Recommended for the Yutori generation! Tear-jerking masterpieces from the J-pop scene
Have you ever unexpectedly found tears streaming down your face while listening to music?
Beyond songs that are bittersweet or sad, music can carry powerful messages or a warm sense of comfort that truly moves the heart.
This time, we’re introducing tear-jerking tracks especially recommended for the Yutori generation.
From universally known hit songs to hidden gems, we’ve compiled a wide selection—so be sure to find the tracks that resonate with your heart!
- Just listening makes my chest tighten... Breakup songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- Tear ducts guaranteed to burst! Heart-wrenching masterpiece songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
- Winter songs you'll want to listen to in the cold season! Recommended for the yutori generation
- It cleanses the soul… Great J-pop songs recommended for the yutori generation
- Bittersweet feelings come rushing back! Recommended love songs for the Yutori generation
- Tear-jerking J-pop from the ’90s. Hit songs and real tearjerkers.
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 30s: timeless Japanese hits that touch the heart
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 40s: classic and popular Japanese tracks
- Masterpieces with the theme of “tears.” A roundup of moving tracks that tug at the heartstrings.
- A lineup of classic hits! Karaoke songs recommended for the yutori generation
- Tear-jerking masterpieces sung by male artists that I’d recommend to Gen Z
- Tears for a heartrending story… Tear-jerking songs by women recommended for the Yutori generation
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for women in their 50s: classic and popular Japanese hits
Recommended for the Yutori Generation! Tear-Jerking J-Pop Masterpieces (1–10)
A Bouquet for YouUtada Hikaru
A digital-only single by Hikaru Utada said to be dedicated to her late mother, Keiko Fuji.
Chosen as the theme song for the NHK morning drama Totto-chan, the gentle vocals and string tones evoke a heart-wrenching sense of sorrow.
This work embodies the beautiful idea of placing one’s feelings for a loved one into a bouquet, while its lyrics capture complex emotions that words alone cannot fully convey.
It was released digitally by Virgin Music in April 2016 and was also included on the album Fantôme later that year.
It’s the perfect number for those moments when you want to think of someone dear and cry alone in your room.
LemonYonezu Kenshi
Kenshi Yonezu is a singer-songwriter who has captured attention with his sophisticated musicality and continues to evolve even now.
His eighth major single, written as the theme song for the TV drama “Unnatural,” is the track that made his name known to a wide audience.
Centered on the theme of parting and sorrow with a loved one, the lyrics use the scent of lemons as a symbol, resonating deeply with many listeners.
Since its digital release in February 2018, it has topped numerous charts and can truly be called a masterpiece that will go down in J-pop history.
It’s a song you should listen to if you’ve experienced heartbreak or farewells, or when you want to remember someone special.
Close your eyesHirai Ken
This is the 20th single by singer-songwriter Ken Hirai, who has released numerous masterpieces with his distinctive falsetto and emotional vocals.
Written as the theme song for the film “Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World,” the ballad made history by becoming the first movie tie-in to top the Oricon year-end chart in 2004.
Its heartrending melody and aching, sentimental lyrics may bring you to tears on their own.
With soulful yet crystalline high notes, this stirring track is highly recommended for anyone who wants a good cry.
Recommended for the Yutori Generation! Tear-jerking J-POP Masterpieces (11–20)
I want to see you.nowisee
A song by nowisee that expresses a yearning for lost love.
Released in July 2016, it is included on the August 2016 album “Tenohira no Sensō” (“The War in the Palm”).
It features a distinctive sound that fuses elements of electronica and post-rock, wrapped in a mysterious atmosphere.
The music video—made with ten thousand sparklers—stands as a testament to nowisee’s dedication to visual expression.
The lyrics, depicting a heart resisting the passage of time and a wish for reunion, are sure to resonate deeply with listeners.
It’s a track we recommend to those who have experienced heartbreak or parting from someone dear, as a chance to begin sorting out their feelings.
revolutionMOROHA
A MOROHA song that urges positive change, infused with a powerful challenge to how we face ourselves and how we live.
Afro’s fiery rap and UK’s delicate acoustic guitar playing speak deeply to the listener’s heart.
It’s included on the album MOROHA II, released in November 2013, and was also used as the ending theme for TV Tokyo’s drama Miyamoto kara Kimi e (From Miyamoto to You).
The lyrics candidly express the frustrations of everyday life and a thirst for change, resonating with many people.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to when you want to confront yourself or take a new step forward.
Before spring comesGōruden Bonbā
The melancholic love ballad from the visual-kei air band Golden Bomber is a masterpiece that poignantly sings of a fading romance.
Sho Kiryuin’s delicate lyrics and the richly emotional melody resonate deeply with listeners.
Released in July 2009, this work is one of their signature songs, blending Golden Bomber’s musicality with their unique individuality.
The lyrics, depicting a gratitude that defies words and a love too deep to fully convey, beautifully express the heartache felt before a parting.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you feel the changing of the seasons just before spring and wish to reflect on your relationship with someone special.
Winter IllusionAcid Black Cherry
This is one of Acid Black Cherry’s signature ballads, depicting a poignant winter scene and a lost love.
Yasu’s overwhelming vocal power and solid timbre resonate deeply with listeners.
Released in January 2008 as their fourth single, it received high acclaim, including reaching No.
1 on the Oricon daily chart.
Characterized by a melodious UK rock-style arrangement enriched with strings, its lyrics—based on letters sent by fans—convey both the sorrow of losing a lover and the resolve to keep living.
It’s especially recommended for those who have experienced the loss of someone dear or find their hearts stirred during the winter season.