Tear-jerking masterpieces sung by male artists that I’d recommend to Gen Z
Have you ever listened to music and been moved to tears?
Not just songs performed by artists—sometimes even a track your friend sings at karaoke can bring you to tears, depending on how you’re feeling in that moment.
Especially for Japanese listeners, the lyrics that shake the heart tend to draw our attention.
So this time, we’re introducing tear-jerking songs recommended for Gen Z, focusing exclusively on male artists.
From songs about parting with someone to tracks that give you a push forward, we’ve compiled a wide range.
We hope you’ll find at least one song you can relate to.
- Breakup songs sung by male artists that I’d recommend to Gen Z
- Tear ducts guaranteed to burst! Heart-wrenching masterpiece songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
- Iconic songs men will want to sing! Karaoke tracks recommended for Gen Z
- [Women Artists Only] Tear-Jerking Masterpieces Recommended for Gen Z
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 50s: classic and popular Japanese hits
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 40s: classic and popular Japanese hits
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 20s: classic and popular Japanese tracks
- I want to sing at karaoke! Songs by male artists recommended for Gen Z
- [Tears Guaranteed] Heartwarming songs I especially want men to hear
- Tears for a heartrending story… Tear-jerking songs by women recommended for the Yutori generation
- [Touching the Heart] A Collection of Recommended Ballads for Men
- Nothing but masterpieces! Love songs by male artists recommended for Gen Z
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 30s: classic and popular Japanese tracks
Tear-jerking masterpieces sung by male artists that I’d recommend to Gen Z (21–30)
catDISH//
This song, written and composed by singer-songwriter Aimyon, is the B-side to the single “We Did It” released in August 2017.
When Takumi Kitamura performed an acoustic version on the YouTube channel THE FIRST TAKE in March 2020, it sparked renewed buzz, and its total streaming plays surpassed one billion.
The piece portrays lingering attachment and heartache for someone dearly missed, expressing a yearning for a person who has become as free and capricious as a cat.
When you’re worn out from work or relationships, or when memories of a past love resurface, this song is sure to bring you to tears.
evening primroseNovelbright
This work portrays a poignant state of mind: unable to forget a once‑beloved person, the protagonist can’t help but keep chasing their lingering shadow as memories of days gone by well up.
Vocalist Yudai Takenaka’s delicate high-tone voice gently envelops the pain of a protagonist who cannot accept the breakup.
The grand sound centered on piano and strings is another highlight.
It’s a song to listen to when you want something to stay close to the pain of heartbreak, or when you can’t take a step into a new love.
SubtitleOfisharu Higedan Dism
A heart-touching ballad that portrays the difficulty of expressing love in words and the fragility of feelings that melt away like snow.
Released digitally in October 2022 as the theme song for the drama “silent,” the song expresses the earnest attempt to convey one’s feelings of love through a delicate, piano-centered melody.
It achieved its first overall No.
1 on Billboard JAPAN’s JAPAN HOT 100, and surpassed 21 million streams.
When you’re frustrated because you can’t put your feelings for someone special into words, this song is sure to be by your side.
rendezvousshaitoopu
Released by Shitope in April 2023, this work is a song that vividly captures the emotions of a man right after a breakup.
With relatable yet distinctive metaphors—like losing his appetite and finding that even cream-filled bread has no taste—it sharply highlights the pain of separation.
The languid, sweet vocals and expansive choral work resonate as if enveloping the bittersweet ache of heartbreak.
It topped Spotify’s Viral Chart and has surpassed 300 million total streams.
It’s a track that deeply comforts those who have just lost someone precious and are not yet ready to accept reality.
waxing; filling up; becoming full; growing (e.g., the moon growing fuller)Fuji Kaze
That even the most brilliant moments must come to an end—and that by letting go of attachment, the heart can be filled.
Released in March 2024 as the theme song for the film “When April Comes, She Will,” this is Fujii Kaze’s first love song.
It gently sings of the futility of love that seeks something in return and the fulfillment that unconditional love brings.
His tender voice, carried by a soft piano melody, teaches us the importance of embracing change.
It’s a song I recommend to those who have experienced parting from someone dear, or who wish to reconsider what it means to love.
Everyday lifeOfisharu Higedan Dism
In the days that pass as a matter of course, there are moments when anyone might suddenly feel, “I dread tomorrow.” This song by Official HIGE DANDism, a driving force in the J-pop scene, gently stays close to those restless feelings.
The lyrics portray the heart’s cries worn down by work and relationships, and a quiet despair toward things that can’t be changed.
Yet what makes this piece so affecting is that it isn’t merely dark.
Its calm, warm sound brings into focus the subtle kindnesses in everyday life and the fleeting moments of salvation, tightening the chest all the more.
Released in September 2023 as a double A-side single with “Chessboard,” it was written as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “news zero.” On nights when you can’t help but feel unbearably sad, why not sink into a sentimental moment with this song?
more than anyoneBE:FIRST
A poignant longing wrapped in kindness strikes the heart in this ballad by BE:FIRST.
While yearning for closeness with a loved one, the vivid lyrics portray a man’s struggle to keep his distance because of mental illness, along with the feelings that remain unchanged.
The richly expressive vocals of all the members and the melody beautifully color the story’s world.
Included on the single “Spacecraft / Sailing,” released on February 5, 2025, the song was also selected as the theme for the film “Hold Me Tighter Than Anyone,” which premiered that February.
This piece invites deep reflection on the meaning of continuing to care for someone important and on human connection.
It is recommended for those wrestling with feelings for someone they love, or for anyone seeking a touching ballad that resonates with the heart.