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)
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.
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.
Tear ducts guaranteed to burst! Tear-jerking masterpieces recommended for Gen Z (31–40)
reverse dreamKing Gnu
A beautiful ballad that begins with a dreamy piano melody and unfolds into a grand string arrangement.
Its lyrics, interweaving love and curses, hope and despair, delicately portray the sorrow of losing someone precious and the deep reverence for the bond shared with them.
While tinged with melancholy, the warm vocals resonate deeply, making it a gem of a song.
Released by King Gnu in December 2021, it was used as the ending theme for the anime film Jujutsu Kaisen 0.
It topped Billboard JAPAN’s Download Songs chart for three consecutive weeks and won the Excellent Work Award at the Japan Record Awards.
Brimming with feelings for a cherished person, this piece gently accompanies those who have experienced heartbreak or farewell, and is a song best heard on a quiet night.
DarlingMrs. GREEN APPLE
A warm, heartfelt ballad that resonates when you feel like you’re losing yourself.
This is Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s digital single from January 2025, a song that voices the anxiety of remaining true to oneself, created as the theme for NHK General’s “18 Festival.” Performed together with a thousand young people, it delivers courage and hope for reexamining your own identity, wrapped in a gentle, embracing sound.
When you’re unsure how to live, this work gives you a reassuring push to accept yourself just as you are.
SAD SONG feat. No No Girls FINALISTSchanmina
A special song by Chanmina and the “No No Girls” finalists has moved many to tears with its stirring performance.
The lyrics—filled with the bittersweetness behind happiness and a strong resolve to believe in the future—captivate listeners and make the piece deeply compelling.
Said to be based on Chanmina’s real experiences, it conveys the loneliness of chasing a dream and the importance of bonds with fellow travelers.
Released in January 2025, the song’s performance on THE FIRST TAKE in May of the same year tied in with the audition project and generated great emotion, topping YouTube for 10 days.
If you’re working hard at something, this song is sure to gently nudge you forward.
Don’t miss the chance to experience it.
hydrangeaShibasaki Kou
This is a song by Kou Shibasaki that overlays a deep love and a heartrending farewell with the image of hydrangeas.
It was released digitally in October 2024 and included on the EP “Kyoen,” released in November of the same year.
Its ballad-like melody is paired with Shibasaki’s delicate vocals, resonating deeply with listeners.
The wistful lyrics, inspired by the true story of Philipp Franz von Siebold, a late-Edo-period physician, and his Japanese wife Otaki, are also striking.
For those who have lost a loved one or feel the transience of life, the song offers empathy and healing.
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.