Hidden gems among tear-jerker songs. Recommended popular tracks.

Maplesupittsu

Spitz / Kaede

A gem of a ballad that weaves a fleeting yet beautiful farewell scene with a clear, transparent melody.

Released by Spitz in July 1998 from the album “Fake Fur,” this song tenderly sings of longing for what has been lost.

It portrays the heartache that gradually softens over time and the strength to keep looking forward, carried by a warm, gentle performance.

Beginning with its use in the 1999 Fuji TV drama “Over Time” and continuing through to the network’s 2022 series “silent,” it has colored many stories.

It’s a song to listen to when your heart is deeply wounded or when you’ve said goodbye to someone dear.

Masamune Kusano’s tender, comforting vocals are sure to become a source of support for your heart.

Sorrow Rides the Busmakaroni enpitsu

Macaroni Enpitsu “Sadness Rides the Bus” MV

Set to melodies that gently stay close to the heart, this moving story by Macaroni Empitsu captures the shifting patterns of human emotion.

The lead track from their August 2023 album, “Otona no Namida” (“Tears of Adults”), delicately depicts the fleeting feelings found in farewells with family and in everyday life.

Hattori’s clear, transparent vocals and the softly unfolding melody resonate deep within the listener.

The song also drew attention for its music video directed by Yoshihito Mori, known for the Netflix film “We Couldn’t Become Adults.” Through the perspective of a protagonist played by Shota Sometani, it asks profound questions about the meaning of life and the preciousness of existence.

It’s a recommended track for those who want to empathize with feelings for loved ones or soothe the quiet emotions they carry inside.

calm (of the sea), lull; Nagi (a Japanese given name)Marushii

Marcy – Nagi (Official Music Video)

A tear-jerking love ballad, “Nagi.” It’s a track by the three-piece rock band Marcy, included on their album Candle.

The song’s protagonist is a man who has just gone through a breakup, and it depicts him looking back on the days he spent with his ex.

The story mainly unfolds through past events, and when the perspective returns to the present at the end, we see the protagonist has grown a little—such a lovely structure.

Also, don’t miss the music video, in which actress Hoshi Matsukawa plays the ex-girlfriend.

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Yours sincerelyrokudenashi

Good-for-Nothing “Hastily, Without Formalities” / Rokudenashi – Sincerely Yours [Official Music Video]

An emotionally charged vocal performance and delicate composition weave together to create a moving number.

It’s a work by Rokudenashi, released in November 2024.

The song was also chosen as the theme for episode 2 of the live-action drama Oshi no Ko.

The lyrics deftly capture the protagonist’s inner conflict and growth, offering a chance to reflect on the self that has kept striving for someone else’s sake.

You’ll likely resonate with the determination to move forward while carrying past wounds.

It’s a track that gently stays by the side of anyone in the midst of searching for themselves.

sympathetic tearsHitoto Yo

Yo Hitoto / Borrowed Tears

A debut work by Yo Hitoto that delicately portrays people’s emotions in our lonely modern society.

Amid an information-saturated daily life, the protagonist searches for a place to belong, gently expressing the warmth of a heart that empathizes with others’ tears and stays by their side.

Its original sound weaves together elements of gospel, R&B, and oriental influences, beautifully harmonizing with her crystal-clear vocals.

Since its release in October 2002, the song reached No.

4 on the Oricon weekly chart.

The following year, it won the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist and was performed on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

It’s a song I sincerely want to share with those struggling with human connections or those who feel the urge to be there for someone.

Love, Day After TomorrowKuraki Mai

Mai Kuraki "Love, Day After Tomorrow"

In 1999, at the age of 17, she released her debut single “Love, Day After Tomorrow.” That was the era when R&B was at its peak, with artists like MISIA, Yuki Koyanagi, and Hikaru Utada.

So I think there are many hidden gems from that period.

It was all you.Yamazaki Masayoshi

Masayoshi Yamazaki – Zenbu Kimidatta

A song that beautifully depicts a bittersweet love.

The delicate imagery—sounds of rain, the cold light of morning, a sudden parting—leaves a strong impression.

The lyrics gently and poignantly sing of a heart that finds traces of lost love in everything around it.

Released in March 2003, it is Masayoshi Yamazaki’s 14th single and his first original work in about two years.

The limited first edition included bonus video content as his first release to come with a DVD.

It’s a mellow track perfect for quiet nights, one that will softly comfort anyone who has experienced heartbreak or farewell.