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

Sayonara ColorSUPER BUTTER DOG

SUPER BUTTER DOG – SAYONARA COLOR

Takashi Nagazumi, who continues to perform as Hanaregumi, once handled vocals and guitar for SUPER BUTTER DOG.

Their 2001 release “Sayonara COLOR” is a highly popular ballad.

Among a band known for stylish, pop-leaning tracks rooted in funk, it stands out as something of an outlier.

The film of the same name, starring and directed by Naoto Takenaka, was in fact created, inspired directly by this song.

It’s also fresh in our memories that in January 2021, Hanaregumi released a self-cover version featuring Kiyoshiro Imawano.

The lyrics of this song can of course strike a chord when you hear them in your youth, but when you revisit them in your forties and beyond, you may find the deeper meaning of the words—conveyed through its simple melody and vocal delivery—becomes even clearer.

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KOH-1

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OH MY LITTLE GIRLOzaki Yutaka

Yutaka Ozaki – Oh My Little Girl

Yutaka Ozaki, a singer-songwriter who represents Japan and blazed through the 1980s, released many timeless songs during his life, but when it comes to tracks that truly move you to tears, this one is indispensable.

A celebrated ballad that Ozaki himself praised, it pairs a gentle, subdued accompaniment with his rough yet tender vocals.

The lyrics express a straightforward love for a cherished woman and vow eternal devotion—“I won’t ever let you go”—yet there’s a lingering poignancy that stirs the heart as you listen.

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Hane Keisuke

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Rainy BlueTokunaga Hideaki

HIDEAKI TOKUNAGA – Rainy Blue

It’s one of Hideaki Tokunaga’s signature songs, and its popularity is evident from how many artists have covered it.

He’s also re-recorded it himself, and the existence of several different versions is part of its appeal.

The lyrics vividly convey emotions like heartache and pain—chasing after a love that should have ended, or memories suddenly resurfacing—and the gentle, tender sound that seems to amplify those feelings makes the song resonate deeply in the heart.

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kappamaki

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windKobukuro

Kobukuro “Kaze”

This is a ballad that sets bittersweet memories recalled with the arrival of spring to a gentle melody.

Released in February 2002 as Kobukuro’s fourth major-label single, it was used as the theme song for Fuji TV’s “Ucchi Kuru!?” and also inspired the drama “A Story I’ll Never Forget.” The lyrics trace feelings for a former lover and delicate emotions, as if time gradually melts away the pain.

Its depictions of spring are superb, and it’s a masterpiece that conveys not only sadness but also the strength to look forward.

The song was performed at the 57th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2006 and has remained beloved for years.

I’d especially recommend it to men who’ve had those moments when a past love suddenly comes back to mind and their chest tightens.

Close your eyesHirai Ken

Ken Hirai 'Close Your Eyes' MUSIC VIDEO

The moment that poignant piano intro begins, many of you may feel your memories from that time come rushing back.

This is the 20th single by singer-songwriter Ken Hirai, who continues to captivate countless fans with his overwhelming vocal prowess and expressive artistry.

Written as the theme song for the 2004 film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World,” it became a historic hit, topping the year-end charts.

The lyrics, which portray the sorrow of mourning a lost lover and the resolve to go on loving them in memory, never fail to bring listeners to tears.

Also included on the album “SENTIMENTALovers,” this ballad gently accompanies the heart of a man living on while carrying an unforgettable love.

On a night when you want to quietly lose yourself in memories alone, give it a listen.

Sorrow like snowHamada Shogo

Sadness Like Snow (ON THE ROAD 2011 “The Last Weekend”)

It’s a song released in 1981, but many of you may know it as the theme song for the 1992 drama “Ai to Iu Na no Moto ni” (“Under the Name of Love”).

It’s sung by singer-songwriter Shogo Hamada and is one of his signature tracks.

Because it’s such a well-known and popular song, there may be men in their 40s who always sing it at karaoke.

I feel the brilliance of the lyrics is packed into the first few lines.

It teaches us something vital about life—that it’s precisely when times are tough that we should cherish others.

Listening to this song makes you think, “There must be meaning in this trial too,” and gives you the courage to carry on.

It’s a deeply moving classic.

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Hane Keisuke

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TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya

TRUE LOVE / Fumiya Fujii

I think few people in their 40s today really remember The Checkers at their peak.

The members dressed in checkered outfits looked a bit mischievous, and above all, vocalist Fumiya Fujii’s hairstyle—with the sides shaved and thin bangs hanging down—became a huge craze.

It was that much of a phenomenon in an era without the internet or social media… The song that Fumiya, now an adult, sings tenderly is the classic “TRUE LOVE.” With lyrics pledging eternal love, it has become a wedding staple.

If you can play guitar, definitely try a solo acoustic rendition!