Tear-jerking songs recommended for high school students: classic and popular Japanese hits

presentSEKAI NO OWARI

SEKAI NO OWARI “Present”

“Present” by SEKAI NO OWARI, written as a commissioned piece for NHK’s National School Music Competition, is a famous song that also drew attention for its flipbook-style music video illustrated by Tekken.

It’s a profound piece that brings back even the times when it was hard to open up to others as fond memories.

Bridge of Gloryyuzu

Eikou no Kakehashi – Yuzu (Full)

The song I want to dedicate to someone whose past year has been full of struggles is Yuzu’s “Eikou no Kakehashi” (Bridge of Glory).

For example, its lyrics are perfect for gifting to a student who has successfully passed their entrance exams.

Carried by the exquisite harmonies of the two members of Yuzu, it lets you look back on the year—and it’s guaranteed to be moving.

A ribbon doesn’t suit me.Team N

A ribbon doesn’t suit me.

“Ribbons Don’t Suit Me” is a song that poignantly captures the sadness of growing up a little more with every birthday.

The mix of joy and melancholy on one’s birthday is a feeling that’s especially strong during adolescence, isn’t it? By the way, what age, exactly, do ribbons suit?

to cry innocently; to weep with a childlike airAKASAKI

[AKASAKI] Adokenaku / Innocently Crying (Lyric Video)

This is a heartwarming song that delicately portrays the desire to protect someone precious.

The lyrics weave a world where love and longing for the other person intersect, resulting in a track that quietly seeps into the heart.

Crafted with AKASAKI’s naturally gentle vocals, the song has drawn significant attention, including being selected as Kiss FM KOBE’s recommended Japanese track for January 2025.

It marks the seventh single for AKASAKI, an 18-year-old singer-songwriter currently in high school.

This piece is one you’ll want to listen to when thinking of someone important who is far away, or someone who is no longer by your side.

Why not immerse yourself in its warm sonic world—like a tender whisper in your ear—while letting your feelings for a loved one grow deeper?

One-sided loveCHIHIRO

CHIHIRO – Unrequited Love (Short ver.)

It’s a love song that powerfully conveys the pain and loneliness of unrequited love.

It’s a track by CHIHIRO, an R&B singer from Fukuoka Prefecture.

The song is included in the 2016 mini-album “Katakoi-shū” (Collection of Unrequited Love).

If you’re experiencing unrequited love right now, it will surely resonate with you.

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Araki Jakkan

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We againSG

Us, Again – SG (Official Lyric Video)

As we climb the steps to adulthood, everyone goes their own way, and even among cherished friends, it becomes difficult to maintain the same closeness we had as students.

SG’s work, released in April 2021, resonated with many through its moving lyrics themed around parting and reunion.

The lyrics, which lightly express a hopeful wish to meet again at a crossroads, evoke the graduation season and invite us to reflect on memories with friends.

The many farewells we experience in high school, if accepted without fear, may one day lead to profound growth.

passing by each otherSoala

[Lyric Video] Passing Each Other - Soala

“Sorechigai” is a song that gives voice to the pent-up emotions of being told goodbye by someone you love.

Released in 2023 by singer-songwriter Soala, who rose to popularity through social media platforms like TikTok, the track blends a rhythmic R&B groove with her emotional vocals.

It portrays a bittersweet love that keeps asking the other person the same questions, even while knowing they are drifting apart.

The song’s structure—spoken, intimate verses that build into a passionate, soaring chorus—conveys an overflowing love, making it a poignant breakup anthem.

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mutō

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