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. Kokoro detox through tear therapy (11–20)
Never Grow Upchanmina
There are lots of heartbreak songs that pour out the pain of a broken heart.
Among them, the one I’ve picked this time is Chanmina’s “Never Grow Up.” The song moves along with a light rhythm, but its sound blends in a poignancy that doesn’t really feel bright.
The title could be interpreted to mean that heartbreak has stopped one’s growth.
tear(s)Ketsumeishi
When it comes to moving songs by Ketsumeishi, this is the one.
There are times when you feel like crying—when you’re sad, when you’re frustrated.
But sometimes you try to keep up appearances or hold it in, and you just can’t let yourself cry.
If that’s you, please give this song a listen.
Where does our sorrow go?Harukamirai
Harukamirai’s soul-stirring cries, rooted in their unique worldview, strike straight to the heart.
While reflecting the anxieties and chaos of society, the song carries a strong will to keep moving forward and a desire to protect cherished companions.
Conveying the importance of holding on to hope even amid struggle, this work fuses punk rock with emotional elements to deliver a powerful sound that shakes the listener.
Included on the album “Living Is About Holding Onto a Hope as Small as a Booger,” released in February 2025, it marks a new frontier for a band with a track record that includes theme and insert songs for the film “Rin.” This is a message song that resonates with everyone who, despite feeling loneliness and anxiety, still wants to face forward and live.
NautilusYorushika
Currently gaining popularity especially among young people, Yorushika.
“Nautilus” is the story of a girl who struggles to live through the darkness of life.
Two people chasing their dreams tried to walk together, but “you” disappeared.
I can’t forget, and I don’t want to forget.
This song stays close to the sorrow of losing someone precious.
It also portrays the depth and delicacy of love, making it a song that pierces the heart.
Tears Flowing EndlesslyNatsukawa Rimi
Rimi Natsukawa’s signature song, “Nada Sou Sou.” It was originally composed by BEGIN with lyrics written by Ryoko Moriyama.
I’ve heard that Moriyama wrote the lyrics while thinking of her brother, who passed away at a young age.
The simple, heartfelt expression of thinking about someone brings tears to your eyes.
The sound of the Okinawan stringed instrument, the sanshin, also gently seeps into the heart.
Tears of TomorrowKoseki Mai
A moving song that portrays the pain of heartbreak and the struggles that follow.
Mai Koseki’s vocals vividly convey the moment she’s told it’s over, the lingering feelings for someone she can’t forget, and the resolve to move forward.
Blending a melody reminiscent of 1990s J-pop with a modern sensibility, the track is included on the single “Namida no Tomorrow / Yes! Hare Yohō,” released in April 2024.
On nights when love has fallen apart and you feel like crying alone, this song will surely soothe your heart.
It’s a song that gives you the courage to take a step toward tomorrow, even while carrying the pain of goodbye.
Sad songs. Kokoro detox through tear therapy (21–30)
Why feat. Emimi NodaTakase Tōya
A heartbreak ballad distinguished by a beautiful, soul-stirring melody.
Toya Takase’s emotional vocals and Emi Noda’s clear voice brilliantly capture the bittersweet feelings after a breakup.
Released digitally in January 2022 and included on the album “13-gatsu 1-nichi” (The First Day of the 13th Month), this song resonated with many listeners who relate to the joys of love and the pain of parting, drawing attention on charts across Asia.
It’s a track I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who feels the loneliness that deepens at night or the emptiness of losing someone dear.