Beautiful tear-jerking songs / songs that make you cry your eyes out

Tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 40s: classic and popular Japanese tracks

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
lighterutatane
A person from the melodic hardcore boom generation who loves music, photography, and eating. I’ve been going to live houses for over 20 years. I’m at the age where summer festivals are starting to feel tough physically. I sometimes try shooting live photos and videos for MVs. I’m not great at English, so I often listen to straightforward Japanese rock that hits directly, but if someone recommends something, I’ll listen to anything—Western or Japanese—broadly and casually. I like cooking while listening to music; it’s a nice way to relieve stress.

Here are some tear-jerking J-Pop songs I’d recommend for women in their 40s!

Your 40s can be a busy time, with lots of changes both at work and in your personal life.

In the midst of an overly hectic routine, you might feel worn out or suddenly feel like crying when you finally get a moment to breathe.

At times like that, why not listen to some songs that let you cry and reset your feelings?

I’ve gathered a variety of moving tracks—songs you might have listened to in your youth, as well as ones that resonate precisely because of the age you are now.

When your body and mind both feel unsettled, please give them a listen.

Tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 40s: Classic and popular Japanese hits (71–80)

romantic feelingsAikawa Nanase

Nanase Aikawa / Koigokoro (Love Sentiments)

romantic feelingsAikawa Nanase

Nanase Aikawa’s powerful vocals brilliantly capture this classic song woven with bittersweet longing and anxious emotion.

While looking back on happy memories of the past, the protagonist’s confusion about their current relationship is beautifully depicted through evocative imagery like the sound of waves and the darkness of night.

Released in October 1996, the song was featured in a Camelia Diamond commercial and became a major hit, reaching No.

2 on the Oricon chart and selling a total of 1.129 million copies.

Its innovative sound—bringing elements of folklore into J-pop—also drew attention, and it continues to be cherished by many as one of Nanase Aikawa’s signature tracks.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you can’t move on from heartbreak or when you’re struggling with a relationship with someone important to you.

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Pink sighTakahashi Mariko

Pink sigh

Pink sighTakahashi Mariko

It is a masterpiece that fuses an exotic, Mediterranean-like atmosphere with an urban, sophisticated sound.

The song dreamily portrays a woman who blossoms like a flower when embraced by her lover, expressing both the beauty and the fragility of love.

Mariko Takahashi’s delicate yet powerful vocals further deepen the work’s unique world.

Released in May 1984 as the commercial song for Sanki’s “Camellia Diamond,” it was also included on the album Triad.

Highly acclaimed—including winning the Lyrics Award at the 26th Japan Record Awards—it became a long-running hit.

With a quiet mood that hints at hidden passion, this is a perfect track for spending peaceful moments with someone special.

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Wherever you areONE OK ROCK

Wherever you are／ONE OK ROCK（Cover）

Wherever you areONE OK ROCK

Is there any song that expresses the feelings I have for you so powerfully, so poignantly, and so straightforwardly? It’s not just because the vocal expression is phenomenal—the lyrics, melody, arrangement, and performance all come together as one force that reaches the heart.

It’s a number whose bittersweet ONE OK ROCK melody resonates in the chest and is loved by a wide range of generations.

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Unrequited lovemiwa

miwa 'Unrequited Love'

Unrequited lovemiwa

Once I fall for someone, the more I think about it, the stronger those feelings grow, and I can’t help wondering how I look in your eyes… You find yourself thinking about nothing else, right? The arrangement is heartrending too—it’s a song that could make you cry if you listen to it alone.

But it’s also a song that makes you feel you should never blame yourself for falling in love.

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ElegyHirai Ken

Ken Hirai “Elegy” MUSIC VIDEO

ElegyHirai Ken

This song, Elegy, was written as the theme for the film Forbidden Love.

It’s a love song told from the heroine’s, a woman’s, perspective.

The heartrending lyrics evoke an indescribable feeling, and on top of that, Ken Hirai’s vocals amplify the sorrow, cutting straight to the heart.

It’s a track with a distinctly mature mood.

For those spending their days in a gloomy or withdrawn state of mind, it will likely resonate deeply.

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