[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.
"When You Want to Cry / When You're Sad" — Tear-Jerking Masterpieces That Make You Cry When You Listen (21–30)
budKobukuro
This piece was written as the theme song for the drama “Tokyo Tower: Okan to Boku to, Tokidoki, Oton.” It’s a track by the celebrated musical duo Kobukuro, released in 2007 as their 14th single.
Its moving lyrics, which make you want to express gratitude to the parents who raised you, are sure to resonate with everyone.
The beautiful choral work is surely one reason why.
As the song progresses, you’ll feel your eyes well up—please enjoy this gem of a Japanese pop ballad.
The Sound of SnowGReeeeN
This is a hit song by the popular artist GReeeeN.
Many people probably feel like listening to it when winter comes.
Although the song is themed around unrequited love, it conveys the poignant feeling of wanting to express your feelings but being unable to.
Give it a listen when you feel like crying.
[For when you want to cry or feel sad] Tear-jerking masterpieces that make you cry when you listen (31–40)
The Brink of NightRADWIMPS
Yojiro Noda, the vocalist and guitarist of RADWIMPS, has been writing songs around this time of year almost every year since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
This particular song was created in 2019, and it seems to be based on a piece he wrote during the power outage caused by the 2018 earthquake.
I’m sure the message—“even if the city goes completely dark, we’re still deeply connected, so very close”—has brought comfort to many people’s hearts.
It’s so like Noda to depict such gentle, warm sentiments in a romantic and beautiful way by invoking the stars.
A song that quietly stays by your side like this makes tears fall naturally as you listen.
sign; mark; symbol; omenMr.Children
It’s a ballad that was chosen as the theme song for the drama “A 14-Year-Old Mother” and became a big hit.
The track is by the rock band Mr.Children, who have remained at the forefront of the Japanese music scene, and it was released in 2006 as their 29th single.
The lyrics, which convey “a love too deep for words,” are moving enough to bring you to tears just by reading them.
And Sakurai’s clear, expansive vocals are wonderful as well.
Why not listen to it while thinking of your partner or your family?
He was alive, wasn’t he?aimyon
Speaking of Aimyon, her songs with catchy melodies and gently warm lyrics are popular, but among them are tracks like this one that deal with life, written with startlingly raw imagery.
The song itself features many parts that feel like poetry reading, setting it apart from her other works.
Still, it conveys her views on life and death and her empathy toward the feelings of the woman in the lyrics who took her own life—qualities that reflect her warmth and humanity.
It’s a song that truly seeps into the heart.
Only a single voicerokudenashi
It’s a poignant song that empathizes with people carrying the pain of heartbreak and the struggle of living.
Released in December 2021, it delicately portrays the loneliness and inner conflict of young people today, accompanied by the gentle tones of the piano.
The emotions expressed by Rokudenashi reflect the image of people who, though hurt by everyday words, still try their best to smile.
The song resonated across borders, reaching No.
1 on Hong Kong’s Spotify Viral Chart and moving many hearts.
It’s a track I wholeheartedly recommend to those who can’t quite put their feelings into words or who are wrestling with worries alone.
Its tender melodies and vocals will surely stay close to your heart.
It’s nothing.RADWIMPS
It’s a pure love song that conveys an overflowing feeling of “I love you.” The track is by the Kanagawa-born rock band RADWIMPS and was released in 2016.
It was chosen as the ending theme for director Makoto Shinkai’s animated film Your Name.
The transparent, crystalline arrangement is the kind that makes you cry more the more you listen closely.
Why do RADWIMPS’s ballads sink in so deeply? If you haven’t yet, be sure to watch the movie too!