Recommended tear-jerking songs for women: classic and popular J‑pop tracks
We’ve put together a collection of songs you’ll want to listen to when you’re heartbroken, or when, for reasons you can’t quite explain, you just want to have a good cry.
From famous tracks to hidden gems, this feature is sure to help you find the perfect song to match your mood.
Listen while thinking of someone, or while facing your own feelings.
Even well-known songs you hear all the time can make you think, “Wait, was this always such a tearjerker?” when you really listen closely.
So go ahead and cry your heart out—and feel refreshed afterward!
- [So touching it makes you cry] A heartbreakingly wistful and sad song that tightens your chest
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 40s: classic and popular Japanese tracks
- Popular Tearjerker Song Rankings [2026]
- [Just the Lyrics Make Me Cry] Tear-Jerking Songs That Touch the Heart
- Tear-jerking songs I want to sing at karaoke
- [Women Artists Only] Tear-Jerking Masterpieces Recommended for Gen Z
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 30s: timeless Japanese hits that touch the heart
- [Today's Tearjerker Song] Tear ducts destroyed! Timeless and trending tracks that will make you cry no matter what
- For When You Need a Good Cry: Soul-Soothing Tearjerker Classics — Life, Love, and Work
- Tear-jerking love songs: classic and popular hits from Japanese music
- Tears for a heartrending story… Tear-jerking songs by women recommended for the Yutori generation
- [Female Heartbreak Song] A soul-stirring song dedicated to you, who loved with all your heart.
Tear-jerking songs recommended for women: Famous and popular Japanese tracks (61–70)
If ISekitori Hana
Singer-songwriter Hana Sekitori first drew attention with her acoustic guitar-and-vocal performances.
Her 2017 release “Moshimo Boku ni” (“If I Had”) is a song about what kind of message she would give if she had a child.
Over a warm, band-driven sound, the lyrics unfold in conversational phrases, sharing what she hopes will be cherished amid the many twists and turns of life.
Those messages may feel like words of encouragement to you yourself as well.
Paired with her supple, beautiful voice, it’s a song that gently resonates in the heart.
Lend an ear to the words that stay close to your anxieties and loneliness.
Give me a gentle kiss.DREAM COME TURU
Even a love that didn’t come true is miraculous simply because you met that person and fell in love at all, isn’t it? Among DREAMS COME TRUE’s many famous songs, “Yasashii Kiss o Shite” is especially popular.
When you read the lyrics, there’s definitely a sense that something’s complicated.
Two people have fallen into a forbidden love.
Even though they know they can’t be happy if they keep going like this, once you’ve fallen in love, it’s not so easy to give up.
The protagonist of “Yasashii Kiss o Shite” calmly observes her own wretchedness, pathos, and the helpless situation she’s in, and resolves, “Even so, I want to love this person.” It’s a song about a woman who, though she knows it won’t be fulfilled, keeps thinking of one person with unwavering devotion—both delicate and strong.
Tear SongOka Midori
A song that delicately portrays the feelings of a woman living in a corner of the city.
Midori Oka’s clear, expansive vocals gently embrace those who carry loneliness and anxiety.
Released in February 2024, the track was also chosen as the theme song for the drama “City Rain.” The sudden rain the moment you emerge from the subway after work, a can of beer by the window, a faded graduation photo—through everyday vignettes, it beautifully captures the fragility we all carry inside.
It’s a song to listen to when you’re heartbroken or feeling lost in life.
It’s sure to be there by your side.
You let me do as I please, and yet…arekunn
Are-kun is a singer-songwriter who has gained attention primarily through his online activities.
“Suki ni Saseta Kuse ni,” a track from his 2021 album Kokyuu (Breath), became a viral hit on TikTok.
The song conveys a heart-wrenching, burning sense of unrequited love—longing for someone who won’t turn around.
His sweet vocals over acoustic guitar tones offer a soothing comfort.
It’s a message song that depicts social media interactions and resonates with the younger generation.
contrailArai Yumi
This song was created based on the experience of losing a classmate during the artist’s school days.
Its poetic imagery likening a soul ascending to heaven to a contrail, together with a clear, translucent vocal, intertwine beautifully to form a gem of a track.
Released in 1973 as the B-side to the single “Kitto Ieru,” it was also included on the album Hikōkigumo the same year.
In 2013, it was chosen as the theme song for Studio Ghibli’s The Wind Rises, touching the hearts of people across generations.
With its gently enveloping melody and relaxed tempo, it’s a warm, inviting song that makes you want to hum along together.
tomorrowNoda Megumi
A ballad that portrays a bittersweet state of mind with a voice where gentleness and strength coexist.
The delicate conflict of trying to move forward to protect what’s precious is expressed with nuance.
Woven with a tender, translucent vocal, the melody sinks deeply into the listener’s heart.
Released by Emi Noda in October 2024 as the theme song for the drama “My Treasure,” the track features a sound marked by evocative piano and strings.
It’s a song that gently gives a push to those who, despite their doubts, choose to face forward and live on.
Perfect for moments when you want to convey your feelings to someone important through song, or when you need to rouse your own spirits.
If I can laughUrufuruzu
Released in 2002, this song has straightforward lyrics that poke at the tender, aching parts of your heart.
Even if you cry from sadness, feel pathetic, or get depressed, if you can smile in the end, you’ll surely be able to keep going tomorrow.
It’s a masterpiece that makes you think you can’t help but hope to live that way—and if you can smile at the very end of your life, that would be the best.