Tears won’t stop with these sentimental lyrics! Heisei-era tearjerker songs
In every era, there are sentimental songs that tug at our heartstrings.
Songs about the pain of heartbreak, of course, and those that depict an eternal farewell with someone dear—just picturing those scenes can bring you to tears.
And it’s not only sad songs; there are also countless tracks that express gratitude.
So this time, we’re introducing tear-jerker songs born in the Heisei era.
Why not give them a listen when you want to have a good cry?
- Heart-wrenching Japanese hit songs from the 2000s. Songs that make you cry.
- [For when you want to cry or feel sad] Tear-jerking masterpieces that make you cry when you listen
- Tear-jerking J-pop from the ’90s. Hit songs and real tearjerkers.
- Tear ducts guaranteed to burst! Heart-wrenching masterpiece songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
- From bittersweet tracks to heart-wrenching tunes! Heisei-era unrequited love songs
- For When You Need a Good Cry: Soul-Soothing Tearjerker Classics — Life, Love, and Work
- A beautiful melody soothes the heart… Heisei-era ballad hit songs
- [Today's Tearjerker Song] Tear ducts destroyed! Timeless and trending tracks that will make you cry no matter what
- The nostalgic atmosphere tugs at your heartstrings. Tear-jerker songs from the Showa era.
- Tear-jerking youth songs: recommended classics and popular tracks
- Just listening will surely move your heart! A moving song that represents the Heisei era.
- Heisei-era heartbreak songs: A roundup of classic tracks from the ’90s to the 2010s
- [Just the Lyrics Make Me Cry] Tear-Jerking Songs That Touch the Heart
I can’t stop crying at the sentimental lyrics! Heisei-era tearjerker songs (1–10)
planetariumOtsuka Ai
A heart-wrenching set of lyrics and a piano melody that resonates deeply—this is the 10th single by singer-songwriter Ai Otsuka.
Chosen as the image song for the TV drama “Boys Over Flowers,” the track features a dreamy arrangement with Japanese-inspired elements.
The lyrics, which look back on a lost love and portray someone moving forward while holding past memories close, have struck a chord with many listeners.
Released in September 2005, the song reached No.
1 on the weekly Oricon chart.
It’s a moving number that offers comfort to those who have experienced parting with someone dear.
Close your eyesHirai Ken
A gem of a ballad suffused with the lingering ache of deep, bittersweet love.
Ken Hirai’s delicate, soul-stirring vocals beautifully convey the profound longing and sense of loss for a departed lover.
Sung with the purest feeling of closing one’s eyes and picturing the one you love, this work was released as a single in April 2004.
Chosen as the theme song for the film “Crying Out Love in the Center of the World,” it topped the Oricon year-end chart.
Its heart-piercing vocals and beautiful melody line make it a refined track for adults—perfect for a night drive or a quiet moment alone.
We’ll meet again…KIX-S
KIX-S’s debut single is distinguished by lyrics that portray a bittersweet love and a melody that resonates with the heart.
The words, which express feelings for a lover far away, struck a chord with many listeners.
Released in July 1992, the song was chosen as the theme for the Fuji TV drama “Kimi no Tame ni Dekiru Koto” and became a major hit, peaking at No.
4 on the Oricon chart.
It’s a track that stays close to the hearts of those who’ve experienced heartbreak or parting, giving them the courage to look ahead.
A heartwarming ballad perfect for nights when you want to relive memories or reaffirm your feelings for someone important.
Tears won’t stop with these sentimental lyrics! Heisei era tearjerker songs (11–20)
LieHata Motohiro
This is a renowned song by Motohiro Hata, distinguished by a cool, electronica-tinged sound that begins with an atmosphere reminiscent of being submerged in the sea.
It masterfully captures the complexities of our modern emotions—the truth behind muddled words, the emptiness of layering a dry heart over reality, and the descent into self-deception.
Delicately portraying the subtleties of the heart and the ambiguity between “lies” and “truth” in human relationships, this track opens the December 2015 album Scenes of Blue.
As Hata himself notes, “In today’s era, it’s hard to tell what’s a lie and what’s real,” and the song vividly depicts feelings everyone has likely experienced in everyday life.
It resonates deeply with those struggling in important relationships or harboring complicated emotions.
Flavor Of LifeUtada Hikaru
This is a masterpiece that delicately portrays the bittersweet pain of heartbreak and parting.
Released in February 2007, it’s a song by Hikaru Utada and served as the image song for the TBS drama “Boys Over Flowers 2 (Returns).” It beautifully expresses the many emotions brought on by saying goodbye to someone you love, with a memorable melody that resonates as if you can feel the very essence of love throughout your whole body.
The song topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart for three consecutive weeks and was also included on the album “HEART STATION.” It’s a track that resonates deeply during the poignant moments of love or when you’re feeling uncertain about a relationship with someone important.
crescent moonayaka
This ambitious work powerfully sings of the aching feelings of longing for a faraway lover.
Released as a single in September 2006, it showcases Ayaka’s outstanding expressive ability to the fullest.
The song is memorable for its forward-looking resolve to overcome parting and loneliness with a loved one, as well as its strong will to keep thinking of that person, while also conveying a sense of a positive future.
It was featured as the CM song for au’s “LISMO” and as the theme song for NHK General TV’s “Tsunagaru TV @ Human,” and it won the Best New Artist Award at the 48th Japan Record Awards.
It’s a song that offers comfort to those in long-distance relationships or anyone who has experienced a farewell with someone dear.
waxing; filling up; becoming full; growing (e.g., the moon growing fuller)Fuji Kaze
Fujii Kaze’s ballad, with its poignant melody highlighted by gentle piano tones, beautifully depicts the transience of life and the feelings we hold for those dear to us.
Written as the theme song for the film “She Is Me in Spring,” released in March 2024, the piece powerfully speaks to the importance of letting go—of parting from a loved one and releasing attachment.
It delicately weaves the subtle shifts of the heart over time, posing a quiet resolve to face life’s impermanence.
The music video, directed by Tomokazu Yamada, symbolically explores the essence of love and life, with Fujii Kaze playing a dual role as both an elderly man and a young man.
It’s the perfect song for moments when you want to calmly reflect on yourself or immerse yourself in memories with someone special.