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

Precious thingsroodo obu mejyaa

Lord of Major / Precious Things

A gem of a pop melody that portrays the precious friendships of adolescence.

Its warm feelings for friends at a parting and the vow never to forget those bonds are deeply moving.

Centered on themes of meeting and parting, growth and hope, it masterfully fuses driving rock sounds with lyrics that resonate in the heart.

Released as an indie single by Road of Major in September 2002, the song stayed in the top 10 of the Oricon chart for 19 consecutive weeks and achieved an astonishing 900,000 in total sales.

In 2009, it was also featured in a Mazda commercial in Taiwan, drawing attention both domestically and abroad.

It’s a track you’ll want to play when making up with a friend or when reaffirming the bonds with those who matter most.

It’s also a perfect cheer song for anyone facing farewells such as graduation or transferring schools.

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?

ElfAdo

[Ado] Elf

This song explores themes of loneliness and struggle, set in a fantastical world with profound messages.

Inspired by a legendary long-lived race, it portrays a solitary battle, growth, and confronting oneself.

Ado’s powerful vocals brilliantly capture both the strength and fragility of facing loneliness.

It is used as the theme song for the TBS Friday drama “Who Saw the Peacock Dance?” airing from January 2025, perfectly matching the world of the series starring Suzu Hirose.

Centered on strings and piano, the arrangement creates a richly emotional atmosphere, making it a memorable track that enhances the drama.

It’s a heartwarming anthem that gently supports those trying to carve out their own path or take a new step forward.

A Song for a FriendSonar Pocket

Sonar Pocket 'A Song for a Friend' [MV Short]

This pop tune by Sonar Pocket vividly sings about memories from a youth spent with cherished friends.

Nostalgic scenes from student life are depicted with rich emotion, and the unshakable bond with friends who have gone their separate ways is strikingly portrayed.

Released in February 2009, the song is also included on the album “Sonapokeism ①: The Shape of Happiness,” and is often performed at graduation ceremonies and farewell parties.

It’s a heartwarming piece meant to be listened to while thinking of friends who now live far away.

contrailArai Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya – Vapor Trail (Yumi Arai The Concert with Old Friends)

The story of a boy drawn on a white slope reflects Yumi Arai’s inner landscape from her youth.

With a clear, crystalline voice and beautiful piano lines, she gently sings of a longing for the heavens and a parting from the earthly world.

Inspired by feelings for a classmate from her elementary school days, the piece takes flight on a fragile yet refreshing melody, brimming with the radiance of life and hope for liberation.

Released in November 1973 as the title track of the album “Hikōki Gumo,” it drew renewed attention in 2013 as the theme song for Studio Ghibli’s “The Wind Rises.” It is a gem of a song that tenderly supports those who have experienced the loss of someone dear, as well as young people standing at a crossroads in life.

CorrectRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – The Answer [Official Music Video]

RADWIMPS delivers a tender melody with a profound message that resonates deeply during graduation season.

The warm soundscape woven by piano tones and a student choir gently embraces moments of looking back on youthful days.

The lyrics, which depict the search for the right answers in life and the journey to find one’s true self, strike a universal chord that anyone can relate to.

Released for streaming in January 2024 and followed by a limited-production CD in February, this work was born from encounters with the younger generation and takes on a new challenge by incorporating a student choir.

It is a heartwarming song that stands beside young people leaving their schools and those facing turning points in life.

Letter to TomorrowTeshima Aoi

Aoi Teshima “Letter to Tomorrow (Drama Version)”

A heartwarming ballad gently portraying people looking ahead in life with both hope and unease, framed by the motif of a letter from the future.

Aoi Teshima’s translucent voice resonates deeply alongside the beautiful arrangement of piano and strings.

First released in July 2014 on the album “Ren’dez-vous,” the song drew renewed attention in February 2016 as the theme for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.

drama “Someday I’ll Remember This Love, and Surely I’ll Cry.” The piece won the Best Theme Song Award at the Tokyo Drama Awards 2016.

When you find yourself pausing on the path toward your dreams, or when you want to be close to your feelings for someone important, why not listen quietly? It will surely become a tear-jerker of a song for you.