An emotional song sung by an idol—tear-jerking tracks filled with a range of feelings.
If you’re an idol fan, you probably have a few favorite songs that move you to tears whenever you hear them.
Beyond the lyrics themselves, there are many songs that move us because of the stories behind them—like the members’ feelings infused into the music and their live performances.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of touching songs by idols all at once.
Each track has its own story, so be sure to listen while reading the lyrics.
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A moving song sung by an idol. Tear-jerking tracks filled with a range of emotions (31–40)
Kimi-sen!iLiFE!
This song wraps the loneliness and anxiety we sometimes feel in everyday life in a sparkling, idol-like worldview.
Released by iLiFE! as a digital single in March 2022 and later included on the album “iLiFE Starter Pack,” it’s a classic idol anthem that has continued to be loved by fans.
It has an excitement that feels like being whisked away to an amusement park, and just listening makes your heart skip with joy.
When you’re feeling a bit down or need a boost, give it a listen—these girls will gently cheer you up with smiles meant just for you.
Add this pop track to your playlist to bring a splash of color to your daily life.
Mermaid in FebruaryAKB48
This AKB48 song paints a romantic scene that makes you want to head to the chilly seaside in lingering-February cold.
It’s memorable for lyrics that liken carefree frolicking by the winter ocean to a mermaid, turning even the cold spray of the waves into shared memories.
Performed as a unit song with Azuki Yagi on vocals at a theater show in December 2024, it was later included on the album “AKB48 ~studio recordings collection~ AKB48 18th Stage ‘Koko Kara da,’” released in December 2025.
This work is a bittersweet love song that captures feelings of affection so strong they make even selfish behavior seem adorable.
It’s the perfect track for gazing out at the quiet winter sea and sinking into a sentimental mood.
Graduation of Unrequited LoveAKB48
Let me introduce an AKB48 number that marks the passage of time at graduation and portrays an unspoken one-sided love.
Released in March 2007 as part of Team K’s 3rd Stage “Nounai Paradise,” it’s a song that has been passed down in theater performances.
You can laugh within your circle of friends, yet say nothing in front of the person you like as graduation day draws near.
Those bittersweet feelings are carefully spun over a gentle, mid-tempo melody.
Rather than flashy production, the arrangement treasures the afterglow of the words, quietly seeping into the listener’s heart.
This work captures a moment of youth swaying between the fear that love might end unfulfilled and the desire to express your feelings anyway.
It’s a number we recommend not only to those about to graduate, but also to anyone who wants to remember who they were back then.
Lost and Found at the Graduation CeremonySKE48
A graduation day, that special day, is something that slips by in the blink of an eye before you even notice.
This song, included as a coupling track to SKE48’s fifth single “Banzai Venus,” released in March 2011, delicately portrays the bittersweet emotions that well up at such turning points.
Set against scenes like a schoolyard with cherry blossoms dancing and the spring breeze, the lyrics touch the heart by using the metaphor of a “forgotten item” to express feelings that were close by yet went unnoticed.
With Jurina Matsui as center and the cross-team Shirogumi members singing, it becomes a universal piece that anyone can overlay with their own experiences.
It’s a song that those who know the hollow emptiness after a graduation ceremony will especially want to hear—one that accompanies your memories of spring.
Dear,Snow Man
Snow Man is an idol group whose members shine across a wide range of platforms, including TV, dramas, and stage productions.
One of the new songs included on their best-of album THE BEST 2020‑2025, released in January 2025, is this track.
Marking the fifth anniversary of their debut, it’s a medium-tempo ballad themed around gratitude and the bond with the fans who have supported them.
The gentle harmonies of the nine voices layering over a warm, piano-and-strings ensemble leave a lasting impression.
The lyrics are filled with countless expressions of thanks for love, quietly resonating in the listener’s heart.
This piece is perfect for graduations and send-off moments, for those who wish to express their appreciation to friends and mentors.
It’s a warmly comforting number that softly encourages those embarking on a new journey.
Touching songs sung by idols: tear-jerking tracks filled with a range of emotions (41–50)
Graduationsaitou yuki
Although it was released as her debut single in 1985, this classic by Yuki Saito is still loved as a staple of the graduation season.
Written by Takashi Matsumoto and composed by Kyohei Tsutsumi—the legendary duo—the song peaked at No.
6 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and sold about 264,000 copies.
It was also featured in a commercial for Myojo Foods, drawing significant attention at the time.
The lyrics portray a delicate inner conflict between the “expected tears of graduation” and the singer’s true feelings.
Rather than sweet ideals, it strikingly captures the real face of adolescence: moving on to the next season without fully sorting out one’s emotions.
The arrangement, weaving in melodica and saxophone, beautifully evokes the atmosphere of school.
It’s a perfect song for those who feel reluctant to show their tears, or who prefer to greet their departure quietly.
Even though it’s springKashiwabara Yoshie
A bittersweet yet beautiful song about feelings for someone you’ll no longer be able to see after graduation.
Released in January 1983 as Yoshie Kashiwabara’s 14th single, it is one of her signature tracks, written and composed by Miyuki Nakajima.
It peaked at No.
6 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and won the Gold Award at the 25th Japan Record Awards.
The song also led to her first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Its worldview—where the brightness of spring cruelly intersects with the pain of parting—strikes straight to the heart.
Rather than going for flashy drama, the piece is memorable for its steady progression, where the melody calmly unfolds and the emotional shadows gradually deepen.
Revisited every graduation season, it continues to be loved across generations.
It’s recommended for moments when, on the cusp of a new beginning, you want to pause and gather your thoughts.