Have you recently come across a song that felt “emoi” and truly moved you? Among Gen Z in particular, “emoi songs” are a major topic and are widely shared on social media.
Perhaps you’ve felt healed—or even moved to tears—by melodies that evoke nostalgia, bittersweetness, and an indescribable lingering afterglow.
In this piece, we’ll introduce a selection of highly popular tracks described as “emoi,” songs that deeply resonate with many listeners—especially Gen Z—and stir the emotions.
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Songs that Gen Z finds 'emo.' Emotionally stirring tracks (1–10)
JANE DOEYonezu Kenshi, Utada Hikaru
This work brings together two of Japan’s leading singer-songwriters, Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada, as the ending theme for the feature-length anime Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc.
It is included on the double A-side single IRIS OUT / JANE DOE, released in September 2025.
The lyrics, poetically weaving pain and memory and a call to what has been lost, sweep through the heart like a breeze through Utada’s clear yet melancholic vocals.
The delicate world crafted by Yonezu and the expressive power of Utada overlap to create a transience and lingering resonance that gently accompanies you when someone dear comes to mind or when you want to quietly face your emotions—a song that truly strikes a chord.
somedaySaucy Dog
A rock ballad by Saucy Dog that pierces the heart with memories of someone dear.
It’s a track included on their first mini-album, “Country Road,” released in 2017.
The lyrics look back on the brilliance of time once shared—like the starry sky at the top of a hill and a lover lying on the ground—delicately portraying the aching feelings of a protagonist who can’t fully accept the breakup.
The word choices rooted in vocalist Shinya Ishihara’s real experiences, along with expressions woven with his hometown Shimane dialect, lend the song a deep sense of realism.
It’s an emotional track whose lyrics, addressed to someone they’ll never meet again, might just bring you to tears.
Heralding springyama
This song, which portrays the feelings of a young person in late-night Tokyo dreaming while confronting real-world loneliness, is an original track by yama released in April 2020.
Completed solely through online exchanges with Vocaloid producer Kujira, it peaked at No.
7 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and has surpassed 300 million streams.
Its lyrics—where the gap between virtual and real worlds, the struggle of performing a perfect self, a sense of apocalypse, and hope for renewal intersect—give voice to the anxieties and isolation of Gen Z living in the age of social media.
With a catchy melody and a clear, translucent vocal tone, the song’s resolve to find hope within despair is deeply moving.
It’s a number you’ll want to hear when you’re anxious about a new chapter in life or when you want to face your inner self.
Agate Caressed by NightAyase
Composed by Ayase, best known for YOASOBI, this track—originally released in 2019 featuring Hatsune Miku on vocals—was later followed by Ayase’s own self-cover.
Together, the two versions have amassed around 15 million views on YouTube.
The lyrics, which depict a farewell on a train platform after the last train has gone, delicately trace unspoken gratitude, lingering regret, and a gentle wish for the other person’s happiness.
Its bittersweet, wistful melody also went viral on TikTok, where related hashtags have surpassed 24 million views, earning overwhelming support from younger audiences.
Included on the EP “Ghost City Tokyo,” this piece is sure to resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced parting with someone dear or carries feelings they were never able to put into words.
Bedroom TalkOfisharu Higedan Dism
A song written and composed by Daisuke Kozasa that captures a moment of sharing true feelings in a bedroom at night.
It’s included on the album “Editorial,” released in August 2021.
The song carries a warm message that gently lights an unwavering lamp in hearts worn out by the online world, reminding us of the importance of quiet conversations that connect us with others.
mabanua’s mellow arrangement wraps the stillness of the night, while the delicate guitar tones resonate pleasantly.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to on nights when you’re tired of human relationships and want to take your time talking with someone you trust.
The lyric video is created entirely with illustrations, beautifully depicting the passage of time from dusk until sleep.
Love WindIkuta Rira
This song gently wraps around a heart that’s become timid about love, like a spring breeze.
It carefully depicts the protagonist, who carries past wounds, meeting someone who looks at them with unwavering eyes and slowly trying to move forward.
The moment when the wish for love to be simpler intersects with the courage to take a step anyway is achingly poignant, and as you listen, it resonates with your own feelings of love.
Lila Ikuta’s clear, translucent voice delicately conveys these wavering emotions and truly strikes a chord.
Released in April 2025, it was chosen as the theme song for ABEMA’s dating reality show “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita.
New Zealand Edition.” This marks the third time Lila Ikuta has provided a theme song for the series, following “Romance no Yakusoku” and “Sparkle.” It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you don’t quite have the courage to start a new romance, or when you’re feeling your heart race over a new encounter.
Blue JeansHANA
The girls’ group HANA, produced by Chanmina, released their second single in July 2025.
In contrast to the powerful vibe of their previous track “ROSE,” this time they deliver a mid-tempo ballad that poignantly expresses the ache of young love.
They want to stay natural and effortless—like a pair of well-worn old sneakers—yet their anxiety swells in front of the one they like.
The lyrics, which vividly capture those late-night emotional swings, truly strike a chord.
Don’t miss the visual rollout in collaboration with DIESEL, as well as the music video that pairs heartache with raw emotion.
When you’re unsure about your feelings of love, or lying awake at night with thoughts of someone special, this song will gently stay by your side.