one you love.
Released in 2010 by singer Kana Nishino, who drew attention with songs told from a female perspective, it candidly expresses the loneliness and anxiety that arise when the distance grows between lovers you thought would be together forever.
Her emotional vocals over an R&B-style beat convey the aching sorrow.
Even while knowing they can no longer love each other, the song portrays the overflowing, honest feelings of heartbreak.
It’s a number that will resonate with anyone who finds themselves thinking about an ex.
[For when you want to cry or feel sad] Tear-jerking masterpieces that make you cry when you listen (121–130)
passing by each otherSoala
“Sorechigai” is a song that gives voice to the pent-up emotions of being told goodbye by someone you love.
Released in 2023 by singer-songwriter Soala, who rose to popularity through social media platforms like TikTok, the track blends a rhythmic R&B groove with her emotional vocals.
It portrays a bittersweet love that keeps asking the other person the same questions, even while knowing they are drifting apart.
The song’s structure—spoken, intimate verses that build into a passionate, soaring chorus—conveys an overflowing love, making it a poignant breakup anthem.
I long to see you now.MISIA
Some of you may strongly associate it with the theme song of the hit drama JIN, starring Takao Osawa.
The song “Aitakute Ima,” released in 2009 as MISIA’s 23rd single, is a tear-jerking masterpiece and one of her signature tracks.
Written as MISIA grappled with the theme of life, it’s a song that makes you think of someone you long to see but cannot.
Her vocals make it all the more moving, bringing listeners to tears.
First LoveUru
Uru, who has worked on theme songs for numerous dramas, anime, and other visual works.
This song, First Love, was the theme song for the 2021 film First Love starring Keiko Kitagawa.
Such a grand love song truly comes alive because it’s sung by Uru.
It’s a beautiful piece, with her gentle, thornless voice wrapping listeners in kindness.
Also pay attention to the lyrics that amplify its grandeur.
The theme of “coming to know love through someone’s presence” is wonderful.
sympathetic tearsHitoto Yo
A debut work by Yo Hitoto that delicately portrays people’s emotions in our lonely modern society.
Amid an information-saturated daily life, the protagonist searches for a place to belong, gently expressing the warmth of a heart that empathizes with others’ tears and stays by their side.
Its original sound weaves together elements of gospel, R&B, and oriental influences, beautifully harmonizing with her crystal-clear vocals.
Since its release in October 2002, the song reached No.
4 on the Oricon weekly chart.
The following year, it won the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist and was performed on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
It’s a song I sincerely want to share with those struggling with human connections or those who feel the urge to be there for someone.
meteoryoshida takurou
It was released in 1979.
Although it didn’t sell well, it’s a song that’s very popular among fans.
It’s a manly ballad, and Hikari Ota of the comedy duo Bakusho Mondai has even cited it as a “tear-jerking masterpiece,” making it a classic passed down across generations.
You can feel the foundations it laid for later folk singers—it’s truly evocative.
Of course it suits ordinary, everyday moments, but listening to it after achieving a dream might loosen your tear ducts even more.
It’s a song to savor slowly in any era.
366 daysHY
As adults, we often find ourselves in situations where we have to prioritize reason over emotion, and many people may even feel resistance to expressing sadness.
But sometimes it’s important to let yourself cry and be set free.
For those who want to cry but can’t, I recommend HY’s “366 Days.” Included on their fifth album released in 2008, it was also used as the theme song for the drama “The Red Thread” and became a huge hit with 4.5 million downloads.
Its heartrending lyrics—about wanting to stay connected even as feelings drift apart—bring tears to your eyes, and by the time you reach the end, you may find the tears won’t stop.
It’s a perfect song for when you want to take your time, listen closely, and have a good cry.
