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!
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Tearjerker songs recommended for women: Classic and popular Japanese tracks (41–50)
Memory of LifeNikaidou Kazumi
A beautiful song with a lovely singing voice that was chosen as the theme song for the Studio Ghibli film “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.” Listen to it while reflecting on life and the finiteness of our existence.
Kazumi Nikaido is a skilled singer who can handle everything from simple pieces to powerful performances with a jazz band.
As a side note, she is said to hold a monk’s qualification.
Only oneYano Akiko / Imawano Kiyoshiro
Akiko Yano’s song “Hitotsu Dake.” There’s her solo version and a collaboration with Kiyoshiro Imawano.
The vocal power and expressiveness of both artists really hit you, don’t they? It’s a gentle song, yet there are so many moments throughout the lyrics that pull you in, and before you know it, tears quietly spill.
Despite the lyrics overflowing with kindness, there’s also a warmth that feels like someone gently rubbing your back.
It’s a song I want to listen to when my heart is tired.
maybeYOASOBI
A morning of ending for two, greeted in a room fallen silent.
This is a YOASOBI song that portrays such a matter-of-fact scene of parting.
Released in July 2020, it also served as the theme song for a short film.
True to the duo’s concept of “turning novels into music,” it was created based on a publicly submitted short story.
There’s a painfully real quality in the way they try to accept a relationship that drifted apart—not because either person was at fault—with the word “probably.” Ikura’s clear, translucent vocals delicately capture the subtleties of a heart that can’t neatly move on, and are sure to resonate deeply with those carrying the pain of heartbreak.
While accepting the end, you can’t help but empathize with the sudden longing for the past that slips in.
AiHata Motohiro
Moto Hiro Hata, a singer-songwriter with a special voice that carries both warmth and coolness.
His ninth single, “Ai (Love),” is a song in which the protagonist—who once distrusted the idea of loving—comes to believe in “love.” After past heartbreaks or witnessing relationship dramas around us, it’s easy to lose a positive outlook on romance without noticing.
It seems the protagonist experienced a life-changing encounter that overturned those feelings.
This is a song that brings tears as you hear how a heart that had grown cold slowly softens through that meeting.
Because you are hereUru
A number by Uru, whose captivating voice feels like it wraps gently around the listener’s heart.
This song was written as the theme for the drama “Theseus no Fune” starring Ryoma Takeuchi.
Just having someone important to you can give you the strength to overcome anything and keep going.
The lyrics are filled with a warm message that makes you feel that way.
They also tie in with the drama’s story, so many listeners will likely find parts they can relate to.
Released in February 2020, it is also included on the album “Orion Blue.” If you listen to it while thinking of someone you can no longer meet, you might find tears falling naturally.
SAD SONG feat. No No Girls FINALISTSchanmina
A special song by Chanmina and the “No No Girls” finalists has moved many to tears with its stirring performance.
The lyrics—filled with the bittersweetness behind happiness and a strong resolve to believe in the future—captivate listeners and make the piece deeply compelling.
Said to be based on Chanmina’s real experiences, it conveys the loneliness of chasing a dream and the importance of bonds with fellow travelers.
Released in January 2025, the song’s performance on THE FIRST TAKE in May of the same year tied in with the audition project and generated great emotion, topping YouTube for 10 days.
If you’re working hard at something, this song is sure to gently nudge you forward.
Don’t miss the chance to experience it.
Scene of angelsOzawa Kenji
It’s included on the 1993 album “The Dogs Bark but the Caravan Moves On.” At over 13 minutes long, it’s an extended, deeply satisfying track.
Ozawa Kenji’s sweet vocals are striking.
It sings of life and death.
It’s a masterpiece that makes you contemplate existence and the universe—and brings you to tears.