Tear ducts guaranteed to burst! Heart-wrenching masterpiece songs I’d recommend to Gen Z

waxing; filling up; becoming full; growing (e.g., the moon growing fuller)Fuji Kaze

Fujii Kaze – Michi Teyu Ku (Overflowing) / Official Video

A gem of a love song written by Fujii Kaze as the theme for the film “If April Could Come, She Would,” starring Takeru Satoh.

With delicate lyrics and an elegant piano melody, it portrays unconditional devotion to a loved one and the inner change that comes from letting go of attachment.

While it aligns with the film’s story, it also strongly reflects Fujii Kaze’s philosophical worldview, and his gentle vocals carry the message deep into the heart.

Released in March 2024, this work stands as one of Fujii Kaze’s signature songs amid his energetic activities at home and abroad.

It’s sure to resonate with those who wish to keep thinking of someone they love forever, as well as those striving to overcome a farewell with someone dear.

Maplesupittsu

Spitz / Kaede

A gem of a ballad that weaves a fleeting yet beautiful farewell scene with a clear, transparent melody.

Released by Spitz in July 1998 from the album “Fake Fur,” this song tenderly sings of longing for what has been lost.

It portrays the heartache that gradually softens over time and the strength to keep looking forward, carried by a warm, gentle performance.

Beginning with its use in the 1999 Fuji TV drama “Over Time” and continuing through to the network’s 2022 series “silent,” it has colored many stories.

It’s a song to listen to when your heart is deeply wounded or when you’ve said goodbye to someone dear.

Masamune Kusano’s tender, comforting vocals are sure to become a source of support for your heart.

Sorrow Rides the Busmakaroni enpitsu

Macaroni Enpitsu “Sadness Rides the Bus” MV

Set to melodies that gently stay close to the heart, this moving story by Macaroni Empitsu captures the shifting patterns of human emotion.

The lead track from their August 2023 album, “Otona no Namida” (“Tears of Adults”), delicately depicts the fleeting feelings found in farewells with family and in everyday life.

Hattori’s clear, transparent vocals and the softly unfolding melody resonate deep within the listener.

The song also drew attention for its music video directed by Yoshihito Mori, known for the Netflix film “We Couldn’t Become Adults.” Through the perspective of a protagonist played by Shota Sometani, it asks profound questions about the meaning of life and the preciousness of existence.

It’s a recommended track for those who want to empathize with feelings for loved ones or soothe the quiet emotions they carry inside.

In that casemakaroni enpitsu

Macaroni Empitsu "Saraba" Music Video

A narrative masterpiece by Macaroni Enpitsu that wraps a bittersweet longing for love in the refreshing tones of guitar and synthesizer.

While gently embracing the pain of heartbreak, the unshaken desire to believe in the other person’s dreams stirs the heart.

The melodic lines and Hattori’s emotionally rich vocals beautifully capture the warmth and ache of youth.

Released in January 2025 as the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime Blue Box, it weaves unattainable love and a growing inner world together with the anime’s atmosphere.

A gem of a song that stands with everyone who knows the joy of love and the pain of heartbreak, soothing the soul.

The True Nature of TearsSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “The True Form of Tears” MV (Theme song for NHK Night Drama ‘Vanilla na Mainichi’)

This song gently seeps into the heart, delicately portraying the inner conflicts and emotional fluctuations that people carry.

In this work from SUPER BEAVER, the tender vocals and warm melody line express the loneliness everyone experiences and the feelings we hold inside, wrapping them in kindness.

It tells us that tears are not a sign of weakness, but rather something precious that helps us understand and accept ourselves.

Released in January 2025, it was written as the theme song for the NHK General TV drama “Vanilla na Mainichi.” The song is used strikingly within the show, carrying significant meaning for the story’s protagonist.

It’s the perfect track for those who are trying to overcome painful experiences or want to face their own emotions—an ideal song for when you need a good cry.

Family SongHoshino Gen

Gen Hoshino – Family Song (Official Video)

Set to a heartwarming melody, this masterpiece gently sings about the small joys of everyday life and the connections between people.

Gen Hoshino delicately depicts scenes like morning light and windowsills, as if capturing familiar moments within a family.

Its message—embracing bonds that go beyond blood ties and accepting the diversifying forms of family with warmth—resonates deep within.

Released in August 2017, the song was used as the theme for the Nippon TV drama “Overprotected Kahoko” and reached No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

Its distinctive sound, which skillfully incorporates elements of late-1960s to early-1970s soul music, is another draw.

It’s a gem that stays close to the feeling of wishing happiness for someone important to you, so why not listen to it in a quiet moment alone? Its gentle sound may even move you to tears.

If I had been living aloneSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER "If I Had Lived Alone" MV

Released in June 2020 and known as the theme song for the film “The Footprints of Water” (Mizukami no Flight), this SUPER BEAVER track is a heartwarming song that gently conveys the importance of human connection.

Its lyrics, which depict the joys and frustrations that come from our ties with others, and above all, the encounters with those who become most precious to us, resonate deeply with many listeners.

Marking the band’s notable return to Sony Music Records, the song reached No.

6 on the Oricon Weekly Charts.

It’s a track you’ll want to listen to when you wish to stand by someone you care about, or when you want to cheer on a loved one standing at a crossroads in life.