Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 50s: classic and popular Japanese hits

Sakura, flutterSazan Ōrusutāzu

Southern All Stars – Sakura, Hirari [Official Visualizer]

A heartwarming message song by Southern All Stars that portrays a gentle light of hope, themed around cherry blossoms shining in the spring sunshine.

Through the fleeting yet beautiful cherry blossoms, it tenderly sings of loss, rebirth, and wishes for the future.

The melody is as light as a spring breeze, filled with a warmth that seems to stay close to the listener’s heart.

Released digitally on January 1, 2025, this work was unveiled as the lead single from the album “THANK YOU SO MUCH.” The gently flowing acoustic guitar and soft synthesizer tones create a pleasant atmosphere that evokes the arrival of spring.

Whether you need a moment to breathe in the midst of busy days or are about to take a new step forward, it will surely become a source of comfort for your heart.

single bedSha ran Q

Sharam Q “Single Bed” (Music Video)

This is a wistful ballad that poignantly sings of lingering feelings for a former lover, a classic that gently teaches the preciousness of love.

As the protagonist looks back on memories left behind on a single bed, they realize that a romance once taken for granted was in fact more valuable than jewels, weaving a moving drama.

Released by Sharam Q in October 1994, the song became a major hit, ranking 24th on the year-end charts.

It was also used as the ending theme for the anime D.N.A²: They Were Once a Thing, and included on the album Inferiority Complex.

It’s the perfect track for reminiscing about youthful love while sharing memories with friends.

Before anything else, from atop the roadIsseifubi Sepia

Issei Fubi Sepia “Dear Sir/Madam, From Above the Road” [Official]

This track, distinguished by lively festival-like drums and flutes, weaves in themes that deeply reflect on the meaning of life and personal values through scenes of nature.

While questioning the purpose of living and our reason for being, it delivers a powerful message of courage and hope in the face of hardship.

Released in June 1984 as the debut single of Ikkyo Fubi Sepia, it reached No.

5 on the Oricon charts.

It was also used in commercials for SUZUKI’s scooter “Love THREE” and Kirin Beer’s “Kirin Shochu Tanrei Straight,” gaining popularity across a wide audience.

It’s a song that gives you the strength to face forward and keep walking when you’re at a crossroads in life, feeling lost or anxious.

Let’s start from goodbyeSano Motoharu

Let's Start from Goodbye - Goodby Kara Hajimeyo / Motoharu Sano / cover by Hiroko Williams, sung by Hiroko Williams

A slow ballad with elegantly resonant strings that poignantly captures the moment of parting.

It’s said to be a song Motoharu Sano wrote and composed during his high school years.

The contrast between those who wave goodbye and the protagonist who cannot brings the lonely heart that struggles to accept the farewell vividly into focus.

Released in March 1983 as his 10th single, it was also included on the album No Damage, released in April of the same year.

Its steadily unfolding, lyrical melody quietly accompanies anyone who has experienced a departure or a goodbye, and is sure to evoke deep empathy.

Friendanzenchitai

Anzenchitai “Friend”

A song released by Anzen Chitai in October 1986 that gained popularity on the TV show “Yoru no Hit Studio” was used in a Daio Paper commercial.

Featured on the album Anzen Chitai V, it drew strong response, reaching No.

7 on the Oricon chart and peaking at No.

2 on The Best Ten.

Koji Tamaki’s expressively rich vocals poignantly convey the delicate emotional shifts of a relationship transitioning from lovers to friends.

The beautiful melody, unfolding from a wistful piano intro into a grand orchestral arrangement, gently resonates with anyone feeling the loneliness of a changing bond with someone dear.

SymphonyHirai Dai

Hirai Dai / Symphony (Music Video)

A song by Dai Hirai that powerfully sings of feelings for a loved one, as if telling a hero’s story of life.

Like the heroes we all admired, the determination to grow stronger for the sake of someone you must protect strikes a chord.

Produced in April 2023 as the theme song for the live-action film “TOKYO MER: Mobile Emergency Room — The Movie,” it beautifully blends Hirai’s gentle, warm vocals with the grandeur of an orchestral sound.

The lyrics, linked to the film’s worldview, are sure to gently encourage everyone striving for the sake of someone dear.

Filled with love, Hirai’s voice makes this a song you’ll want to hear when your feelings for family, a partner, friends, or anyone special grow strong.

homeKiyama Yusaku

Yusaku Kiyama - Home

A song from a father’s perspective by Yusaku Kiyama that weaves together the deep love of a parent cherishing their child and the joys of parenting, expressed through a gentle vocal and ballad melody.

It delivers to the heart, along with the warm tones of the piano, everyday moments shared with a child, a parent’s feelings as they watch their child grow, and messages to the child.

Released in February 2008 as his major-label debut on tearbridge records, it was chosen as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “UtaSta!!” and Yomiuri TV’s “Joho Live Miyane-ya.” In December of the same year, he performed at the 59th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.

This is a song you’ll want to listen to during life’s important milestones—such as graduations and weddings—when you want to feel the bond between parent and child.