Emotional Japanese songs popular on TikTok. Moving tracks that leave you at a loss for words.

Agate Caressed by NightAyase

Yoru Naderu Agate / Ayase (self cover)

Composed by Ayase, best known for YOASOBI, this track—originally released in 2019 featuring Hatsune Miku on vocals—was later followed by Ayase’s own self-cover.

Together, the two versions have amassed around 15 million views on YouTube.

The lyrics, which depict a farewell on a train platform after the last train has gone, delicately trace unspoken gratitude, lingering regret, and a gentle wish for the other person’s happiness.

Its bittersweet, wistful melody also went viral on TikTok, where related hashtags have surpassed 24 million views, earning overwhelming support from younger audiences.

Included on the EP “Ghost City Tokyo,” this piece is sure to resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced parting with someone dear or carries feelings they were never able to put into words.

SparkleIkuta Rira

Rira Ikuta “Sparkle” Official Music Video

This is the song chosen as the theme for ABEMA’s romance reality show “Kyou, Suki ni Narimashita” (“I Fell in Love Today”).

It’s a 2022 release by Lila Ikuta, who also performs as the vocalist of the music duo YOASOBI.

Built on a band-driven sound, it’s a deeply moving love song.

The piano and strings are beautiful, and as you keep listening, you might find yourself in tears.

Ikuta’s gentle voice tightens the chest—a masterpiece that makes you want to fall in love.

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Araki Jakkan

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sparkleFuji Kaze

Fujii Kaze – Kirari (Official Video)

Since it was used in a Honda commercial, even people who don’t use TikTok much might find it familiar.

It’s a song by the singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze, who has produced numerous hits like “Kaerou” and “Nanen w,” and it was released digitally in 2021.

The effortless melodic line and the harmony between the vocals and the sound are just wonderful.

Before you know it, your heart feels a little lighter—like a pleasant breeze is blowing through you.

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Araki Jakkan

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Time ParadoxVaundy

Time Paradox (Theme Song of the Movie Doraemon: Nobita’s Earth Symphony) / Vaundy: MUSIC VIDEO

Vaundy, who handles everything himself from songwriting and composition to video production, is a multi-talented artist hugely popular especially among young people.

Written as the theme song for Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Earth Symphony, this heartwarming pop tune was released digitally in January 2024.

Despite its pared-down, minimal arrangement, its crisp, groovy sound really sticks in your ears.

The lyrics, which remind you that everyday life is a treasure, seem perfect for posting graduation-season memory videos on TikTok.

Beloved by many listeners—with over 200 million streams—this masterpiece gently accompanies new beginnings.

Memento moriŌmori Motoki

Motoki Ohmori – 'Memento Mori' Official Lyric Video

A song themed around life and death included on the EP “French,” released in February 2021 as a solo work by Motoki Ohmori of Mrs.

GREEN APPLE.

As its Latin title—meaning “remember death”—suggests, it contemplates the finiteness of life through motifs such as parting, departures, and memories, yet delivers a warm sense of affirmation rather than fear.

The piece was adapted into a picture book in September 2021, and further expanded beyond the realm of music with a stage adaptation as a reading play starring Mone Kamishiraishi set for December 2024.

With serene, lyrical soundscapes that seep into the heart, this ballad reflects on the farewells that will one day come and teaches the importance of living in the present.

ObsessedAyumu Imazu

Obsessed

This track, released in January 2024 by Ayumu Imazu—who hails from Osaka and studied abroad in New York before launching a global career—went viral across Asia after a demo posted on TikTok inspired dance videos from K-pop idols including SEVENTEEN.

Its candid, self-deprecating lyrics about the singer’s tendency to fall in love too quickly are part of its charm, capturing the exhilarating rush and confusion of becoming infatuated.

The chill, pop-infused sound crafted by A.G.O is also irresistibly smooth, making it the perfect song to play when your heart is fluttering at the start of a romance or when you can’t stop thinking about someone you like!

SurgesOrangestar

Orangestar – Surges (feat. Natsuse & Ruan) / CalorieMate web movie

This is a youth anthem that portrays the feelings of young people who, despite their adolescent anxieties and doubts, strive to look ahead and move forward.

Written by Orangestar for Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s Calorie Mate web video “Summer Begins.” released in July 2021, the song gives voice to the passionate spirit of student club members whose activities were restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With its energetic rock sound and powerful rhythm, the track leaves a strong impression and was also included on the album “And So Henceforth,”.

In April 2024, it won the YouTube Award at the NexTone Award 2024, earning widespread support from listeners.

It’s a song that gives a push to anyone who keeps working toward their dreams and goals, or who strives to move forward even in difficult circumstances.