[Crying Songs] A collection of classic Japanese hits whose stylish melodies tug at the heartstrings
For those of you searching for refined, tear-jerking songs that resonate deeply with your emotions and gently wrap your heart.
In this article, we’ve gathered cathartic tracks that stand by you in all kinds of “moments you want to cry,” from the sorrow of heartbreak and farewells with loved ones to despair in life.
The world woven by lyrical lyrics and delicate melodies offers a special allure that appeals to a mature sensibility—more than just sadness.
May your encounter with stylish, sophisticated music bring you healing.
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[Crying Songs] A Collection of Classic Japanese Hits with Stylish Melodies That Tug at the Heartstrings (1–10)
balladKetsumeishi
A love ballad from Ketsumeishi that differs from their usual cheerful image.
It’s a tear-jerker that gently yet poignantly sings of unrequited feelings for someone special, set to a tender, heartrending melody.
With piano and strings that resonate deep in the heart, this work was also a bold experiment that surprised longtime fans.
The song was released in January 2011 as one of a double A-side single and was included on the acclaimed album “Ketsuno-Polis 7.” It was also used as the theme song for the Nippon TV information program “Sukkiri!!.”
366 daysHY
It’s one of HY’s signature songs, and they’ve created many popular heartbreak tunes.
The narrator in the lyrics seems unable to let go of a past lover.
In contrast to the lyrics, which recount bittersweet, heart-wrenching episodes, the melody and vocals are strikingly beautiful.
As the song builds toward the end, the intensity rises, and many listeners will find themselves getting emotionally drawn in.
Song of PointillismMrs. GREEN APPLE
A gem of a duet song that delicately weaves together the tenderness of first love and the poignancy of parting.
Released in 2018 as an insert song for the film “Blue Summer: 30 Days of You and Me,” this piece blends the voices of Mrs.
GREEN APPLE and Sonoko Inoue, leaving a fleeting yet warm afterglow.
The lyrics are striking in the way they carefully portray, from both male and female perspectives, the joy of meeting, the foreboding of farewell, and feelings too deep for words.
It’s a heartwarming track that resonates with anyone who has experienced a farewell with someone dear or wants to cherish irreplaceable memories.
[Crying Songs] A Collection of Classic Japanese Hits with Stylish Melodies That Tug at the Heartstrings (11–20)
If you call it loveUru
It’s a moving song that sings of deep love and the rebirth of life.
It portrays the value of learning from failure and growing, and expresses the depth of the bond with a loved one.
Released in June 2022, it was used as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “My Family.” Uru wrote and composed the song, with arrangement by Takeshi Kobayashi.
The work conveys feelings about changes in relationships with others and the desire to rebuild them, depicting the process of realizing the importance of what was almost lost.
If you fully immerse yourself in the song’s world while listening, it will surely leave your heart feeling refreshed.
existenceTENSONG
A heart-stirring song by TENSONG that vividly portrays the pain of heartbreak.
Released in December 2020, the track was created by guitarist Takuman based on his real experiences, carefully depicting the emotions of being bound by memories while trying to take a new step forward.
The music video is an animated piece crafted by a classmate of the band, and it reached 1.8 million views in eight months.
It’s a song that offers comfort to those carrying the pain of heartbreak or who have experienced parting with someone dear—highly recommended for listening alone on a quiet night.
Don’t push yourself anymore.Asa
Singer-songwriter ASA, whose catchphrase is “songs for people who want to die,” has been gaining attention for highly empathetic lyrics.
The track “Mou Ganbaranaide,” released digitally on April 29, 2023, is striking for its gentle vocals tinged with a hint of darkness.
The lyrics, which speak to those who keep pushing themselves to the limit, may help lighten the hearts of people who suppress their true selves in everyday life.
It’s a sentimental number whose delicate ensemble resonates deeply.
Just being alive is admirable.ReoNa
For those shedding tears over days that just won’t go right, this song might stay by your side.
It’s a track by ReoNa, a singer known as a “despair-type anison singer,” included on her fifth single, ‘Nai Nai,’ released in 2021.
The lyrics and composition were created by the popular Vocaloid producer Tota Kasamura.
The lyrics, which spill out the feelings in one’s heart just as they are, are so raw they make your chest tighten just by reading them.
The sorrowful piano and ReoNa’s on-the-verge-of-tears vocals tug at your heartstrings, too.
