[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.
- Crying songs, tear-jerker tunes. A request of tears dedicated to you.
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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 (141–150)
Family LandscapeHanaregumi
If you listen to it absentmindedly, a sense of nostalgia and warmth wells up, and before you know it, you’re moved to tears—this is that kind of song.
The track “Kazoku no Fukei” (Family Scenery) is included on Hanaregumi’s first album, Oto Time, released in 2002.
It stirs a feeling that’s somehow universally nostalgic, as if your chest is gently yet tightly squeezed.
For those who’ve left home and haven’t been able to see their family often, it may resonate especially deeply.
It’s a gentle song that, though a bit embarrassing, makes you want to muster a little courage and share your feelings with your family.
Cheer up!Takeuchi Mariya
Mariya Takeuchi, whose charm and kindness remain unchanged since her debut, brings us the tear-jerking song “Genki wo Dashite” (“Cheer Up”).
It’s a track you’ll want to send to a friend heartbroken after a breakup—the lyrics feel like they’re saying, “It’s going to be okay!”, and the gentle melody wraps around a wounded heart.
It’s a song that encourages you not to bottle up your feelings: just for today, allow yourself to cry your heart out, then start fresh and keep going from tomorrow with renewed strength.
waxing; filling up; becoming full; growing (e.g., the moon growing fuller)Fuji Kaze
Fujii Kaze’s ballad, with its poignant melody highlighted by gentle piano tones, beautifully depicts the transience of life and the feelings we hold for those dear to us.
Written as the theme song for the film “She Is Me in Spring,” released in March 2024, the piece powerfully speaks to the importance of letting go—of parting from a loved one and releasing attachment.
It delicately weaves the subtle shifts of the heart over time, posing a quiet resolve to face life’s impermanence.
The music video, directed by Tomokazu Yamada, symbolically explores the essence of love and life, with Fujii Kaze playing a dual role as both an elderly man and a young man.
It’s the perfect song for moments when you want to calmly reflect on yourself or immerse yourself in memories with someone special.
twilightTHE BLUE HEARTS
The Blue Hearts, loved by a wide range of generations, have straightforward lyrics that really hit home.
From the very start, this song pierces the heart that’s weighed down with fatigue.
It’s simple, but that very simplicity resonates all the more, and it makes you feel like maybe you don’t need to overthink things.
It’s a song I’d love for you to listen to while watching a beautiful sunset at dusk.
Best FriendKiroro
When you’re feeling kind of worn out and just want to cry for no reason, I recommend Kiroro’s “Best Friend.” Even if you feel alone, listening to this song will remind you that you have people who are important to you and friends by your side.
The song expresses gratitude to those people.
To the futureKiroro
An ultra-famous classic: Kiroro’s “Mirai e.” Released in 1998, it’s a quintessential, moving hit song.
Known both as a song about meetings and farewells and as a graduation song, it’s beloved by many.
The feelings for “mother” expressed in the lyrics—feelings of gratitude—remind us that no one can live alone, and they’re sure to move anyone to the core.
A tear-jerking, highly recommended track.
Endless JourneyMr.Children
It’s said that people even seek out chances to cry—so much so that there’s a trend called “ruikas,” where you listen to tear-jerking songs, shed some tears, and feel refreshed.
Perfect for such moments is this track, Mr.Children’s 15th single: a grand, moving song that begins with nothing but a solo piano accompaniment.
It was also used as the theme song for the drama “Naguru Onna” (The Woman Who Strikes).
