Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 40s: classic and popular Japanese hits

The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi

The Last Rain

The 1990s, when CDs sold the most and J-pop experienced its golden age with a flood of nationwide hits, naturally produced many moving ballads as well.

“Saigo no Ame” (“The Last Rain”), released in 1992, is one of them.

Sung by Yasushi Nakanishi as a single, it was composed by Takashi Toshimi, a songwriter behind many classic J-pop tunes.

It’s a quintessential, textbook-standard hit—so popular that it’s almost always included on omnibus albums of ’90s ballads.

It’s also interesting that the lyrics, which depict a breakup from a male perspective, were written by Jun Natsume, a female lyricist.

Since its release, many artists have put out cover versions; in recent years, Crazy Ken Band covered it in 2021.

Some younger listeners may only know it through covers, but Nakanishi’s original—refined yet soulful—remains the best.

I highly recommend checking it out.

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Last SongGACKT

GACKT「Last Song」MUSIC VIDEO

Starting from a silence like freshly fallen snow and gradually building into passion, this dramatic progression makes it one of GACKT’s most memorable ballads.

The poignant theme of a “last song” dedicated to a loved one resonates deeply with listeners.

Released as a single in November 2003, it also plays a crucial role in the narrative of the album Crescent and continues to be cherished by fans today.

It was performed at the 54th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, a widely known episode where its overwhelming expressiveness deeply moved audiences at home.

It’s a song that gently stays by your side when you want to quietly accept a love that has ended, or on nights when you look back on the past alone and try to face forward.

Snow SmileBUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN "Snow Smile"

When the winter cold deepens, there’s that aching ballad you just can’t help but want to hear.

At first it seems to paint a scene of a happy couple, only to make you realize that “you” are no longer by their side—the tear-jerking structure is simply brilliant.

Many listeners will likely overlay that image of warming hands together in a pocket with their own faint memories.

It’s a song by BUMP OF CHICKEN, a band of childhood friends from Chiba Prefecture, released in December 2002 as their fifth single.

Although it didn’t have a specific tie-in, its universal lyrical worldview earned it widespread support.

It’s a masterpiece perfect for a night when you want to quietly look back on a past love, drinking alone and letting yourself sink into the mood.

I don’t want to let go.T-BOLAN

T-BOLAN “I Don't Want to Let Go” Music Video

This is T-BOLAN’s second single, released in 1991.

It’s said that this song was the turning point that propelled T-BOLAN to instant popularity.

Beginning with gentle piano tones, it’s a warm ballad dedicated to a loved one.

Starting with a calm, tranquil verse, the intensity gradually builds, and in the chorus—with its famously memorable lyrics—the vocals soar as if releasing pent-up emotion, giving the impression that the feelings for that special someone embedded in the lyrics are overflowing.

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Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi

Like the Moon Tonight / Elephant Kashimashi

A band formed during their junior high school days evolved in different forms and continues on as today’s Elephant Kashimashi.

Early on, they mainly played covers of Western music and RC Succession, and if you listen with that in mind, you can hear echoes of Kiyoshiro Imawano’s free-form melodies woven throughout Elekashi’s songs.

Since this track was released in 1997, people in their 40s probably heard it in high school or college.

It was also the theme song for Fuji TV’s drama “Because the Moon Shines at Night,” so some might recall the show instead.

Makiko Esumi in that drama was unbelievably cool! The lyrics, which seem to liken life to “moving forward even while carrying a sense of helplessness,” really resonated with young people in their youth.

A nostalgic classic!

I wanted to kiss you again.B’z

I wanted to kiss you again.

This is a classic B’z ballad that portrays a heartrending love story between a man and a woman, set against the changing seasons from a summer meeting to a winter parting.

The lingering melancholy and Takahiro Matsumoto’s weeping guitar further deepen the sense of lingering regret and attachment.

Included on the album “IN THE LIFE,” released in November 1991, the song was initially a candidate to be released as a single, but was ultimately passed over because “ALONE,” which had a tie-in, was prioritized.

Even so, it remains extremely popular among fans, ranking 4th in the vote that determined the tracks for the best-of album “B’z The Best ‘Treasure’.” It’s the perfect song to sit with on a night when a fleeting moment brings back memories of a past love and tightens your chest.

HOWEVERGLAY

GLAY / HOWEVER

In the latter half and beyond, many people may have tried to tackle the sustained, very high vocal range and ended up giving up.

Today I’d like to introduce HOWEVER, a massive hit released in 1997 by GLAY—one of the quintessential rock bands of the ’90s that continues to enjoy steady popularity well into the 2020s—which also became their first million-selling single.

It’s an indisputable masterpiece that once again highlights the talent of TAKURO, the guitarist and band leader who wrote both the lyrics and the music.

Interestingly, at the demo stage the other members reportedly weren’t fond of the song.

It’s one of those stories that makes you genuinely glad it was properly completed and released as a single.

Unlike a typical rock ballad, this track stands out for its reggae-influenced rhythm part in the first verse, and I’d also encourage you to pay attention to JIRO’s bass line, which creates a distinctive groove.

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