[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 masterpieces that make you cry when you listen (31–40)
Islanders’ TreasureBEGIN
This is the song that makes me cry when I think of my hometown.
It’s one of the signature tracks by BEGIN, a band from Okinawa, released as a single in 2002.
It’s a beloved hit that has been covered by many famous musicians.
The lyrics, inspired by the island where they were born and raised, resonate even with people who aren’t from Okinawa.
If you’re living away from home, listening to it might make you want to go back for a visit.
It’s a gentle, heartwarming number that feels like you’re being wrapped in the warmth of Higa’s voice.
I love you, but I can’t love you.AAA
Even though they should be in love, they keep missing each other… This emotionally stirring song captures the difficulties of romance.
It’s a work by the performance group AAA, known for songs like “Lil’ Infinity” and “Wake up!”, released in 2015 as their 50th single.
Since it was used in commercials for Ito-Yokado, many of you may have heard it.
The vocals are heartbreakingly tender yet passionate, gripping your heart.
If you’re struggling with matters of love, try shedding some tears with this song for a change of pace.
I became someone else’s girlfriend.wacci
One of rock band wacci’s signature songs, its music video on YouTube keeps racking up views, and it became a huge topic not only in the video’s comment section but across social media.
The husky timbre and heartrending vocals of the singer, Hashiguchi, further enhance the song’s appeal.
And when introducing this track, the lyrics are indispensable.
They depict a woman comparing her new boyfriend with her ex, and from them you can keenly sense her lingering attachment to her former lover.
Faced with that unbearably sorrowful message, you’ll likely find tears welling up on their own.
atonementKasamura Tōta
It really stirs my emotions when I listen to it at times when I find myself thinking, “I’m such a hopeless person.” It’s a song by the popular Vocaloid producer Toa Kasamura, who also works on choral pieces, released in 2018.
The arrangement is very simple—just piano and vocals—but that simplicity lets the lyrics’ profound, message-driven depth shine.
“I may have my flaws, but I’m going to keep living anyway.” It’s a moving Vocaloid track that makes you feel that way.
Have a good cry and feel refreshed—reset your feelings.
HeavenMrs. GREEN APPLE
A soul-stirring song performed by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE.
Released in May 2025 as their 17th single, it also serves as the theme song for the film “I Will Tell You the Truth,” starring Motoki Omori.
This piece lays bare both the purity inherent in humanity and the shadows that lie behind it, posing profound questions to the listener’s heart.
It begins with a hush reminiscent of a cathedral, unfolds dramatically like a story, and fades away as if vanishing into thin air—an arc that seems to mirror our very lives.
Its unpredictable turns are sure to capture anyone’s heart and move them to tears.
It’s a song that gently gives you a push when you want to face your own emotions.
[For when you want to cry or feel sad] Tear-jerking classic songs that make you cry (41–50)
PrologueUru
This song was chosen as the theme for the drama “Chugakusei Nikki” (Junior High School Teacher’s Diary).
It’s a song about a heart-wrenching unrequited love.
The feelings you experience in the midst of painful, distressing one-sided love are scattered throughout the piece.
Uru’s gentle voice, free of any harshness, feels as if it lends you a shoulder to lean on.
Why not borrow that shoulder and have a good cry?
morning gloryorisaka yuta
Many people are likely drawn to his unique worldview and singing voice.
One of singer-songwriter Yuta Orisaka’s signature songs, “Asagao” (Morning Glory), is also well known as the theme song for the drama Asagao: Forensic Medicine, starring Juri Ueno, and is beloved by a wide audience.
The piano melody that somehow grips your heart, together with Orisaka’s vocals, adds an extra layer of poignancy.
I think many listeners have someone they’re reminded of when they hear this song.
It’s a track that brings a cherished person to mind and can move you to tears.
