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)
A Bouquet for YouUtada Hikaru
A digital-only single by Hikaru Utada featuring a strikingly transparent arrangement centered on piano and strings.
Chosen as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Toto Nee-chan,” the track is also included on the album “Fantôme,” released in September 2016.
The beautiful metaphor of entrusting inexpressible feelings to a bouquet is deeply moving.
With lyrics that are simple yet full of profound emotion and Utada’s gently resonant vocals, the song achieves exquisite harmony.
It’s a perfect choice when you want to express gratitude to someone special or to quietly calm your heart.
I want to see you.sawada chikako
This song, themed around a heartrending farewell, is a memorable number featuring Chikaco Sawada’s soul-stirring vocals.
Released as a single from the 1990 album “I MISS YOU,” it was chosen as the ending theme for the TV Asahi network’s wide show “Tonight,” generating significant buzz.
It became a million-seller and won the Grand Prix at the 24th All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards, and is widely known as one of Chikaco Sawada’s signature songs.
It is a moving piece that offers solace to those experiencing the pain of heartbreak or the sorrow of losing 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.
Tears won’t stop with these sentimental lyrics! Heisei era tearjerker songs (11–20)
May it be filled with kindnessJUJU
This is a heartwarming ballad that gently embraces deep love and gratitude for someone precious.
Even as everyday life changes in the blink of an eye and we feel on the verge of losing sight of what truly matters, the presence of a loved one reminds us of life’s meaning and joy.
The song portrays the beauty of unconditional love and mutual support, conveyed through a voice that resonates with the heart.
Released in February 2009 as JUJU’s ninth single, it became her first to enter the Oricon Weekly Top 10 and was also featured in a collaborative commercial by MTV Japan and Nissan.
Included on the album “What’s Love?”, it has garnered wide support, including numerous cover versions by various artists.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when your feelings for someone special overflow or when you want to express your gratitude.
Let the warm vocals fill your heart with kindness.
Broken RadioTokunaga Hideaki
Like music flowing from a nostalgic radio, a timeless song that seeps into the heart along with memories was created by Hideaki Tokunaga in July 1990.
The track, which overlays the feelings of a boy transitioning from adolescence to adulthood with the image of a broken radio, was used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Tokai no Mori” (“Urban Forest”) and reached No.
5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
Featuring a grand arrangement by Ichizo Seo and beautifully harmonized with Tokunaga’s delicate vocals, the song artfully blends elements of pop and ballad into a moving piece.
It was also included on the album “JUSTICE” and performed at NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2006 and 2009.
Conveying the transience and passion of youth, as well as a yearning for self-renewal, this work gently embraces the emotional fluctuations everyone experiences while growing up—a resonant song that speaks to the heart.
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.