Sad songs. Emotional catharsis to detox your heart.
We’ve selected timeless and popular songs recommended by our studio staff that are so sad they’ll make you feel it just by listening.
Every once in a while, let’s detox the heart with a good cry.
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Sad Songs (21–30)
Sorrow Rides the Busmakaroni enpitsu
Set to melodies that gently stay close to the heart, this moving story by Macaroni Empitsu captures the shifting patterns of human emotion.
The lead track from their August 2023 album, “Otona no Namida” (“Tears of Adults”), delicately depicts the fleeting feelings found in farewells with family and in everyday life.
Hattori’s clear, transparent vocals and the softly unfolding melody resonate deep within the listener.
The song also drew attention for its music video directed by Yoshihito Mori, known for the Netflix film “We Couldn’t Become Adults.” Through the perspective of a protagonist played by Shota Sometani, it asks profound questions about the meaning of life and the preciousness of existence.
It’s a recommended track for those who want to empathize with feelings for loved ones or soothe the quiet emotions they carry inside.
I want to be kinder.Saitō Kazuyoshi
A masterpiece by Kazuyoshi Saito that gently wraps the aspirations lying beyond the gaze that turns a globe in a melody that seeps into the heart.
It opens with a powerful guitar intro, and his rugged yet warm vocals resonate deep in the chest.
Released in November 2011, the song contrasts the yearning for kindness with the emptiness of a self-centered way of life, questioning one’s place within human relationships.
Written specifically as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “I’m Mita, Your Housekeeper” starring Nanako Matsushima, it was issued shortly after the album “45 STONES” and won Best Drama Song at the 71st The Television Drama Academy Awards.
A gem dedicated to everyone standing at a crossroads in life, who, while facing their own weaknesses, still wishes to deepen their bonds with those they cherish.
Goodbye ElegySuda Masaki
A gem of a love song that delicately portrays a heart wavering between loneliness and love.
The soul-stirring cry entrusted by Masaki Suda to Huwie Ishizaki resonates deeply with pure emotion.
In days where kindness feels clouded, a bittersweet yet powerful melody wraps around the shape of love we discover.
Released in February 2018 as Masaki Suda’s third single, it drew attention as the theme song for the NTV drama “Kiss That Kills.” Suda himself made a cameo appearance in the series, and the song garnered notice for blending beautifully with the drama’s world.
A supreme ballad that shakes the soul, dedicated to those who have experienced heartbreak and partings and wish to sublimate the feelings hidden deep within their hearts.
footprint(s)Kobukuro
A song that gently weaves a farewell to a beloved presence.
Looking back on days spent with a cherished dog, it portrays with warmth the traces that presence left on the heart, even as it accepts an eternal parting.
Its acoustic sound and melody offer comfort to the feelings of pet loss—an experience many may face.
Included on Kobukuro’s album “QUARTER CENTURY,” released in September 2024, this piece gives courage to move forward: to carry the sorrow of losing a loved one while never forgetting gratitude for the time shared.
It is a song that will bring deep empathy and healing to those who have lost a precious family member.
Give me a gentle kiss.DREAMS COME TRUE
The 31st single by DREAMS COME TRUE.
It was the theme song for the drama “The Castle of Sand.” Among DREAMS COME TRUE’s singles from the 2000s, it achieved the highest sales.
Even if it’s a love without a future and without reward, it’s a song brimming with mature allure that can’t help but keep thinking of “you.”
Last SongGACKT
Gackt’s 16th single overall.
It’s a sad song about heartbreak, but the lyrics also give the impression that the protagonist might fade away, so it can be interpreted not just as a simple breakup: perhaps the protagonist will die soon due to illness or something similar.
He was alive, wasn’t he?aimyon
It’s a soul-stirring song that confronts the weight of life.
Released as Aimyon’s ambitious major-label debut in November 2016, it layers warm, heartfelt lyrics over stark despair to question the preciousness and sanctity of living.
Chosen as the opening theme for the TV drama “Is Kichijoji the Only Place You Want to Live?”, its fresh yet powerful vocals resonated deeply with listeners.
Blending elements of folk and pop rock, the song is carried by the gentle tone of an acoustic guitar.
The lyrics, which stand beside those who have felt loneliness or the difficulty of living at least once, quietly echo in the listener’s heart.
When you’re feeling down or troubled, try listening to it alone in silence.