Tear ducts guaranteed to burst! Heart-wrenching masterpiece songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
Do you ever cry in your everyday life?
In fact, it’s said that crying has a relaxing effect on humans.
Of course, we’d rather avoid tears of sadness, but in today’s so-called stress-filled society, healthy ways to release stress are essential for maintaining mental and physical balance.
So this time, we’re introducing tear-jerking songs recommended for Gen Z.
From blockbuster hits everyone knows to hidden gems, we’ve compiled a wide-ranging list—so go ahead and use it to cleanse your heart.
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Guaranteed to make you cry! Tear-jerking masterpieces recommended for Gen Z (21–30)
spin; weave; compose (e.g., a story)tota
An overwhelming sense of loss for a cherished person you can no longer meet.
Gently accompanying that aching heart are the works of Totasan, an artist drawing attention as a bedroom creator.
Released in February 2023 and included on the first album “oidaki,” this piece sparked a major reaction, even reaching No.
1 on the USEN HIT SNS rankings.
Its poetic worldview—overlaying delicate, shifting emotions onto natural scenes like the sky and wind—leaves a strong impression.
While wishing for the other person’s happiness, the fierce longing to meet them once more creates a painful inner conflict that tightens your chest just by listening.
Even amid sorrow, the resolve to weave hope for tomorrow is sure to move your heart.
Because you are hereUru
A number by Uru, whose captivating voice feels like it wraps gently around the listener’s heart.
This song was written as the theme for the drama “Theseus no Fune” starring Ryoma Takeuchi.
Just having someone important to you can give you the strength to overcome anything and keep going.
The lyrics are filled with a warm message that makes you feel that way.
They also tie in with the drama’s story, so many listeners will likely find parts they can relate to.
Released in February 2020, it is also included on the album “Orion Blue.” If you listen to it while thinking of someone you can no longer meet, you might find tears falling naturally.
leap day personRADWIMPS
Written by RADWIMPS in March 2022 as the theme song for the film “The Last 10 Years,” this piece portrays the love of two people confronting a finite life.
In lyrics crafted by Yojiro Noda after thoroughly studying the screenplay, he tenderly conveys how miraculous and irreplaceable a loved one’s presence is.
The heartfelt wish to keep living together—even if it meant giving away half of one’s own life—deeply moves us.
Beginning with a piano melody and gradually unfolding into a gentle orchestral arrangement, the song fills the heart with both wistfulness and warmth.
It is a profoundly resonant love song meant for everyone who holds someone dear.
HeavenMrs. GREEN APPLE
A soul-stirring song performed by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE.
Released in May 2025 as their 17th single, it also serves as the theme song for the film “I Will Tell You the Truth,” starring Motoki Omori.
This piece lays bare both the purity inherent in humanity and the shadows that lie behind it, posing profound questions to the listener’s heart.
It begins with a hush reminiscent of a cathedral, unfolds dramatically like a story, and fades away as if vanishing into thin air—an arc that seems to mirror our very lives.
Its unpredictable turns are sure to capture anyone’s heart and move them to tears.
It’s a song that gently gives you a push when you want to face your own emotions.
I miss youRADWIMPS
Released in March 2021, this song expresses the feelings held at the 10-year milestone since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Placed at the end of the album “2+0+2+1+3+1+1 = 10 years 10 songs,” it conveys a pure longing to see someone—an emotion only RADWIMPS, who have continued singing for a decade, could capture.
It is a ballad whose quiet, emotive melody seeps into the heart, carrying thoughts for loved ones we can no longer meet.
Beyond being a prayer for those lost in the disaster, it also resonates with the sense of distance and loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving voice to the universal ache of “not being able to see someone.” It’s a song that gently stays by your side when you feel the loneliness of being apart from someone dear.
lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE
A song by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE that portrays the anxieties and inner conflicts of youth while powerfully singing about the courage and determination to keep moving forward.
Amid passing days, a strong resolve to cherish even the wounds and pains that span a lifetime resonates alongside a light, buoyant melody.
Many listeners relate to the stance of trying to accept one’s imperfect self, even while harboring aversion to love and hope.
The track was chosen as the opening theme for the TV Tokyo anime “Oblivion Battery” starting in April 2024, and it won the Grand Prize at the 66th Japan Record Awards.
It’s music that truly symbolizes our era, offering comfort to those lost in life and searching for their authentic selves.
Dinner Songtuki.
A song that poignantly grips the heart with the ache of heartbreak.
Since its release in September 2023, it has drawn attention as tuki.’s debut work, and the music video featuring beautiful illustrations by Posuka Demizu also became a hot topic.
It portrays the image of oneself making a loved one cry and the wavering feelings of being unable to let go nonetheless, stirring the heart with gratitude and pain toward the other person.
With an appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen secured, this work has established a solid presence in the music scene despite the artist being just 15 years old.
It’s a recommended track for those who carry memories of a bittersweet romance or who want to reexamine their feelings for someone dear.