A hidden gem among tearjerker songs. Recommended popular tracks.

KanadeSukima Suichi

Sukima Switch – “Kanade” Music Video : SUKIMASWITCH / KANADE Music Video

A heartwarming ballad that begins with piano tones shining under a soft glow.

Sung with a clear, emotive voice, it portrays the radiance of a world transformed by partings and new encounters—one of Sukima Switch’s quintessential masterpieces.

Released in March 2004, the song became a long-running hit over 38 weeks.

It was featured as an insert song in the film “Rough” and served as the theme for Fuji TV’s drama “Sotsu Uta,” continuing to resonate with many listeners.

Included on the albums “Natsugumo Noise,” “Greatest Hits,” and “DOUBLES BEST,” its charm deepens with time.

Perfect for those moments when you want to gaze at the night view in a lounge and reminisce about memories with someone special.

Hide-and-seekYuuri

Yuuri “Kakurenbo” Official Music Video

Yuri’s debut work, which likens a heartrending unrequited love to a game of hide-and-seek, is a soul-stirring ballad that delicately portrays loneliness and the pain of parting.

In a room left behind after his live-in girlfriend has gone, the man’s feelings—surrounded by objects that still evoke her presence—are woven together by a gentle, translucent voice.

Released in December 2019, the piece is a labor of love born from street performances following the breakup of the rock band THE BUGZY.

The warm timbre of the acoustic guitar closely follows the man’s earnest emotions.

It’s a song recommended for those who wish to soothe the pain of heartbreak—perfect for a nighttime drive or for quietly sipping a drink alone at home.

Close your eyesHirai Ken

Hitomi wo Tojite – Ken Hirai (Full)

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.

Why did I end up falling in love with you?Tōhōshinki

Tohoshinki / Why Did I Fall in Love with You?

A gem of a ballad that captures the aching heartbreak and pure love for another, pressing on the listener’s heart.

It delicately portrays the feelings of a protagonist watching a bride and groom at their wedding, touching on the subtle emotions woven from a wish for a loved one’s happiness and lingering regret.

Released by Tohoshinki in July 2008, the song’s elegant piano-and-strings arrangement blends beautifully with the five-member harmony, earning it the No.

1 spot on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

It also won an Excellent Work Award at the 50th Japan Record Awards, paving the way for the group’s first appearance on the Kohaku Uta Gassen.

A track that seeps into your heart on night drives, rainy days, or when love is weighing on your mind.

dearestFukuyama Masaharu

Masaharu Fukuyama – Beloved (Full ver.)

Produced in October 2008 as the theme song for the film “The Devotion of Suspect X,” this gem of a ballad portrays deep affection and the ache of parting.

While anticipating farewell to a dreamlike presence, it sings of the fragility and beauty of continuing to love.

The pure love that Tetsuya Ishigami, a character in the story, holds for Yasuko Hanaoka is expressed through the delicate words crafted by Masaharu Fukuyama, and the song was also used in Toshiba’s LCD TV “REGZA” commercial.

As the unit KOH+ with Kou Shibasaki, it reached No.

5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

Fukuyama later included his own version on the album “Zankyo.” It is a supreme masterpiece that accompanies adult romance—perfect for quietly savoring a drink in a night lounge.

Long-Distance Love SongSunya

Sunya 'Long-Distance Love Song'

They may not be a very mainstream artist, so many people might not know them, but this song perfectly matches lyrics that are like a classic ballad with a shimmering melody.

The promotion video, which plays out like a short drama, is also worth noting.

Boyoyon MarchImai Yūzō, Haida Shōko

[MMD] Boyoyon March

This is a song written and composed by Keizo Nakanishi, who also worked on Choo Choo TRAIN sung by ZOO and EXILE.

It’s famous as a song that somehow makes listeners cry.

A short version was used on the program, but a long cover version was included on the 2014 best-of CD “Minna no Rhythm.”